 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Heather
Date: 1999-02-13 17:57
I have been playing on a Premeire by Hite mouthpiece for 4 years. For the past month I have developed a squeaing problem when jumping from octaves. Everyday I practice and it gets worse and worse. Last week a switced to a Morgan mouthpiece. It makes me tone soooo much better and more round. But it is VERY hard to blow through! but I'm getting used to that... switched to a easier reed strength. So anyways, this morning the squeaking precised. It's awful I'm beginnin to hate playing because it is so embarassing!
I also wear braces... so my ambresure is constantly haveing to adjust. Could that be causing the problem. Thanks for your help!
Heather from Kansas
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Author: Ginny
Date: 1999-02-13 18:55
I probably have great experience squeaking, but I'm not one of the experienced clarinetists on the bullitin board. I developed a squeak problem on my new Buffet, which may or may not be like yours. Suddenly one evening I could only play C and D over the register (clarion?) when I approached from above, not from the throat. SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK Was I frustrated, I tried three different mouthpieces, five reeds. My famous temper was nearly lost (why do I always find it again?)
Finally my DH (dear husband) asked me what note the sqeak was. It was an Ab sqeak, and quess what, the Ab key had stuck open a bit (a hair?) Could be a pad not sealing - if the sqeak can be pitched you might look there.
Ginny
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Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-02-14 00:14
Another likely culprit is one of the 4 LH index finger side keys. They're supposed to stay tightly closed unless you open them, and they're high on the instrument, so one of them leaking can mess up nearly the whole range of notes. Since they're small, up high where they get wet quickly, and attached to rods that are vulnerable to bending and misalignment because they're so thin and long, these keys often are the first to cause trouble. A tiny leak = a squeak.
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Author: David
Date: 1999-02-14 13:38
Also not one of your most experienced players, I have had the honor of squeaking quite a lot. My latest proved to be a slightly misaligned Left hand thumb that just didn't want to cover that hole fully when ever I came down from G. Betrayal!
Good luck.
David
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-14 15:08
After making sure that any leaks have been taken care of double check your hand positions and motions. Every now and then, both my daughters would get a little off and then unknowingly bump keys, which in turn lead to squeaks. The throat G# is easy to bump accidentally as are the trill keys on the right side of the top joint.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-02-14 20:23
IO agree with all of the above. If you were following some of my previous threads, you'll know that I have been using my plastic Evette (backup horn) and it came back from the shop with severe regulation problems. In the process of regulating the A/Ab throat keys, I discovered a set screw that adjusted when the A key lifts the Ab key. I finished and had a squeek that I couldn't track down, but then remembered that I had messed with that set screw. It turned out to be that I had pulled it out too much and the Ab key was never closing completely. Additionally, on that horn, the keys are in slightly different position and are of different sizes than my Leblanc. I am constantly hitting the (chalemeau) C# key by accident and that can pop you into altissimo by accident.
By the way, I now have both my LeBlanc and my Evette in good working order now and am about to start working on rebuilding my A clarinet once I get my hands on some pads.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-02-16 14:06
An occassional squeak is one thing, but it looks like this thread is talking about consistent squeaks. Typically, highly placed keypads are the culprit. My Bb trill keypad was slightly misaligned, causing squeaks. The upper chalemeau G# and A keys are consistent problems as mentioned above. A defective mouthpiece can also be a problem. Make sure you have a good tech check the lay of the mouthpiece to make sure there are no high spots on it. I had both of my Vandoren mouthpieces planed down, with dramatically better results. Another consistent squeak maker is the reed. Vandoren reeds can be thicker on the left side than the right, causing all kinds of behavioral problems, including squeaks. Now, I check every new reed out of the box and take a reed rush to it if it looks or feels imbalanced. Finally, sloppy fingerings can cause squeaks. A typical fingering mistake is resting the web of the left hand or the first finger of the left hand on the upper chalemeau G# key or the right hand first finger on any of the side trill keys (as Dee mentioned above), or the little finger of the left hand on the chalemeau C# key (again, as mentioned above). A reed that's too weak can also be a consistent squeaker.
It's a difficult challenge to keep all of this stuff in mind, but once the horn is all fixed up, and the player gains the "muscle memory" to make crisp fingerings, a lot of the consistent squeaking problems eventually disappear. It took me about 2 years of practice, lessons, and tweaking a very good horn as an adult novice to get to the almost no squeak status that I enjoy today.
...now I'll see if all of this still holds for tonight's practice session.
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Author: Andy
Date: 1999-02-16 22:33
Well... I aggree with each any everone of you.
But! it could be a reed problum! (oh-no!) These can be reallllllllyyyy annoying because you almost always THINK the clarinet has a problum but most comanly it's that the reed needs a little sugrey. just hold the reed up to a light and see if everything is lined up (symetrical)if not just take a reed knife or a sharp object and shave a little off the sides. Once you finish that it probaly should work. If not...uhhh...then...it probaly wasn't the problum
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Author: Plácido
Date: 1999-02-21 17:39
Braces can make your life miserable. In the other hand, check out your embouchure. Keep your chin flat, and don't pinch the reed. And forget the light reed. Go up one strength level, because the light reed can squeak like a guineapig.
After checking out all the pads, fixing the position of the fingers, which you've already done, try to relax a little and fix your embouchure.
When you get rid of your braces, it'll be totally different again but don't freak out, just keep relaxed. But if you are really frustrated, go and get some candy, eat it, blow your anger out and start it again.
Pláci
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