Klarinet Archive - Posting 000850.txt from 2002/07

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Sax/Clarinet Doublers? Reed Strength?
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 17:13:19 -0400

Gil,

Clarinet seems to take a harder reed,
stiffer embouchure and more air push
against this more resistant set-up to
achieve a sound that could be called
legit (hate to use that term), close to
classical, et. al.

Reed strengths are relative to both tip
openings , the length of the lay and the
schedule (the actual curve or French
curve) the mouthpiece takes.

The reed strength is also determined by
the pressure applied by the player.
Players who play a lot and practice a
lot will gravitate toward a harder set-up.

Harder is not necessarily better. If one
is using great restriction to control
the reed, rather than gain that control
with breath support, the tone will be
very restricted and will sound choked.

Whether playing sax or clarinet, I think
the goal is to achieve the greatest
amount of efficiency (biggest sound and
loudest sound) for the amount of effort
expended while achieving the perceived
timbre or tone quality desired.

Clarinet is unique amongst the reed
instruments because the characteristic
tone quality and best intonation is
achieve when playing close to the top of
the pitch spectrum. Saxophone is better
played in the center, not too tight and
not too loose. Clarinet tone looses its
center when the embouchure is loosened
(not necessarily bad, if that's the tone
you want)., but saxophone usually just
mellows out when the embouchure is
loosened. Sax and clarinet share some
fingerings and both have a single reed
in common, but they are quite different
in tone producing requirements.

Gil Guerrero wrote:

> I'm curious as to whether others have had a similar experience:
>
> I've been taking clarinet for the last several years and this year
> decided that I wanted to try my hand at the saxophone.
>
> On the clarinet, I was typically playing "V12" 3-1/2 reeds. My teacher
> was seriously encouraging me to play the sax with a softer reed and I'm
> now very comfortable on the alto with a 2-1/2 (Vandoren traditional.)
> What I've found is that I dropped an entire strength in my clarinet reed
> to a 2-1/2. Previously, I had never been able to play such a soft reed
> as my embouchure was too firm (probably read "I was biting.")
>
> Somewhat counterintuitive to the conventional wisdom I've read here and
> elsewhere, my sax mouthpiece is a fairly close faced Vandoren A17 with
> these soft reeds. My clarinet mouthpiece is more "medium" (I think) an
> Iggy Gennusa GE*.
>
> I realize that there is no prestige in playing a soft or hard reed, but
> I'm curious as to whether others have had similar experiences and do the
> doublers find that their embouchures seem to draw their reed strengths
> closer together.
>
> Overall, I think it was a good thing that this seems to have softened my
> embouchure, and has kept me aware of keeping a focused sound (without
> too much "firmness" applied.)
>
> Best to all on the list!
>

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