[Dixielandjazz] Star Dust

[Russ Guarino]

Steve, & others who play Boem clarinet,

Over the years I have practiced all keys extensively, both flat keys and sharp, and
can get through difficult passages with some slow down and repetition, but,
It never occured to me to drop down to the lower register to get through a difficult
finguring passage when under stress.  Thanks for the tip.

Russ Guarino


Steve Barbone wrote:

> on 10/4/06 12:20 AM, Russ Guarino at russg at redshift.com wrote:
>
> > I often ask musical friends why a tune would be played in a key like Db when a
> > half a step down would be infinitely so much easier.  The only answer I get is
> > that flat keys sound better.
> >
> > What?
> >
> > Russ Guarino
> > clarinet maven
>
> Certain songs do indeed sound better in certain keys. Most people should be
> able to hear the difference, musicians especially. And as a general rule,
> sharp keys sound brighter. e.g. play Indiana in G rather than F and you
> should be able to hear the difference a key makes. And/or Stompin at the
> Savoy which sounds better in Db than in F where lots of folks play it
> because it's easier. Stardust? Sounds better in Db than in C according to
> the musicians I work with.
>
> All keys are easy if you woodshed them. Especially on clarinet because you
> can switch registers to ease the burden of difficult fingering. I remember
> Tommy Loy posting his band did not play much in Ab because the clarinet
> players always told him it was a difficult key for them. Well we clarinet
> players can solve that "difficulty" either by going to the lower register,
> or by practicing Ab.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone