 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: markBbclar
Date: 2003-12-28 14:50
About 20 years ago I was intermidiate clarinet player. I haven't play it again until about 3 months ago. Suprisingly, it's like riding a bike,
you don't forget so I'm doing pretty well but forgot a lot of things, I mean technical stuff e.g. what mouthpiece, what reed etc.
Like I said, I'm doing pretty well but I have a problem to get high notes right. I've noticed that to get those notes right I have a tendency to bite on a reed which, I know is not correct but this way I get them out.
Am I using reeds that are too soft?
Am I using a mouthpiece that is no good for me?
I play Buffet E13 with original mouthpiece that came with it and it is pretty comfortable for me though a high notes problem persists.
I also have Selmer C85 (friend of mine gave it to me) but this one gives me more squeaking although seems simetimes a little easier to play then Buffet though has a little jazzy sound (in my opinion) so I use it to play jazz.
I wonder what kind of mouthpiece I need to play those high notes easier, more open?, medium?, closed?.
Should I try harder reeds? (I use Vandorens #3).
Should I order 5..6 different mouthpieces, choose one that plays well and return the other ones? (if so , which ones), same with reeds? (though I can't return those)
What is your advise?
Mark
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-12-28 20:51
In my experience, getting high notes out well is all in your head. New equipment may help the note physically come out, but it is not the deciding factor. Think of where the note lies on the clarinet, not how high it is on the page.
For example, the B above the staff, mentally we think "wow, only my top fingers are down, this note is high" and therefore tense up and bite. The next time you play one, stop for a moment and realize how far down on the clarinet that note is. Those "top" fingers are still almost half way down the length of the clarinet. Imagine that you are resonating that much of the clarinet, and the note will likely come out much more nicely and better in tune. The same applies to all notes on the clarinet, especially in the altissimo.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-29 08:16
I have never, ever heard that advice in my life. As soon as I get off the computer, I am going to go and try it out.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-12-29 10:20
"I wonder what kind of mouthpiece I need to play those high notes easier, more open?, medium?, closed?."
I think most players find closed mouthpieces are easier to play than open. But it's a personal thing.
"Should I try harder reeds? (I use Vandorens #3)."
Not necessarily. I can play a top G on a Vandoren 1.5, and I'm not a good player by any stretch of the imagination. If a reed won't give high notes, it may be an bad or worn-out reed, or you may be playing it wrong. You shouldn't be changing reed strength just to get the high notes. You need to find the strength that works for all the notes.
"Should I order 5..6 different mouthpieces, choose one that plays well and return the other ones? (if so , which ones), same with reeds? (though I can't return those)"
Sounds a reasonable plan. The Buffet mouthpieces don't have a good reputation, so if you're struggling with it you'd probably do well to replace it. But I wouldn't get obsessive about hunting for the perfect mouthpiece. Find one that seems to play in tune and give an acceptable sound. Then learn to play it. Don't look for the mouthpiece that works with your reeds, pick the mouthpiece first, then experiment to find what brand and strength of reed works best with it.
I was talking to a mouthpiece maker the other day and he told me that frequently a pro player will try a new mouthpiece, run around the shop shouting yes yes this is the one, take it home .... then bring it back three days later. Don't be seduced.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-29 10:48
First off,
David Peacham, glad you updated your website. And great picture of you with your two clarinets. Made me giggle here in NJ! Also, what's the new clarinet? Did I miss that post? Now back on topic. . .
Another thing is that when I think about it, someone once told me that in order to play the higher notes, your embouchre should be looser than when you play the lower notes. For instance, to play a low F or E, you should use a firm embouchre to bring the pitch up a bit (they are almost always flat) and to keep the tone very nice. When you play the upper notes, a firm embouchre tends to squeeze the reed and produce a very nasty sound. You'll get the note, but it'll either be sharp or it'll just sound very thin and "icky".
This is where I think some people might use a harder reed. I figure a harder reed lets you get away with just a little more "squeezing" in the upper register without it really affecting the tone. Not a fact, but my sometimes faulty logic that detects that perhaps that is the reason people tend to increase reed strenght. As their embouchure gets stronger, you feel you're biting with the same pressure, but in actuality you're biting a little more than normal so you even it out with a harder reed.
I tried to reverse it myself tonight by using a lighter reed, and I found that I could play with the same tone as the normal reed strenght I use, but I had to really focus on keeping a loose embouchure. However a few months ago that reed that now is too soft would have been perfect.
Just my thoughts on the harder reed.
Another thing that I don't see mentioned above is airflow through the instrument. To compensate for not enough air, we tend to squeeze the reed until the note comes out. And it won't sound good. But if you loosened up and put more air through the instrument, it'd sound much MUCH better. I am now starting to get compliments on my tone and I believe that it's because I've put my tongue in that "arch" that everyone suggests (like a cat's hissing noise) and am putting lots more air into the instrument than I used to. Try that too.
Alexi
PS - Listen to David on the mouthpiece bit. Stock mouthpieces are generally not good. Most classical players play a more closed mouthpiece which gives less flexibility in pitch and more of a focused sound. With an open mouthpiece you can bend the pitch much easier. Also, when trying mouthpieces, try a few different size reeds in each if you can. But in general, closed-tip/long facing denotes a hard reed, and open-tip/short facing denotes a soft reed.
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2003-12-29 10:52)
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-12-29 11:27
It's in the mind.
When I have a lot of trouble reaching the top notes, my teacher tells me the cause is an invountary tightening of the throat muscles.
To prove it, he gets me to invert my mouthpiece, shut my eyes and blow normally while he operates the keys. To my amazement, I hit the highest notes without a problem.
From this, I deduce that the secret is a Zen-like production of an air column on which the fingers dance independently.
Easier said than done.
I've mislaid my copy, but I believe Keith Stern had some useful things to say about this.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-12-29 12:05
Alexi - you have a bad memory! My new clarinet was extensively discussed in a thread to which you contributed, earlier this month. It's a Leblanc Concerto, as can be seen from its rather horrid gold logos.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-29 12:11
Ah yes. The "Last Clarinet I will ever buy". Wow. I do have a bad memory. And it only gets worse as I get older too . . . . uh oh ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif)
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-12-30 10:50
20 year lay off, 3 months of practise only. I think you need to get some chops before you go changing mouthpieces.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-12-30 12:58
Mark Pinner - I agree that markBbclar can't sensibly make long-term mouthpiece decisions at this point. But the general opinion on this BB is that even complete beginners shouldn't use Buffet mouthpieces. Therefore it seems unreasonable to recommend that markBbclar should use one.
When I started playing 2.5 years ago, I used the stock Yamaha 6C for three months, then changed to a 5RVL. I think the change was beneficial even at that early stage - and the Yamaha mouthpiece has a better reputation than the Buffet.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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