 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sömeone
Date: 2003-05-17 08:36
I have a question here about ligatures.....well....most of the clarinetists in the band use traditional standard metal ligatures, which has 2 screws, one at the top and one at the bottom, so my question is, which should be tighten a bit more than the other?
I know this is necessary as one of the band directors whom is a professional sax player tell us we should do so...(although i kinda forgot everything he told us i know it should be done). And what are the effects?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-05-17 12:40
Well, this is the first time I've heard that one. The lig is tapered to fit the mouthpiece so you have to loosen the bottom one enough to accept the reed....and the amount is more than required for the top one. So, you will notice that, normally, the two screws are "out" different amounts. One then,probably, tightens one of the screws until the reed is captured slightly.Then the reed is adjusted and the other screw is tightened a bit. One then alternates tightning one a bit then the other until one feels the right degree of tightness is reached. Maybe that procedure is what the person was attempting to relate in an abbreviated explanation. This little dance is eliminated with one screw ligs.
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Author: krawfish3x
Date: 2003-05-17 14:37
the ligatures you are talking about are standard ones which dont put any special pressure on the reeds causing differences in sound. i would reccommend a different ligature that enhances the sound. if tightening is a problem, get a one screw one.
however, if you still want to use the two screw one, i dont know myself that there is that much of a difference to which screw you tighten more or less as long as you dont overtighten and crush the fibers of the reed.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-05-17 14:42
The top screw should be tighter than the bottom screw. Neither should be so tight that when the reed absorbs moisture and swells it results in a distorted mouthpiece.
Hans
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-17 15:28
I've always done it the same way as hans says. My reasoning? Since I'm a mathematical person, I figure that if the top screw is too loose, the more torque you can put on the reed and the easier it would be for the reed to shift sideways. So I always tighten the top screw first, then genly tighten the bottom screw, not to make sure the reed doesn't shift sideways, but the bottom screw just to make sure the entire flat side of the reed is pressed against the table of the mouthpiece.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-05-17 19:24
I use a Bonade inverted, and I also tighten the top screw first, then the bottom, pretty much for the same reason Alexi stated.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-05-19 14:17
Ligature position and tightness is very individual and varies with the reed, the weather, and maybe the phase of the moon. You experiment to find out what works best for you.
I start (and usually end) with what's almost always worked best for me, with a standard metal ligature. Tighten both screws completely snug, and then back off on both a quarter-turn.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-05-19 23:10
Oh Ken!!!!!!!
I always thought you were a string person.
Don't disillusion me.
jez
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