I studied the clarinet after learning the saxophone and I think the main issue that is important to stress is the extra resistance that you get on the clarinet (even on the bass clarinet) which is partially due to the cylindrical bore (the sax is a conical bore and has a more loose embouchure and freer blowing airflow). Along with that, is that the saxophone fingerings are far the easiest and most logically designed of all the woodwinds. Also, because the clarinet over blows at an octave and a 5th it requires a whole 5th of awkward fingerings in the so called “throat” register which are not only difficult to master but also difficult to get a full sound like the rest of the instrument.

Los Angeles Music Teachers - Email: rick@losangelesmusicteachers.com or call: 818-902-1233

Previous
Previous

Is it a good choice to have a go with a recorder like JSax or Venova before jumping to the mighty tenor sax?

Next
Next

How can I start creating melody that goes with my chord progression?