 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Fred
Date: 2004-01-19 02:34
There's a gap in my knowledge about tone production . . . duh!
When I'm really pushing air (perhaps too much?) through the clarinet, I cross the line from fff to pfffttthhh. Where does that line exist? Or does it exist in more than one plane?
For instance, can we say, "It's the clarinet." Or, "It's the mouthpiece." Or, "It's the reed."?
Or is it more likely a mouthpiece reed combo, affected somewhat by the clarinet?
Or is it my own darn fault for blowing too hard?
I noticed when I started playing the Centered Tone, my sound got bigger and I was encouraged to go for all I could get. And, at least in my perception and some non-critical listeners around me, I do get quite a bit more sound out of the CT than I did out of the R13. But I'm trying some different mouthpieces for use with the CT to help me on that quest. When overblowing, I was using a Greg Smith Ched 1+, still perhaps the best mouthpiece I've ever put on my R13. Not sure what the CT is going to wear yet.
Education time . . . any thoughts?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-19 03:14
I think I know what you're talking about. For me it happens mostly on the B, C, and C# right over the break. When I try to play too loudly (even with tons of breath support) I get this ugly harshness to the sound. I believe it's a fairly common problem. But as far as I know it's something that is a problem of the clarinet. Not of a mouthpiece (since I've played a few other clarinets and each one seems to either cross that "line" at a different dynamic, or don't cross that line at all.) I think this is an important thing to look for when searching for a new clarinet. I wonder what others are going to say . . . (good question Fred!)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-01-19 14:41
Not 100% sure I'm thinking of the same thing, but when I try to play way loud with a reed that is too soft, my tone breaks up. Going to a slightly harder reed, or in some cases, moving the reed slightly higher on the mouthpiece cures my problem.
For me the "right" reed strength is soft enough to not play "stuffy" but hard enough so that my loudest notes don't "break up".
John
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-01-20 04:47
When the air's force is so hard the reed cannot vibrate symmetrically (same distance toward and away from the MP), the tone quality will suffer awfully, I would think. The solution would be to alter something so that the reed moves a bit less, or can move more freely. Stiffer reed, move that same reed so it extends beyond the MP tip, more open MP, instrument that can handle less wind (so the reed can't move as much), maybe. Conjecture only.
Regards,
John
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