Klarinet Archive - Posting 000383.txt from 2002/09

From: "Willie Kercher" <res1b1nc@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Reeds and Notes
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 23:19:11 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nick Simicich" <njs@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Reeds and Notes

That one note, B4, is usually the first note you loose when you have even
a minute leak somewhere. Check everything, including the cork seals at the
tenons. It doesn't take much of a leak to kill this note.

> I am a rank beginner at Clarinet, and clearly should take lessons if I
> could afford them.
>
> I bought an Artley, model 17S off of E-Bay. I found that I could not hit
> the first note above the break no matter what I did. I am speaking of the
> B4, the lowest note in the Clarion register.
>
> This was not just when I tried to play it in order in a scale and could be
> hitting the wrong key and getting a squeak, which I guess is common. No
> matter how long I set up to play the note, and how carefully I positioned
> my fingers, it would not sound. I soaked the reeds, played them dry, no
> difference. I would either get a "block" or a short squeal and a block.
> The C5 would play, occasionally, but it mostly blocked. If I started at
> the D5, I could play down to the B4 and it would sound as long as I held
> it, without any failures.
>
> Sherman Friedland answered a question from someone who was having the same
> trouble as I was, I think in his column which is on the web.
>
> Based on a recommendation in a different column of his, I changed
> mouthpieces to a used Selmer with an HS* facing, but it did not make any
> difference. I had tried a Rico 2 1/2 and a Vandoren 2, based on a local
> music store recomendation. Of course, the same mouthpiece on a different
> Clarinet would sound this note just fine.
>
> Someone suggested a Rico Plasticover reed. (For that Dark sound, I
> guess.) I bought some in strength 2. That was it. The note sounds
> without a problem. I now seem to have to move my lower lip slightly
> farther down the reed to play the G5 or A5, but if I do I can play up to
> the C6, without problems, and sometimes even some notes in lower altissimo
> (which sometimes are even in tune). The parrots really like them. (Not
> the reeds, too expensive, and they would probabaly like hunks of 2x4
> better anyway, they like the notes because they are loud and high.)
>
> I guess I believe that this note should have played without the Rico
> plasticover reed. Does anyone have any thoughts as to why this might have
> been the case? Part of the problem is that, frankly, I feel that the notes
> that I can hit sound better with the uncoated reeds...as if, well here we
> are subjective evaluation, but firmer, less waivery. The advantage to the
> plasticover is that they just seem to play, while I would have to change
> the cane reeds and let them dry after practicing a while.
>
> Pressing all the keys hard as I try to hit the note (to insure that they
> are sealed) does not help. Stopping and pushing on the closed keys to
> insure that they are well seated does not seem to help. I get a little
> help if I try the alternate fingering that is on woodwind.org, where the A
> key is opened, but the note is still not reliable - it sounds about 60% of
> the time and 40% it blocks. Sherman Friedland said that some Clarinets
> were "stuffy" on this note. I have started playing this note with a trill
> key, but that seems like a bad habit to get in to, and, frankly, I
> sometimes have the same trouble with the C5 (which can also be played with
> a couple of trills).
>
> If this suggests a mechanical problem to someone with the Clarinet I'd
> like to hear about it. If the Artley 17S is known to be stuffy on this
> note and I should consider myself lucky for finding any reed that will
> work, that would be nice to know as well. Thanks for reading this far.
>
>
>
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>
>

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