 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nathan
Date: 2004-11-04 19:52
Hello,
I'm a novice who's completely overwhelmed by the variations in mouthpieces. I realize mpc questions are nothing new to the board (which I've been visiting for a few months), but I have a question which I hope isn't terribly redundant. I personally like a warm dark sound as opposed to a bright one (I realize this is very subjective), but I also like doing scoops, smears, bends, glisses, etc. Essentially I want to play jazz without the characteristic jazz tone. Now, I've been under the impression that more open mpc's (which are more conducive to the kind of tonal and pitch distortions I mentioned) have a brighter tone and that more closed mpc's have a dark tone, but aren't as flexible. So is there a type of mpc that can give me the flexibility and dark tone that I'm after? I realize with the proper skill and embouchure I can make a closed mpc more flexible, but for the time being I'm looking for an easier way out (you have to at least appreciate the honesty). If any previous posts address this specifically, I would appreciate being pointed to them. Otherwise any and all suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Nathan
Post Edited (2004-11-04 21:13)
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-11-04 23:48
Nathan,
If you like Artie Shaw's tone, perhaps you would find his advice useful, since he was also a master at "scoops, smears, bends, glisses".
Quoted from "The Artie Shaw Clarinet Method": "In choosing a mouthpiece, the beginner should not select one with too open a facing. It is a common fault for clarinettists to play on mouthpieces that are far too open. This means that they have to use a softer reed and keep a constant pressure on the lower lip in order to close the reed up to the normal playing position. It is therefore essential to use a mouthpiece that will not require too much pressure for the proper tone production."
BTW, some of his greatest recordings were made with a plastic reed.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-11-05 02:09
Get a Fobes Debut or a Pyne PolyCrystal
You won't be sorry and they aren't expensive at all (both are under $45).
Medium facing and length. Really good for most anything.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-11-06 22:25
I would disagree about open mouthpeices being brighter(etc.) this is rather a subjective thing...also reeds play a good deal more into how bright and dark you sound at a given time...
Be very cautious about being too subjective...
For many of my students who play some jazz they like the Classical flexibility of the B45 Lyre while retaining some of the more largess required of jazz playing....however, it is pretty open.
Most of the time I have my jazz oriented students use the Vandoren B40 13..they also use it for Classical too....
David Dow
Post Edited (2004-11-06 22:28)
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Author: Burt
Date: 2004-11-06 22:38
I believe that the main factor in picking a mouthpiece for a dark tone is to get one with a long opening. (I picture the long opening as allowing the reed to vibrate more freely in its fundamental mode. This would allow more power in the fundamental of your note vs the overtones, which produces a dark sound.)
With a long opening, you will likely want a somewhat open tip. A long opening requires a harder reed, and the open tip requires a softer reed, so the two effects cancel out, and you can use a reed having average hardness. The open tip makes distortions (intentional or otherwise) occur more easily.
I use a Vandoren M30 with a Gonzalez 3.5 reed. But there are many other good choices. I'm not a good authority on these choices.
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