 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nick Angiolillo
Date: 2003-04-15 14:18
I have only been playing clarinet for about 8 months now, and have really only tried my own instrument as I do not know any other clarinet players!
I was wondering if you all could tell me if the dull, flat sound I get from throat tones (especially A and Bb) is a shortcoming of my instrument (a wooden Yamaha), my grade of instrument (student), or if this is a problem that most clarinets deal with. In comparison, the Bb I sound using the second right hand side key and the normal A is quite good--unfortunately, the opportunities to use this fingering while playing seem pretty rare.
Is this an embouchure problem? Inexperience? I find that even adjusting my embouchure to make the note sharper in tone does not help.
Thank you!
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2003-04-15 14:38
With time and practice it may get better, but middle Bb is an infamous note that many people are not happy with. I've been playing for about 8 years (since I was 13) and my Bb has never really gotten better than it was when I first started.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-15 15:43
This is perfect because I was in the same exact situation as you until last night. I had never tried anyone elses clarinet except for my own. Last night, my stand partner offerred me to try his. He had the same exact model as mine (Buffet E13) however his was made between 1972-1974 and mine was made in 1970. I didn't expect much of a difference since it was the same make/model and even made very close together in age.
However . . . .
The difference was amazing. His clarinet keys were much easier to press down (the action was very light and very responsive to the touch). I played some licks (from Mozart Clarinet Concerto "Rondo") faster and cleaner than I could on my clarinet and his clarinet seemed INSTANTLY to have much more color and depth to the music than mine. I played a bit of the second movement from there as well as a some of Adagio from Sonate Concertante op. 115 by Louis Spohr (a fun romantic piece in my opinion) to check not only how responsive and light to the touch it was, but to check just HOW MUCH depth and character I could give the music. I was greatly impressed. I used the same exact setup (my mouthpiece and my clarinet barrel) to make sure that I was evaluation just his clarinet.
I don't know about tuning, but it was such a JOY to play his. It was amazing the difference I got in responsiveness. I believe I even got the notes out quicker and cleaner with less "dead air" before the note sounded than on my clarinet.
This actually convinced me that instead of getting my clarinet tuned and overhauled, I'd much rather save up and buy myself a newer insturment (pro model if I can afford it by the end of the summer).
- - - - - - My advice to to you - - - - -
Go to a store that's not too far. Call them beforehand to see if they have a good amount/variety of pro level clarinets in stock. Not just the standard R-13, but see if they also have some Leblanc Sonatas/Concertos, Some yamahas, Some selmer Signatures or 10Gs or whatever. Go there with your clarinet and mouthpiece and try them out. Then you'll know FOR SURE if it's you or the clarinet. I found out last night that my clarinet is holding me back. I never woulda known if he hadn't had said, "Thinking about getting a new clarinet? Try this one. I think this one was a good buy. See if you think it really is the clarinet."
I'm doing that this weekend. i'm going to visit some stores and try out different clarinets. I know I can't afford it right now, but maybe something will just "feel right" to me and at least I know what I should try to save up for.
Good luck. Sorry you had to read all of this (it was long!)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Molliweide
Date: 2003-04-15 16:51
I agree with sfalexi about trying different horns. What some people play....
We had a clarinet in our community band that I thought was just the most awful player tonewise. She went out and bought a new horn and it was as if God himself had granted her tone. What a difference.
Also, if you are sitting on the Bb, you can try the alternate trill fingering. (thumb & third trill key). It seems to work for my old Normandy to clear up the stuffness
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Author: Avie
Date: 2003-04-15 22:21
Ive experienced the same problem with both my clarinets and others that ive tryed. It may be the clarinet in general but I would try differant reeds and also make sure that the adjustment screw that controls the height of the A key is properly adjusted and maybe another mp before I would give up on the clarinet. It sometimes takes a year or more to get a good tone out of all of the keys. It seems that they are not all that consistant at least on the clarinets I have tryed. Im still working at it after being back for 2 years. If it was easy I would probably have quit long ago. Keep working at it and it will get better. Happy tooting.
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-04-15 22:50
Let us not forget how Nick opened this thread...
"I've only been playing the clarinet for 8 months now..."
After only eight months of playing one is too inexperienced to know whether or not an instrument is good or bad. The 'dullness' of the throat tones are a natrual tendency due to the placement of the tone holes on the upper part of the horn. Seeing that the tone holes that produce the throat Bb, A and Ab are so close to the mouthpiece and barrel there is not much room for the air to speed up as it would on a lower, say, C. Like Joel stated, with time and practice it may get better. I agree with half of this; instead I would like to add that with time and practice it WILL get better. Once your embouchure developes properly, you know WHERE to place the air in your throat and mouth, and understand the physical tendencies and properties of these notes, then I would suggest new equipment (FIRST a new mouthpiece like the Fobes Debut or Hite Premier - that alone will definately improve any student model horn).
Now, given that there is no need of repair on your current horn, I would say to practice, practice, practice. Then once your through with that, practice some more. Fill your horn up with air as if your trying to fill a glass that has a hole in the bottom with water. When the air leaves your embouchure, think of it as a water hose; the smaller the opening, the further and faster the water will shoot. The same with air speed, the firmer your embouchure (not biting of course) and the faster (not harder) you blow the air, the better ALL notes will sound. Confused? No problem. Practice and a GOOD teacher will help you get the knowledge you need to understand all of this.
I wouldn't suggest that anyone go out and buy a new horn who owns a perfectly working one already. It's like a computer, it only gives back what you put into it! Hang in there and practice. Even the pros still practice on a daily basis. Also, you know how the pros learned what they know? They had a great (if not several) teacher. Find one! You'll be glad you did!!
I wish you the BEST of luck!! Post again in a couple of months and let us know how you are doing. I would love to hear of your progress! I find it very exciting to hear of a new clarinetist on the grow.
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2003-04-15 22:58
The solution may even be a simple one:
Try using "resonance" fingerings for the Bb.
Finger the Bb as usual and try variations of the following:
LH oox | RH oox and F/C key
LH xox | RH oox and F/C key
LH oox | RH oxx and F/C key
etc.
Try adding variations of fingers in Left Hand and Right Hand and F/C key to get a more resonant, less dull sound. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but will soon seem to be your standard fingering.
Tom Piercy
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Author: KENOLD
Date: 2003-04-16 00:48
A dirty vent tube on the register key can make the Bb stuffy and make it difficult to play in the upper register. But, that should not affect the A.
Every few months I remove the register key and use a pipe cleaner (doubled) to clean the vent tube. Give it a try. Does any
body else do this?
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