How To Improvise On The Clarinet

Most horn players do not know how to ad lib or improvise. I am taking a clarinet and showing the rudiments of improvising. You have to know what key signature the song is in. Then you have to transpose your improvised part to a key signature that will audibly match the key signature of the song. A Bb instrument such as the clarinet or trumpet would have to transpose one full step UP to match the tonality of a piano or a guitar which are C instruments. The next important thing to know are the SCALES. You have to know your scales to improvise. If I am playing in the key of C major with the clarinet then most of the improvising I will be doing will be from the notes in a C major scale, ordinary chromatic scale, and the blues scale in C major. Not only do you need to know your scales, but you also have to know your chords: major chords and minor chords. Horn players have a hard time grasping chords because they play one note at a time. However, accordion players, piano players, and guitar players have a full understanding of chords. The horn player needs to know how to play each individual note of the chord. Next, the horn player needs to be able to play chord patterns.

Start doing all of the following for the key of C major: scales, chords, and chord patterns. Once you master the Key of C major, all the other key signatures will fall into place.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• clarinet
• improvising
• ad lib
• jazz
• music
• lesson

[PandasNoMore]

:O I've been playing the clarniet for three years and I've constantly tried to join jazz band but my instructor told me that clarinets weren't fit for jazz band. You sir have proved him wrong, thank you.

[johnny102marvin]

@PandasNoMore ....

There are some really good jazz clarinet players on YouTube that play

a million times better than I do. I'll send you a link.

[mikenz06]

Sorry I thinks he's completely bloody average on the clarinet at least, jack of all trades master of none eh!

[johnny102marvin]

@mikenz06 That's right. I can play just about any instrument at an average level.  So I apologize to you for being just an average player of all instruments.

[scottriche]

@PandasNoMore I know right! Exact same crap at my school!

[alleballeism]

@superdakota2012 lol u just fucked up. there is no b#? :P attend more classes bro.

[IrinaVibe]

@superdakota2012 Don't be so quick to call people stupid. Theoretically B# is a B# and a C is C. If you have been taking any music theory for so long then you should know this. B# and C are ENHARMONIC, these two notes have different functions.. Knowing music theory you should know the circle of fifths meaning you're familiar with all major and minor scales. C# Major scale has sharps in F#-C#-G#-D#-A#-E#-B#. Maybe you should take more lessons in theory?

[superdakota2012]

Vibrato on a clarinet for beginners

[superdakota2012]

Wow your stupid. There is no b#. One step up from a Bb is a C. Bb to B is a half step, and B to C is a half step. Half plus half is one step you stupid people. He did that right ive been playing for 9 years taken music theory and everything. This is correct and very helpful to people trying to improv. I just don't recomend

[nutmegat]

@cookieman5 "changing your embouchure" - this is only a concern if you're a new player and you also want to play classical music, or win prizes at solo/ensemble contest or audition for honor band. You need to have a very solid concept of what a good classical embouchure is (and how to produce a good tone) before you play around with bending notes and so forth.

But if all you want to do is play jazz (or klezmer, etc) then just go for it.

[tehpwn3dlife]

@johnny102marvin Send me a link to!

[balloonparty100]

yeahhh

[NickMedobich]

@lsdvine

Sorry for the thumbs down, I meant to thumbs up.

[FloydManFloyd]

that was great to hear you can play so many instruments. i'm 22 years old, i've played guitar for about 10 years and i can play drums well enough but i want to start learning more instruments. i've just started to learn piano and flute. later i really want to learn saxes and trumpet but i thought i was getting into too much would you advise otherwise?