 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: asdfjkl
Date: 2012-01-07 21:35
I've been playing clarinet for 4 years now, but this has never happened to me. I'm trying to practice scales, but I can't play any low or high notes. I either end up squeaking or no sound comes out. My reed is already broken in, but I don't understand why this is happening. I noticed this about 2 weeks ago. Before the reed was broken in, my friend told me that it's just the reed and that it happens to him all the time, but now I'm not sure.
Do I need to get my instrument repaired?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-01-07 21:46
Sounds like a leak to me. If it's the whole horn my first guess is a common issue up high (architecturally) on the horn........ the point where the G# and A keys come together. If you start to move the A key and there is NO SPACE at all between them (if OVER tightened this screw keeps the G# key from going all the way down), just unscrew that adjustment screw slightly so there is some give between the two.
Outside of a really easy fix, there may be a torn or lose pad somewhere up there. The easy way to find a leak is the 'suction test.' Take the top joint by itself, place left fingers over left holes, close off bottom with palm of right hand, place mouth over top of tenon and draw in air. You should feel the suction at the bottom (and even at finger tips). The air should remain for a bit, ideally until you release the bottom or the holes, but two to three seconds would be ok.
If there is NO seal, then you have an 'issue' and the problem then would be to find out where the leak is. If you are not comfortable proceeding from there, then you should take it to a tech.
.....................Paul Aviles
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Author: GBK
Date: 2012-01-07 21:57
Paul's suggestions are correct and you should try his ideas...
Did you recently drop your clarinet? One of the keys could be bent and not completely covering, or the bridge key can be misaligned.
If it's a wood clarinet, worst case is that there is a crack in the upper joint.
...GBK
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-01-07 22:06
asdfjkl wrote:
> my friend told me that it's just the
> reed and that it happens to him all the time, but now I'm not
> sure.
*This* shouldn't be happening to your friend or anyone else because a reed is new. I support the advice you've already gotten - have the clarinet checked by a skilled repair technician.
And as a general rule, a reed shouldn't need to be "broken in" to be playable.
Karl
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-01-08 00:03
Agree with the other people. It's a really good idea to have your horns looked at about every 8 months to a year or when something doesn't feel right, such as whats happening to you. Horns should probably be overhauled every 5 years at the most. Pads and cork start to really wear out and even fall off. Pro's that play a lot perhaps 3 to 5 hours a day most likely get the horns overhauled sooner then 5 years and touched up and adjusted perhaps every 6 months or so.
If the horn checks out fine, take a good look at your mouthpiece. Maybe it got bumped and there may be a nick or a ding or 2 where the reeds set, such as the rails and the tip. This area of any mouthpiece needs to free of any marks.
Let me - us know what you find out.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-01-08 02:41
Easiest things first. Try a different reed. The one you're using could be warped or cracked.
Put your mouthpiece on someone else's clarinet. If it plays OK, then you have a leaky pad. Start on open G and play a slow descending chromatic scale until you reach the first bad note. The pad just above is leaking.
Any repair shop will be able to locate the leak and fix it quickly, probably while you wait.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2012-01-08 18:40
Even easier: can you play a decent tone on just the mouthpiece and barrel? If so, the reed is probably fine. I agree that it's probably a leak.
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