 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lazygrl10101
Date: 2009-08-30 22:36
When I play the middle A, Ab and Bb (the ones using the left had and the keys around the register key... I don't know a better way to explain it) it sounds airy and almost scractchy. It does that on every clarinet I've played. Is this normal, or is it just me?? And is there any way to make it sound better??
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-08-30 23:39
try this for the A: A 0 0 x | 0 x x C
for the Bb, use the A key plus the 2nd from the top trill key, plus a few fingers of the right hand down.
make sure the left thumb is up and not partially covering the thumb vent, nor touching the thumb ring
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: ClarinetPlayer_18
Date: 2009-08-30 23:50
When it comes down to it, I don't know any clarinetists who like those notes on a normal clarinet. I've heard them referred to as "throat tones" and it's just something about a clarinet as far as I know. You can always make them sound better as you become a better player yourself but it seems to be a pretty common thing so i wouldn't worry too much, especially with the Bb.
You can try those fingerings that have been suggested though, they do help some. Just make sure you save them for longer notes and don't try to do them during fast passages. I just tried the one for the A out (I never heard of it) and it worked nicely; it did improve the sound a little. So good job with whoever knows about those fingerings. In gebneral though, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just try to keep a good strong embochure and you'll be fine.
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2009-08-31 00:50
Balanced reeds significantly decreased airiness in throat tones in my experience.
Also for resonance fingerings, I like:
G#: G# 0 0 x | x 0 0
A: A 0 x x | 0 x x F/C
Bb: R A 0 x x | 0 x x
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-08-31 01:53
Resonance fingerings and a really good technician can make those notes significantly better, but ultimately they'll just about always be among the lousiest ones on the instrument.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-08-31 02:04
test various combinations of the resonance fingerings ; also search this board for 'resonance'.
cxgreen's 'A' doesn't help me - the extra finger does nothing on my instrument. however, several of my students put that extra finger down - it makes a difference for them - so try various combinations to see what works best for you. i get different results (and use different fingerings) between my A, Bb, and C instruments, and between different brands/models of Bb
2nd the balanced reed comment. and a good embouchure and lots of air.
also - the 'good technician' comment - you sometimes need to mess with the pad height on the pad controlled by the thumb ring, and on adjacent keys. sometimes raising it a tad helps - but you need to be careful or you'll mess up the tuning.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: lazygrl10101
Date: 2009-08-31 04:30
Alright... Im glad Im not the only one who has problems with it... and Im only in High school so Im not amazing, so I still have room to improve, and thats good I spose 
I have a really old clarinet, like 48 years old, it still has the original mouthpeice and it was my moms in high school, I have another topic "help me choose a clarinet" if you want to read more about that and what happened to it. Do you think it could be a factor of how old the clarinet was??
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-08-31 04:44
Some notes are more "airy" than others. On most clarinets they are the throat notes (especially the Bb) and the low C#. On some clarinets these notes are much better than on others, and on some clarinets one or more of them are especially bad. The things I noticed make them even worse then they are: beginner without developed playing, and a bad mouthpiece/reed setup (especially too hard reed or just a bad reed).
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Author: lazygrl10101
Date: 2009-08-31 04:56
I think my reed is fine, Ive been playing with this kind for over a year. I really needed a new mouthpeice. Im thinking about geting a Ridenour Lyrique, do you think this will help improve the sound??
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-08-31 07:39
Balanced reed helps and also the resonance fingerings but for me at least the most important thing is to focus your air so it very cold and concentrated.
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Author: lazygrl10101
Date: 2009-08-31 10:34
Thank you all for your help!! I'll try the fingerings when my parents aren't sleeping in the next room.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-08-31 13:44
If you want to get really fancy, I have a resonance fingering for G, too, which I use most of the time:
o o x | x x o
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Author: gigaday
Date: 2009-08-31 16:49
I found that getting a mouthpiece and reed combination that suited me better improved things a great deal.
A problem that I have is a rattling sound mainly in the lower register up to the throat Bb, that I have finally tracked it down to a build up of spit or condensation on the inside of the blade of the reed. This can be easily seen when using a Legere reed.
I doesn't happen all the time but I am not sure how to control it.
Tony
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2009-09-01 16:16
I have a number of mouthpieces that I own solely for the purpose of having my students mess around with them. Maybe you and your teacher can spend some time with mouthpieces to see if that helps.
Start small before you leap to buying a new clarinet.
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