Klarinet Archive - Posting 000633.txt from 1996/10

From: "Fogle, Bill" <bill.fogle@-----.com>
Subj: Here a chirp, there a chirp, everywhere . . . .
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 15:11:41 -0400

Esteemed List:

Please pardon the jovial subject header. I'm somewhat
embarrassed to ask this very basic question, but I
am not able to discover the answer myself.

"What causes reed chirping?"

My guess is that a part of the reed is too dense (hard)
for the corresponding part of the mouthpiece curve or window.
Is that near correct? I tend not to believe that it is
a matter of warpage because I keep the backs of my
reeds very flat. Disturbingly, I experience the chirping
phenomenon more on some mouthpieces than others. I
have one mouthpiece that I _cannot_ play. No reed
sounds on it without chirping. Other mpcs never chirp.
I can avoid chirping by dexterous playing (proof of
David Hattner's philosophy that _anything_ can be played
if necessary). What does this say about the physics of
"chirping". Sincere and deep apologies for the ancient,
tired old thread. ----Bill F.