Klarinet Archive - Posting 000031.txt from 2002/09

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] reed strength for darker tone
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2002 18:40:43 -0400

The only way I know to get a reed
sounding darker is to have the center
part of the reed (the spine and heart
areas) heavier in relationship to the
sides. V12's already have a more crowned
or heavier center area, that being the
center from tip to back or down the
spine on the reed. Try removing material
from front to back from the two sides,
thinking that the reed could divided
into three; left side, center and right
side.

That fuzz in the sound at pianissimo is
probably not having the reed well
balanced. It could also be not having
the lower lip hard enough and stretched
enough. Remember that less actual
pressure is exerted against the reed
when playing very softly. Keep the
throat open and keep the gut very hard
when playing softly.....but don't clamp
down on the reed as a way to control
softness of volume or create control. It
just doesn't work that way.

Joe Redmon wrote:

> Dear everyone,
>
> What are your thoughts regarding reed strength to
> achieve a darker tone? Generally, a dark tone is
> produced with a resistant setup (ie- close facing/hard
> reed). I currently use a Vandoren M13 Lyre mouthpiece
> with number 4 1/2 V12 reeds. It's hard to not get
> that fuzz in the sound at pianissimo and piano. Also,
> there is not a lot of inflection in the way of tone
> and flexibility. The sound is stable though, but one
> has to bite a bit to focus the sound. Any thoughts on
> all of this? Is it possible to get a dark sound with
> lighter reeds still using my close facing mouthpiece?
> There has to be a middle ground!!!!!! :) Thanks
>
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