Klarinet Archive - Posting 000083.txt from 2011/07

From: Tim Roberts <timr@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Experimentation begins....
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:08:03 -0400

MaryMuse <maryasaurus@-----.com>
> With all the wonderful advise here, I started experimenting with reed
> strengths and position. (I do have the Yamaha C4 mouth piece. I finally
> saw that little number engraved on the edge.)
>
> I found the Rico 2 reed actually gave me a really warm tone. And my
> tuner said that I was pretty on pitch as well. I then went back to my
> Rico Classic 2.5, and then tried the Rico Royal 4 I'd had, and wow, I
> could tell the difference in resistance. That one was the most on-pitch,
> but it was also the hardest to play.

When you say "on pitch", did you mean using the traditional tuning note,
the long C? At the risk of falling into the unquantifiable generalities
I have railed against in the past, a softer reed will make it easier to
get a sound, and will tend to give you a more full sound. However, once
you get to notes above the staff, it is much more difficult to bring the
notes up to pitch -- you'll have a tendency to go flat in the
altissimo. That more resistant reed is going to be harder to blow, but
will tend to be more in tune in the upper notes. The key is to find
that happy medium -- the strength that mates properly with your
mouthpiece and your physiology.

You can also do a fair amount of adjustment yourself. You can "harden
up" a soft reed by clipping the end, and you can "soften up" a hard reed
by careful use of a knife and fine sandpaper or reed rush. I've
generally found it easier to soften up a harder reed.

--
Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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