 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lifeforms
Date: 2006-07-29 00:33
Bearing in mind that I'm self teaching, with no real resources, and just playing music....
How do you tounge on the clarinet? Currently to break up notes I seem to be just stopping air flow, by blocking my throat presumably, or grace noting on a note above, or below to get that split. I can't quite get how to tounge properly tho.
On the flute I flick my tip of my tounge up to stop air flow, faster for the likes of tuplets etc, or slower to just break two double notes. When I try this on the clarinet I hit the reed, then I get a sloppy wet sound, and if I do it a few times I get a lot of saliva in my mouth, which can transfer onto the reed meaning I have to stop and clear it. The flute is easy, I think just cos theres nothing in the mouth to begin with.
Is it the Tuh sound with the tounge touching the reed? cos this also seems to wet the reed too. I know I have to practice on it, but I not sure on the right way to do it to practice it. When you Tuh on it, and don't touch the reed you get a Tuh sound in the head. Does this transfer outside so others can hear it, and if so is this ok?
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On a happy note, I may be getting a second hand student model clarinet to replace my corton - Depending on a flute service cost *G*Robbing clarinet to pay for flute and all that. No luck on losing my First flute status either, however having just been given star wars for the flute, i shall be playing the clarinet part!
Anyway, cost wise looking for around £150-200 max. Any brand I should look out for? I shall be getting one from a woodwind shop, so the likes of high cost models, but bargains on *that* auction site will prolly be out cos of the cost wise. You tend to not get bargains in places like those. It'll be a case of what they've got, I'll try. However some names/models would be a help so I can at least be selective on what they do have.
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Author: D
Date: 2006-07-29 01:43
If you live near a decent size public library, it would be worth spending a little time there. Mine had some quite good books on beginning clarinet and general technique which explain things like tounging quite well, but also had pictures, invaluble! Best thing to do is ask someone who plays well, but if you are not in the music loop then I fully appreciate this is easier said than done.
Essentially, you are creating pressure inside you and the clarinet (not blowing down in like you do the flute) and you control when the pressure gets down the clarinet by that flappy pink thing in your mouth. Place it on the reed, (not the very tip cos it bl****y stings!) place your lips correctly (bottom lip should be where the reed and mouthpiece separate) and then create the pressure as if you were playing. When you want a note to start then you stop touching the reed, and then touch it again to stop the note. With the pressure already there you shouldn't get that kind of grunting noise where the note starts. don't stop the note by stopping the pressure, because the pitch will tail off at the end of the note and make an ugly sound. You should be in contact with the reed unless you are making noise. Think of it as playing the silence just as much as you are playing the notes.
Not a very eloquent explanation I am afraid, but then it is 2.41 am here and my neighbour is having a loud party. Hope this helps a little.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-07-29 09:00
Lifeforms - if you are in Oxford as suggested above, drive over to Dawkes (www.dawkes.co.uk) in Maidenhead. They will sell you a new Yamaha or Buffet B12 for £259; they have secondhand ones within your price range. Avoid the B10 and the Jupiter, which are less well thought of and less likely to hold value.
Dawkes are a well-known and reliable firm and I am a satisfied customer of theirs (but no more than that!)
There is no point buying on-line or by post - Dawkes will look after you post-sale, which is far more important than saving a few pounds.
Bear in mind that you may want a new mouthpiece too; the Buffet ones are pretty well universally loathed, and the Yamaha ones aren't the greatest. Dawkes have a large selection and will let you try as many as you want in the shop.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: lifeforms
Date: 2006-07-29 10:15
D,
The joys of living in a remote area are the libraries are sadly lacking in most types of books *G* This is quite a folky area, with quite a few folky folk to have come from here, yet music is still mostly treated with discord for the *ahem* mature generations.
I do like the explanation tho - That makes sense to me, I'll give that one a try and get back to it.
Having a quick go with my mouthpiece only it does seem to work with that description. I don't think I am, mostly, hitting it low enough. When I take it out and look at the reed, the tip, maybe a quater of an inch of the reed, is soppy. I am currently using a two mitchell lurie reed, and have just recieved a 2.5 and 3, so wondering if I need to change my reed. I've got a practice tonight, so I'll give it a go with the whole clarinet then.
David, I actually live in Scottish Borders, for some reason my ISP says oxford, cos I use an ntl proxy server. Thanks for the suggestions tho - Jupiter I would have avoided, along with the stags etc just because of the flute. I tried a jupiter flute once, slightly cheaper than my TJJ Cantable II, but sound wise, way less in quality. As for stag etc, I hold those in discord anyway, simply because kids in our community band have had so many problems with them :-(
I'll look at the Yamahas, and Buffet B12's. Is it just for keeping value that the B-10 gets ignored? Or is it a clarinet with issues? What about Boosey and Hawkes clarinets?
I got a Pomerico sappy mouthpiece for my last birthday, so I'll be using a different mp anyway, and I will be visiting a woodwind shop to at least try them out. I've bought accessories from Dawkes mail order anyway. It's a very good quick place.
Thank you both for the advice!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-07-29 10:32
If you're going for an old B&H clarinet, go for an Edgware, Emperor, Imperial (926) or 1010 - but as these haven't been made for over 20 years now make sure you find one that has been recently reconditioned WELL rather than one that's allegedly been 'overhauled' (where in fact it's only probably been serviced or checked over very cheaply, and over 10 years ago!).
The B10 is a cheaper version of the B12, having cheaper keywork (though still the same amount of keys) and all black plastic tenon rings - the B12 also has plastic tenon rings but these are nickel plated to look lile metal. The B10 also had synthetic pads (Valentino) which were prone to sticking against the toneholes if not well maintained, though I think these have been changed to the usual skin (or double bladder) pads.
But definitely the Yamaha or Buffet B12 for starters.
(My ISP says USA, but I'm in West Sussex!)
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-07-29 18:40
Sing the piece to yourself. Then sing it with 'ta' on every note. This is quite intense, especially in fast pieces. Try instead 'da' on every note. Then 'na'. Don't cheat and use other syllables if you can help it. Somewhere in this mixture is the right motion for playing the clarinet. Sing down it (obviously without actually using your vocal chords ;-D) ... the clarinet is, after all, an extension of your own voice.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-07-29 20:24
If you do go with a Boosey and Hawkes clarinet, bear in mind also that it may not play in tune with a "normal" modern mouthpiece. This is especially true of the 1010, also to some extent of the 926. You can get mouthpieces designed for them, but at a price.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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