 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clariphant in Bb
Date: 2006-11-04 00:53
I've noticed lately that my sound tends to vibrate when I play notes that use just a few fingers (anything that uses just the left-hand index, ring or thumb). It is most noticeable in the throat tones from D to open G, but it also is prevalent in their register-key-down equivalents and in altissimo f-sharp and somewhat in the G (but it seems to stabalize for high A...). The reeds don't seem to hard to me (the throat tones aren't airy), and from what I can tell, their isn't a noticeably present pitch variance in the vibration. I've also noticed that it is much more noticeable in rooms with wood paneling on the walls (ie: band room, private lessons room) and not very noticeable in my own, carpeted room. Could I just be hearing echoes? I doubt this though, because other people have noticed it too. They compliment me on my sound though, so they like the way I sound. Maybe they're just hearing echoes? They only talk about it if I bring it up. Is it possible that I'm trying to support the instrument with my left hand? This problem is more noticeable the more open a mouthpiece I'm using, so possibly I'm moving my mouthpiece slightly and that has more effect on an open mouthpiece that responds more to slight changes (?) Any idea what is causing this problem? Again, notes that use more keys, like middle C, low B, etc., don't seem to have this problem.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2006-11-04 05:52
I have had this problem on very rare occurances. I happens more often with the German clarinet's 1st high C, middle finger fingering; and sax's 1st high C.
Assuming the pads are sealing, it happens if their is not enough pad clearance and/or the tone holes are too small. In either case, air can't move as it should and goes to and fro between 2 or more holes. Similar idea to think about- driving fast with the window down just the right amount will cause vibration; but a little more open or closed and the sound stops.
Best advice is leave it alone for now; it may pass. If it continues and becomes a real annoyance then have a good repairperson look at it. It is usually easy to find and correct.
good luck-
S
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-11-06 08:25
Sounds like an embouchure thing to me... if you wobble, the short fingerings wobble more than the long fingerings (one reason why tuning to a long fingering e.g. clarion C is a good idea). I wobble when I'm tired and trying to play them too loud... they take a lot of control to play well and I can find myself uncontrollably 'hunting'. But it does sound kinda jazzy.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-11-06 08:49
Could it be the air rushing hard against a pad (one of the in-betweeners)? I'd expect this to be more of a humm/buzz/hiss than a wobble, but maybe there comes some resonance frequency and interference into play or the pad is about to go south.
(thus I'm with skygardener on this issue - the car window analogy is perfect)
--
Ben
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