 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Elise
Date: 2000-02-21 01:06
Hello, I have started playing the clarinet again after 25 yrs. My very sweet husband bought me a student Selmer for Christmas. Wonderful surprise! It was a rental return that had hardly been used. New mouthpiece. Anyway, I am having problems with 3rd line B as was Michael in a previous post. It doesn't jump to another note, it just sounds harsh (not a squeak) not clear. It's hard to describe. I try to be sure to cover the holes completely. Also, I tend to have a "spitty" sound. Maybe I slobber a lot! Could I be having a lot of leaks? I am using a Rico Intermediate 2 1/2 reed. I am having a wonderful time playing and have really progressed. I was surprised how quickly the fingerings came back to me after all those years. I practice about an hour a day, as long as my mouth will hold out, anyway! I dry it thoroughly after each use. Could it just be inferior equipment or inferior playing? Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-21 01:19
Welcome Back !!
Just like you, I had an extensive hiatus in my clarinet playing (over 20 years). Some things will come back surprisingly fast and others annoyingly slow but keep at it.
I suspect that you just need to practice and get your embouchure and technique back. Selmer student clarinets are pretty good so you should be ok there. However, I'd suggest a different reed such as a Rico Royal or Mitchell Lurie. Use the same strength as you are using now.
If the mouthpiece is a Bundy, you might want to get a better one. Note that a Bundy clarinet is fine though its just the mouthpiece that isn't so good. If it has a regular Selmer mouthpiece though you should be fine as these much better. If you get a different mouthpiece, Hite and Fobes are very good low cost ones. Many people like the Vandoren B45 but it costs more.
Look into joining a community band in your area. Most of them need clarinets. Even if you don't feel ready, you'll progress much faster and have even more incentive to practice. Don't worry if you haven't regained all your technique yet. Most badly need some one to play third parts. A band without the bottom sounds thin so these parts are essential.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Donna
Date: 2000-02-21 01:36
It's great that you are playing again! I would suggest a couple of alterations in your set-up that might make a big difference. I don't agree with Dee about the B-45, because the sound tends to be too open. For someone at your level, I would recommend getting a Vandoren 5RV-Lyre mouthpiece. They're not as much as the B45 and I like them better. Also, once you start to get your embouchure back, I would upgrade to at least a 3 or 3 1/2 reed. This will help you bite more and get a more focused sound. I play on Vandoren V-12s, but Mitchell Luries are good too.
I wish you all the luck in the world!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-21 03:39
Donna wrote:
-------------------------------
It's great that you are playing again! I would suggest a couple of alterations in your set-up that might make a big difference. I don't agree with Dee about the B-45, because the sound tends to be too open. For someone at your level, I would recommend getting a Vandoren 5RV-Lyre mouthpiece. They're not as much as the B45 and I like them better. Also, once you start to get your embouchure back, I would upgrade to at least a 3 or 3 1/2 reed. This will help you bite more and get a more focused sound. I play on Vandoren V-12s, but Mitchell Luries are good too.
I wish you all the luck in the world!
-------------------------------
The two Vandoren mouthpieces cost exactly the same (I checked my catalog). If there was any variance, you simply bought them at different places or different times (i.e. there might have been a price change).
Also the 5RV or 5RV Lyre is too closed for a beginner or some just resuming playing. You need about a 3 1/2 Vandoren reed or harder to make it play well. In the Mitchell Luries and many other brands that would be equivalent to a 4. Again this is too hard a reed for some one who is just getting back into playing.
In mouthpiece choices there are many trade offs. I can make my B45 sound just like my 5RV but it requires a little more attention to the sound on my part. The advantage is that the B45 is an easier blowing mouthpiece, seems to have more volume, and allows the use of slightly softer reeds. On the other hand, the 5RV is a little easier to get a good sound on if you are up to the reeds that it needs. However, it doesn't allow me to generate as loud a sound and the harder reeds will wear out your embouchure faster.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-21 03:41
Donna wrote:
-------------------------------
... This will help you bite more and get a more focused sound. ...
-------------------------------
And unless you are going for some unusual effects, you never, ever "bite". It leads to a thin, pinched sound in the clarion and altissimo registers.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2000-02-21 03:41
If the notes above B play and you know you have all the holes covered, you may have a leak. Since you stated that horn is like new, I would suspect a key needing tweaking. Most likely one of the large pads on the lower section, on the right side. While playing this B, have someone press each pad cup one at a time and see if the note speaks. If it does, have a repairman tweak it into proper regulation. when ya gotta leak, this B is most likely the first note to disappear.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave
Date: 2000-02-22 04:42
I am about to order a B45, but there are choices in the ww&bw catalog.
Background: I am a sax player just learning soprano and bass clarinet. Musically, I'm jumping right in and playing in our jazz band "pit" for the musical "Mame." I am renting a "plastic" Buescher Aristocrat, and it came with a Selmer Goldentone 3 MP. VanDoren 2 1/2 reeds work well. The worst note is a very stuffy throat Bb. Otherwise I like the pretty open sound and am considering buying it from the store for a couple of hundred. It is in very good repair and has nice metalwork. And I've had a wood Selmer Signet to compare to for a couple of days. I can always evaluate a pro model later.
In additional to the black ebonite "traditional", the catalog has the B45 Profile 88, and something called B-45 dot. Per the Vandoren web site these are also available in "2Tones." Also a B-45 with a little lyre symbol beside it which they say plays like a B-40 with the "comfort" of a B-45. Any comments on these. Can I expect a significant improvement over the Goldentone?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger
Date: 2000-02-22 05:31
I agree with all that Dee has said. I am an older player (57) who first started playing 2 years ago. My 3rd line B sounded quite 'rattley' for some time, but eventually it was concentration on my embouchure and breath support which corrected it.
I would add the Pyne Poly Crystal to the Hite Premier and Fobes Debut as being very nice mouthpieces at very good prices ($20 - $30.
Stick at it, because soon you'll get there and it feels so good to play pieces well.
Roger
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-22 13:14
Really the best thing to do is try them out. I believe you an order them on a trial basis but of course you must return them unmarked in any way so it would probably be wise to use the mouthpiece cushions to prevent teeth marks.
The Profile 88 version is simply a different external contour in comparison to the traditional that may be more comfortable for some people. The internal contour is the same. The 2Tones are simply a decorative color scheme in comparison to the original. I can't speak to the dot.
Can you expect a significant improvement? Hard to say. Everyone is different. That's why you need to try them for yourself.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
