Klarinet Archive - Posting 000894.txt from 1998/04

From: DAVID NADEN <dnaden@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece Facings & Reed Strength
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 06:05:15 -0400

Cindy--

You have it backwards. The more open the mouthpiece, the softer the reed=
and the
more closed the mouthpiece, the harder the reed. If the mouthpiece is op=
en and the
reed is hard, it will not vibrate correctly, and you'll think your playin=
g on a 2x4
(as in board). If the mouthpiece is close and the reed is too soft, the =
reed will
close up, and the airflow will be blocked. The trick is finding a good b=
alance
between mouthpiece tip opening and reed strength.

If your setup works for you, and thers tell you that you have a good soun=
d, then
stick with it.

David S. Naden, Graduate Student (MM June 1998)
Cal State University Los Angeles

C E Field wrote:

> I am wondering what the relationship is between mouthpiece facing and r=
eed
> strength needed to produce a good tone in all registers. I would think=
that,
> theoretically, an open mouthpiece and a hard reed would be a good matc=
h and a
> close mouthpiece and a softer reed would, likewise, be a good match. I=
am
> trying to envision the reed vibrations. It seems to me that student
> mouthpieces tend to be medium close and "jazz" mouthpieces tend to be =
open. Is
> that reasonably accurate?
>
> I routinely use a 2 to 2.5 Vandoren V12 reed (or, more recently, a Morr=
@-----.25)
> and a Vandoren M13 mouthpiece (which I think is close) and BG Revelati=
on
> ligature. (Using this setup, I play on Buffet R13 Bb and A clarinets a=
nd an
> old Dupont C hard rubber clarinet.) Listeners (including other musicia=
ns--even
> an oboist!) tell me I have a "round" tone. Sometimes I feel "inadequat=
e" for
> not using a harder reed but my setup seems to work for me.
>
> Cindy