 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-02-19 00:58
Which side - left or right - is the "closed" mouthpiece end, which the "open"?
And do you know what are the units of the "Facing" row - the top row.
Thanks for posting the chart!
JDS
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2005-02-19 02:39
Hi Jack,
If you look at the top blue line, you'll see some numbers. These are tip openings measured in thousandths of an inch with the most closed tip opening on the left and wider tip openings as you move towards the right end.
Dan
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-02-19 11:31
Thanks...
Broadly speaking, if all else remained the same, what is the general effect of a closed (small facing) vs. open mouthpiece?
If this is an imponderable - or depends too much on the player to make a general statement - so be it.
JDS
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-02-19 12:10
If everything else is the same (which is pretty much impossible of course), a more open mouthpiece will play with a softer reed than a closed mouthpiece, which will play with a harder reed. The sound will be different too, but that is impossible to explain in words, you have to hear it.
Post Edited (2005-02-19 13:21)
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-02-19 15:43
I'm not afraid to say it simply for you:
The more open the tip, the further you need to press the reed to reach that point where it will vibrate with a normal flow of air. This equates to needing a softer reed so that you do not have to kill yourself applying that pressure.
A softer reed often means a comparatively thinner sound and more likelihood of difficulty with sustaining a solid core to the sound in the altissimo register. But the reeds will usually feel easier to blow and more responsive.
The more close the tip, the thicker the reed can be because you do not have as far to close it to find the point of vibration with a normal airstream. Of course, ironically, the thicker reed will need slightly more air to make it vibrate consistently and dependably.
A firmer reed means more air but more core to the sound throughout and particularly in the altissimo registers.
The idea is that if you get the correct reed for you and the tip opening, things should feel similar either way.
My personal preference is for more core to the sound and I use firmer reeds with a somewhat close facing. You can here me playing on this page: http://www.musix4me.com/html/body_music.html
[Disclaimer: I don't promote the whole "Do as I do and you will sound as I do" garbage. The hardware is only a portion of what makes you sound like you. I'm just offering what I've done and some examples of what I've achieved with that thinking.]
Take care,
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-02-19 17:15
I notice, in the chart that Dan posted, that Mr. Blayman treats the naming of his series of 4 mouthpieces with the seriousness that such matters deserve.
JDS
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