 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-02-19 13:01
I have been playing again since last October. I took a 25 year break, so I'm almost starting over with embouchure and technique (although I was surprised at how easily my fingers remembered what to do.) Dee and others were helpful with suggesting that I may have had a leak when I couldn't get the 3rd line B to sound properly. I had the leaks fixed.
I have been using a Mitchell Lurie #2 1/2 reed which was fine with all the notes except the B. This week has been very frustrating. The band I'm playing with is working on a piece that has the clarinets out front with Turkey In The Straw and the B figures prominently and it has to be played fast. The tone on the B still wants to change pitch to something like an out of tune G (just above the staff.)
I switched back to a Mitchell Lurie #2 and the problem is better. Why would a softer reed make a difference?
I'm starting to remember why I quit playing in the first place. I'm not going to give up, but I think I'll keep my day job! Michael
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-19 13:37
Here's my guess. Since the passage is relatively fast for you at this time, you aren't getting all the holes completely covered or that you aren't pressing all the touchpieces completely down as you move onto the B from the other notes. If you are slightly off on one of the holes, it can act like an extra register key and cause the note to jump.
Try playing this passage very slowly. Repeat it many times to get a smooth transition between notes. If it doesn't go lower than the open G (second line from the bottom of the staff), you can leave the right hand fingers on the holes and keys. This helps minimize the amount of movement of the hand, stabilizes the instrument, and actually can sometimes improve the tone quality and tuning of the throat tones (open G through Bb).
A softer reed generates weaker high harmonics than a harder reed so that it is harder to jump to the higher notes and thus is less prone to squeek. On the other hand, as you progress, on the softer reed it is more difficult to play the upper clarion notes and altissmo notes and a person may develop the bad habit of "pinching" to get the high notes or to get them in tune.
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Author: William
Date: 2000-02-19 15:16
In additions to Dee's great advice, it might still be a leak. In playing third line B, you are using the whole "tube" so there are lots of pads that needs to be sealing properly. How is low E???
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2000-02-19 15:33
I agree with Dee's analysis of the problem.
Since the "out of tune G above the staff" is the next harmonic for the "all finger down B"-fingering, it's pretty certain that you are pinching. With the harder reed it feels heavier to blow when you cross the break from the throat-register from A to B. With the lighter reed it feels easier so you don't have to pinch. Try what Dee suggested to play repeatedly ABABAB with the harder reed without moving the right hand and without changing the embouchure until you get the right feeling. Than practice ABG#BGBG#BAB over again until it feels right. The book: Paul Jeanjean; "Vade-Mecum" du Clarinettiste (Alphonse Leduc) have excellent exercises for this.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-02-19 15:36
Dern it! Had some additions to Dee's good advice [and now to William's] ready to post, had elect. interruption, erased! I "warm-up" going across the "break", open G to 4th line D slowly then faster, to get brain-fingers somewhat coordinated! My non-looked-up thot is that a slight UJ leak [a finger-pulling?] is causing you a register-jump to the 5th harmonic [of the low E] which MAY be about a top-of-staff G! Keep at it, its still fun! Don
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-02-20 04:40
Thanks to all of you for the advice. I must be moving my fingers just a little and opening a hole. I'll keep pracitcing and if it keeps acting up, I'll have someone look for leaks aagain (besides the hole I must have in one of my fingers!) Sorry I didn't respond earlier, I've been
painting my living room all day.
I'm still having fun with my clarinet. I'm going to find a tutor soon. Michael
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