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How to Glissando on Clarinet

Performing a glissando on a clarinet is one of the more advanced techniques that a musician can learn. A glissando is a rapid slide through a series of consecutive notes in a scale. On reed wind instruments like the clarinet, this is particularly tough because the notes must be played without breaks. There are two ways to preform a glissando: the "finger slide" and the "upward lip."

Instructions

  1. Finger Slide

    • 1

      Play the first note of the glissando holding a steady embouchure.

    • 2

      Slide your finger slowly off from the key you are playing while keeping the embouchure steady.

    • 3

      Slide the remaining fingers of from the keys in the same manner until the final note in the glissando is reached.

    Upward Lip

    • 4

      Begin playing a lower pitch of the first note in the upper register by at least a semitone.

    • 5

      Play the first note while changing the fingering to the next note.

    • 6

      Hold down the pitch of the note by slacking your embouchure so that the note does not rise.

    • 7

      Raise the pitch of the note toward the next by strengthening your embouchure.

    • 8

      Breathe and throat while fingering to the next note. Continue this process until the final note is reached.

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