 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kris
Date: 2000-01-31 19:27
I've just begun playing again after an 18 year hiatus. I was given a LeBlanc Noblet Artist for Christmas with a VanDoren B45 and an Optimum ligature. (This is an upgrade from the old Wooden Normandy 4 I played throughout school).
I have tuner software on my computer which I have been using (my ear has become rusty). I am able to peg the tuner on all notes except a couple, (I believe I may have a couple leaky pads). The problem is when I listen to my playing I'm not satisfied, I seem to be lacking clarity of sound although I'm definitely in tune. Does anyone have suggestions? I'm not sure what the exact problem is, otherwise I would work on it.
Thanks for any advice...
Kris
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-01-31 21:52
Some folks say you should play for your own ear first and have someone else look at the meter for you. That's not always practical and I still believe that you need to be able to play to the meter on your own so you can tune up for performances with a meter on your own.
Another drill to do is to vary the volume of the sound from ppp to fff and still keep the tuning meter pegged right in the middle. Remember, the clarinet demands much more air support than many folks realize. You might need to work on air support drills with a softer reed for a while. As a fellow adult novice, I personally use a Vandoren V-12 2.5 strength reed on a Vandoren B45 mp. I also have 3.0 reeds, even some sanded down 3.0s that play like 2.75 or so, but they are just too stiff for me at this time. I get a lot better sound with less effort out of the 2.5 reed.
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Author: kris
Date: 2000-01-31 22:58
Thanks Paul,
I'm using a Vandoren 2.5 reed also. I am able to keep the meter pegged playing pp to ff as well, but something just isn't right. I'm just not satisfied but don't know what direction to go in. I'm not sure if I'm describing it right but it just seems like I'm lacking something.
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Author: Kristine
Date: 2000-02-01 00:24
I was going to ask what strength reed you are using..perhaps that is the problem, if you say that you are lacking clarity, is it? What exactly are you trying to achieve? Do your notes lack focus? I am not sure if I would be playing along side a computer right away...the pitches that may be given might not help you right off the bat..you should try long note exercises, holding each note of whatever scale for about 8 counts in a slow meter and play it very loudly without distorting the tone. This will, after time, give you a wide dynamic range and a good depth to your sound. Full air capacity is a must and when you first do these you may feel completely tired, but over time it will improve your sound. I would also try a stronger reed, perhaps a Vandoreen 3 even a 3 1/2 and is your ligature normal or reversed? (screws on the outside of the mouthpiece) I hope I have helped you in some way please feel free to write me for more clarification, if necessary. good luck!
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Author: Graham Elliott
Date: 2000-02-01 08:37
People often think their sound is not as clear as it should be, when in fact it is. This leads people to make sounds which are more suitable to their ears than the audience's. Try recording yourself (microphone a fair way away, and with decent quality kit). Even if you are still disatisfied, you will have a better idea what the problem is.
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Author: kris
Date: 2000-02-01 13:05
Thanks Graham,
That's a good idea. I am able to hold the notes for 12 counts without variation in the pitch. Maybe I've been away from this too long and have lost my "ear" for it. I will try recording, I guess that would be a good litmus test. Thanks!
Kris
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-02-01 15:24
The walls, ceiling, and floor of the practice room have a lot to do with the perceived sound. If you have a muffled environment, you may not hear the sound you are looking for. Let me give you a couple of easy examples to clarify.
I usually practice in a room with thick carpeting and lots of thick padded fuzzy stuff all around me (an overstuffed chair, stored blankets, etc.) in a very small room of my house. The sound is muffled a lot. The sound I hear in this room is radically different when I practice in my kitchen. It's chock full of hard and flat surfaces, bouncing the sound back to me, giving me a completely different sound.
Try Graham's recording trick to get a different perspective on your sound. Also, try his trick in different rooms with radically different acoustical properties.
I'll go from cheap to expensive here. First, do the drills to make sure you have good air support for all notes and you have thorough control of intonation. It seems like you have already been there and done that. Next, see if you can try different strength reeds and different mouthpieces. Besides being much cheaper to experiment with, the reed strength can have a big affect on tone, especially for novice players. As you know, I have a box of 2.5 and 3.0 reeds. I also have a box of 3.5 reeds and a box of reeds equal to 2.0. I don't use the reeds from the last two boxes much, but at least I have the option to try. Next up is the mouthpiece. A closed mp sounds lower/deeper and an open mp sounds higher/brighter. So, having several different styles of mp can help you "color" your tone. Having a bunch of mps that are in the middle probably won't help much. But, like me, if that's all you have, try them out every now and then anyway. If you still aren't satisfied with your sound, see if you can test play other brands/models of clarinets to see if you can get the sound you really want. This is an expensive path to take, so you might need to know what sound you want ahead of time. Undercut clarinets with the narrow polycylindrical bore produce a different tone (more towards classical music) than wide straight cut, straight bored horns (more towards jazz).
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-02 01:10
Check your air support. You need to push strongly with the diaphragm muscle whether playing loud or soft. Lack of support tends to correlate directly to lack of clarity in the sound.
Your embouchure is also probably out of shape. As the embouchure regains its strength, the clarity of your sound may improve.
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