 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Beginner
Date: 2001-08-17 19:36
Hi! I just started playing the clarinet 2 weeks ago and I have no problem with fingering or making the very highest notes sound correct, but still I think it sounds really horrible when Iīm playing, kind of squeeky. I know how itīs supposed to sound but I just canīt do it! Is it a matter of time, that it takes a while before you learn, or am I doing something completely wrong? Iīm teaching myself at the moment but Iīm going to start taking lessons in september (canīt wait that long though...).
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-08-17 19:54
Dont' worry,
I've been playing the clarinet for almost 20 years now and I still feel the way you do...
Taking lessons is a very important step towards getting a good sound. The key is your embouchure, which is the configuration of your lips, throat and tongue. I am sure your teacher will talk about it and if you do a search on this bulletin board you will find many good advices on it.
You should also check
http://members.aol.com/DuetNow/lolintro.htm for a good introduction on how to hold the clarinet and how to produce a nice sound.
Welcome to the wonderful world of clarineting!
-S
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Author: Robert
Date: 2001-08-17 20:38
Congrats on your choice on the clarinet... the only way I can describe it is the old description of the game Othello... "Easy to learn, Difficult to master." As Sylvain says, you will always probobly think "My sound is horrible, I need to make it better" which is a good thing. There are lots of little things that go into it, one especially is your mouthpeice. What kind of mouthpeice are you using? I usually suggest that student use a good mouthpeice to start with (Vandoren B45 or recently I'm really impressed with the Clark Fobes "Debut", especially since its only $34)
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Author: 7
Date: 2001-08-18 01:43
I just started playing myself, so I'm not really one to give advice on the matter... but I posted a thread very much like yours. (if you dig back a few pages you'll find it) The single piece of advice which improved my sound almost right away was getting a new mouthpiece. It made all the difference in the world. Almost like getting a whole new clarinet. :}
My choice was a Pyne PolyCrystal.. a clear mouthpiece that IMO looks really cool. I picked it up for $33. Several people here thought it was pretty good.. and I agree with them now.
I also tested out a bunch of different reeds. Both real and fake.. I settled into the Fibracell synthetic reed because it plays a bit brighter then the wood ones (brighter sounds better in the jazz style I'm writing).
I first started using the Rico regular reeds (because I didn't know better) and was getting a pretty good sound, but side by side the Fibracell seems to respond better. I now use the few Rico reeds I had leftover as bookmarks. They work really well as bookmarks BTW.
Congrats on choosing the clarinet.. I have not regretted a single day after I started playing.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-08-18 11:55
I would advise a commonly used mouthpiece, like the Vandoren 5RV (closed tip) or B45 (more open). That way, you will always find plenty of other musicians using the same equipment who can give you good advice. Start with a soft reed that you can manage without difficulty and move up in hardness as your embouchure develops. Stop moving up (or stay where you are) when you get the tone that pleases you -- no one says you have to play on roof tiles. I'm playing on a 5RV with Vandoren 2.5 reeds and getting a really nice sound -- probably not powerful enough for an orchestra, but good for chamber music. Concentrate on legato and warmth of sound rather than volume at first. If you prefer jazz, get a very open mouthpiece (Vandoren 5JR) and use the softest reeds you can get away with. Never buy the first mouthpiece you try. Go to a place where you can try out several and listen with a critical ear. If you can, take your teacher or an experienced clarinetist with you.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-08-18 20:09
A few years ago, I visited my brother. His older son was in the 6th grade, just starting clarinet, and he had the usual beginner's problems.
I cleaned out his mouthpiece, reseated a couple of pads and fixed up a reed to be perfectly balanced and playable with almost no effort. He sounded really good. However, this was because absolutely everything was just right. He hadn't yet developed the embouchure muscles or the coordination of lips, tongue and air stream to control the reed.
I adjusted several reeds for him, and while these lasted he sounded fine. (After that, he switched to oboe. Ahh, well....)
An advanced player can sound good on almost anything. It's the beginner who needs things perfect. What you need right now is a teacher who can adjust things for you and work with you on strengthening the appropriate muscles and learning to control what you do.
It takes about a year for most beginners to build up the muscles and start to feel natural and at ease with doing a lot of things at once.
Keep at it. Everybody here went through your experience, and none of us is dead yet.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-19 00:29
What types of reeds are you using?
I started playing the clarinet some time ago and am now just getting to the point of REALLY exporing all of the equipment. There are reeds out there that make my clarinet sound as smooth as chocolate [Inside joke ] and then others that sound like I'm playing a grass blade. Experimenting with equipment can be one of the best options out there, esp. reeds, mouthpeices, and ligatures.
I'm not saying to simply ignore your embouchure and hope it improves. To some people it comes naturally, to some it doesn't. (My older sister couldn't even get a sound out at first!!)
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-08-21 04:32
Do not curl in too much of your lower lip. If you train your embouchure mustle, you can do this. The secret is that the very smooth inner part of your mouth should be directly in touch with air flow and reed.
Feeling frustration with your tone is very important to continuously develop yourself!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-08-21 04:34
Do not curl in too much of your lower lip. If you train your embouchure mustle, you can do this. The secret is that the very smooth inner part of your mouth should be directly in touch with air flow and reed. If stiff part is, tone becomes harsh. Quite easy to understand.
Feeling frustration with your tone is very important to continuously develop yourself!
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