 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MaDxClArInAtOr
Date: 2006-10-19 21:51
Hi everyone.
I need some help - if i play c#/g# anything past mezzo-piano, i get this fuzzy and raspy airy sound that no matter how hard i try to voice it sounds odd. has anyone else experienced this, and if so how did you go about fixing it?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-10-19 23:23
How much venting have you got on the C#/G# pad? You want a good 2.5-3mm opening at the front of the pad.
But even so, the standard C#/G# tonehole isn't ideal - it's placed too high up the top joint and the tonehole is resultingly smaller so the C#/G# is in tune, so the quality of this note suffers as a result.
Most one-piece body clarinets (wood and metal) and most clarinets with an articulated G# key have the tonehole in it's correct place and correct diameter - that's almost exactly half way between the C and D toneholes, and on full Boehms etc. that have a middle tenon, the tonehole goes through both the socket and tenon.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-10-20 01:11
Also make sure there are no obstructions or lint build-up in the tone hole.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2006-10-20 02:19
Also make sure that you don't have a loose skin on the pad that starts buzzing as the volume increases.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-10-20 09:31
If the problem is both on the C# and G# then one of the above suggestions could help. If it is only the C# that has an airy sound but the G# is fine, then that's how every clarinet I've played was. The C# will always (maybe not on one piece body or articulated clarinets which I haven't played) have a slight air sound comapred with the other notes. I also noticed the player hears this a lot more than the audience.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-10-20 11:33
And choose reeds that aren't too hard as these will only make the troublesome (resistant and stuffy) notes on the lower register much worse.
Try a slightly softer reed than you normally use to see if this clears things up.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: MaDxClArInAtOr
Date: 2006-10-21 00:39
when i try a softer reed (like 3 or 3.5) the tone is really thin because i use an M15. the suggested reed strength for an M15 (for 56 Rue Lepic) is 4. ive tried 4's, 3.5+'s, 3.5's, and 3's and the airiness is still there. and i dont think its the reed because everything else sounds pure and consistent.
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