 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rene
Date: 2000-01-30 10:11
I recently got a B46 mouthpiece, and put it on my student clarinet to try. One thing is sure: it improves the sound. The tone is richer, fuller and especially better in the higher range. However, I have found no way of avoiding the noise of floating air (sssssss), especially noticable when playing the short notes G, A and Bb. The only way is to take a very soft reed (1 1/2 Rico), but this reed makes an ugly reedy tone, and the noice is not even completely gone. With all 2 1/2 reeds I tried, I could not get rid of the noise. Not even by harding my lips or any other trick I tried.
My background: I am a starter. So it may easily be my fault. But for all I tried, I believe there is nothing one can do with the material I have. Besides, getting used to an airy sound. In singing, I'd call it a hoarse sound.
I have dicussed this with Dee already, but may someone else comes up with a solution.
Rene.
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 2000-01-30 12:06
Part of this problem may very well be the adjustment period required for a new mouthpiece, especially if your previous mouthpiece was very different from the one you use now. When I switched from a 5RV Lyre to a B40 13, I was making all sorts of unusual noises, just because of the dramatic difference in response between the two. The sounds you're describing seem to be the same as the sounds I call "fuzzy"--where there's an audible bacon-frying noise as well as the tone being produced. If that's the case, part of the problem may be that the new mouthpiece changed reed response on you, and the 2 1/2 reeds suddenly feel too hard. This will go away with time, but only if you continue using the 2 1/2 reeds.
The noise may also be the result of your embouchure: try thinking of your mouth turning into a large donut shape that surrounds the mouthpiece and reed. This really helped me eliminate a lot of extra sounds. If this helps, then your embouchure just needs a bit more strengthening: do long tones with this feel and it'll strengthen up fast.
Those are the best suggestions I can give without seeing/hearing you, so I hope that these help you out. If you try all the suggestions given to you by Dee and all the others who post here, I'd see about getting one hour of lesson from a local teacher; he or she may be able to spot something in person that's harder to figure out from description. HOpe this helps!
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Author: Rene
Date: 2000-02-02 19:30
Thanks for the reply, Katherine. I did indeed ask a local teacher. Well, he told me that the ssssss-noise is almost normal. It vanish with distance to the player. It will also be better on a better clarinet, as well as with a stronger tone, which comes by and by. Seems the mp has a much more voluminous sound, and such also amplifies the noises and carries them to the listener more easily.
So, for the time being, I try to ignore it. However, I'd really like to know, if a mouthpiece with a longer layer and a closer opening would be more to my liking.
Rene
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2000-02-03 04:12
If you like having a more open mouthpiece, you might try a Portnoy. I use a BP02, which is a similar tip opening to a B45 or B46. Throat tones are much improved, although the low register can get a bit metallic. Try one and see what you think.
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