Klarinet Archive - Posting 000461.txt from 1995/09

From: Everett J Austin <BrendaA624@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Getting soft in my old age.
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 02:02:15 -0400

Some useful generalities about reed strength might help put your dilemma in
perspective and lead to a comfortable soution:

1) The strength should be generally appropriate to the facing (long close
facing takes a harder reed and open short facing takes softer reed , with all
sorts of variations possible.) Generally "medium" facings do well with
"medium" reeds (3-31/2 for most brands)

2) The reed should be balanced (unless the facing is assymmetric)

3) If the reed is too soft, the higher notes will tend to be thin and flat in
pitch (mainly upper clarion and above) and the throat tones more apt to vary
in pitch with lip pressure

4) If the reed is too hard, too much effort (eg to close the reed against the
facing enough to vibrate) is required for sustained playing and the pitch
will tend to be sharp and the low notes fuzzy

5) A softer reed may require the airstream to be more focussed by the larynx
(glottis) instead of the abdominal muscles pushing the air primarily through
a highly resistant mouthpiece/reed set up, as may be be dictated by the
situation where the reed is quite hard in relation to the facing it is used
with. However if the reed is too soft, the problems of (3) above occur and
really can't be effectively overcome

Hope this provides some clues.

Everett Austin