Clarinetist Benny Goodman

The King of Swing

Believe me, you'll have the same embouchure, breath, finger and mental challenges of playing clarinet by playing jazz as you do studying legit clarinet. Also, this is a great excuse to learn your scales even that much better.

But, I don’t know how to improvise. That is just fine. How about reading the music and attempting to swing as you read? There are some great books that have Mr. Goodman’s solos written out. I’ll lead to you some of them below.

Now, go get your clarinet, go get your Clarinet, NOW!

Here’s a roadmap to Benny Goodman

1. Listen to him

2. Try to transcribe a Goodman solo

3. Find book, learn a new style

4. Best music recordings to buy

5. Goodman videos on YouTube

6. Best Goodman websites

Check out this performance of Sing, Sing, Sing.

Consume yourself with listening to his style, the excitement of his music and the smooth, yet burnin’ clarinet licks throughout his music.

TRY TO TRANSCRIBE MUSIC OF CLARINETIST BENNY GOODMAN

Try to pick up some of his solos. The best way to learn jazz is to transcribe solos from the recordings. If I were you, try a slow song first. One of the best, or my favorites, is Goodbye.

Start by trying to figure out the key signature and then the first few notes. Then add-on a phrase at a time and once you have the first few notes, start writing them down on musical staff paper. Look at your music but also try to memorize it or feel it the best you can. Having the music internalized in your ear, mind and fingers will help you “know” the solo better as well as pick-up the style quicker.

Play the tune over and over via the recording and then on your clarinet. Play with Mr. Goodman and try to “swing” with him. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO PICK UP A NEW MUSICAL STYLE.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE PATIENCE TO TRANSCRIBE, BUY A BOOK AND READ THROUGH THE MUSIC.

You will actually not pick the music up as well if you never hear the mastery of Goodman and just try to read his music. However, this is better than nothing.

If you do, buy a book and make sure you have a recordings of the music in the book. Hopefully, the recordings are in the same key as the book, if not, it is a good time to start transposing the written solo to go with the recording. Again, note how I’m writing this, buy a book, but LISTEN TO A RECORDING OF THE SOLO. Then, play the solo with the recording. Again, this is a good way to pick up jazz.

Since clarinetists today have a rare chance to play with a jazz band without doubling on saxophone, many clarinetists just don’t try playing jazz. BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL HAVE FUN.

Here is a great place to start. Let’s Dance, Flying Home, Benny’s Bugle, Slipped Disc and Sing, Sing, Sing are all on this sheet music/CD combo. Click on the cover art below for more information.

Goodman, Composer/Artist is the best of all of the solo methods except that it does not include chord changes over the clarinet or piano parts. It is most easily readable for the classically trained clarinetist who wishes to learn jazz style.

25 of Benny's greatest clarinet solos all wrapped up in one book to include tunes on some of the YouTube videos below: Sing, Sing, Sing; Flyin Home; and Slipped Disc.

Benny Goodman: Swing Classics. Clarinet Solos with piano accompaniment. Six of Benny's solos do include the chord symbols.

BEST BENNY GOODMAN RECORDINGS

Number one best Benny Goodman recording to buy that is a real piece of clarinet history. The Carnegie Hall Concert in 1938 brought jazz to the historic hall that had only previously performed classical music. Check out a sample of the Carnegie Hall concert here...

Now, get the full recording of the Carnegie Hall Concert. This is clarinet at its most exciting.

Clarinetist Benny Goodman 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert

Here are some other great recordings:

Let's Dance

Moonglow

I Got Rhythm

Check out this great B. Goodman periphenalia on Ebay. Look especially for his clarinet method...

BEST CLARINETIST BENNY GOODMAN VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

Do this for me on these videos. Take a good look at Mr. Goodman’s clarinet embouchure. Watch his fingers. How much air does he command before he performs? Listen to his legato (smooth) style. What is exciting about his music? How well is his band playing behind him? Are they “tight” or “loose”?

Take another look at Sing, Sing, Sing below:

Flyin’ Home

Bugle Call Rag and St. Louis Blues

Slipped Disc

BEST CLARINETIST BENNY GOODMAN WEBSITES Mr. Goodman's biography from his official website

This link takes you to Ken Burns’ tribute to clarinetist Benny Goodman from his famous PBS Series Jazz

Wow! This is a great site paying a great tribute to Mr. Goodman’s famous Carnegie Hall Concert

Benny Goodman on Wikipedia

Now, go let's go learn about some more Famous Clarinet Players.