I tried a couple different horns. I can hit up to Bb and above c but half the time I can't hit Bb or c. I just get air. It comes and goes. Sometimes it is there and other times nothing. Is this common with new players? I've been playing for about a month now. I used a no name and a Vito brand clarinet.

are you talking about high Bb or low Bb because i need to now and i will try to help you

High Bb

No it is on the staff, third line on the staff.

I'm sorry, it is the B natural. When I first start playing I can hit it with no problem. After a while I have trouble. But I can hit below and above. Do you think it could be the reed size? I am using a 2 1/2 now.

I am covering all 6 holes plus octave key and hole in the back plus left hand side key and lower left hand key. My reed is a Rico.

Yes, lower right hand key.

Yes, the only problem I have is B natural and C and that is only part of the time. I can hit all other notes all the time. Pretty strange, huh?

just practice descending register slurs. start on low-c, then hit reg key. then, play low- b, add reg key. do this all the way to low-E and you'll be playing those b's like a champ in no time, assuming you're not doing anything fundamentally wrong and your horn doesnt leak.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that. Just out of curiosity, is B natural just a hard note for all beginners or is it just me?

Hi, i had an issue similar to this a few years ago - i found that a number of my LH extention keys (the pinky key) were hitting each other while depressing certain keys - meaning the holes weren't being covered properly. I'd suggest making sure none of these keys or the RH pinky keys are hitting - Also, on the RH pinky keys, you will find a 'bridge' underneath the lower keys which pull down another key - make sure this has a pad on it still. Finally, i always found these two notes (C and B on the stave) to be the hardest notes to control in this range - so it will take time too.

Hope this helps, good luck

yeah its hard for beginners, because all the holes have to be covered just right, not a single pad can leak, and it uses the full length of the horn, as far as your air goes.

I've been practicing for two weeks. I found my solution to this problem was; when I moved/rolled my thumb to the reg key I was moving it very slightly off the thumb hole. And getting air! I had then to be very accurate in keeping all fingers tight on all holes. And drop my left elbow as my left 1st finger was touching the 2L key slightly and causing some air also. I then touched the reg key with only the side of my nail for B. Then took the left pinkey off L6 and you're on to C. Works for me. My big discovery is that it's all about precision. So if I get air or squeaks I check back on all finger positions, and embrouchure. Hope this helps.

Playing one month now. I recently started looking into different makes of mouthpieces (because my instrument is a cheapo). Different shapes inside for different kinds of playing. I had problems with my "no name" one. Bought a Rico Royal B3 and a Rico No.1 reed. Blowing right up to G (top of stave) was no problem straight away. I reckon after that I have to work on my embrochure. But it seems the mouthpiece is v important. Try this site for info; http://www.runyonproducts.com/article.clar1.html