 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: haberc
Date: 2007-04-23 23:29
I have a Normandy 4 that looks very nice and plays fine - except that I can't get the low notes to speak unless I play down from the left hand - then it's fine. Also if I tongue the low notes they will speak ok. But I can't play below G if I begin the note with no tongue. As far as I can tell the pads are all sealing but there must be a leak somewhere. Any ideas?
Thanks for any input.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2007-04-23 23:41
Either air is leaking under your fingers at the ring keys, or there are leaks under pads, or it is something to do with the way you blow the thing. Does another player have the same problem on your clarinet?
"As far as I can tell the pads are all sealing"
What tests have you done to warrant that statement? A visual check is nowhere near good enough.
Cork one end of a clarinet section, dampen your fingers (if your skin is thick or hard) and close the keys, and gently "squirt" air from your sealed mouth at gentle but firm pressure into the other end. You should not detect that air is leaving your mouth cavity.
Blowing form the lungs is not good enough for this test, because it is difficult to detect a slow reduction of air that is in the lungs.
Post Edited (2007-04-25 23:21)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-04-23 23:46
First, try a different reed. Make sure it closes against the mouthpiece all the way around, especially at the corners. Tighten the ligature up snug and then back off the screws 1/4 turn.
Check again for leaks. Lick the meaty part of your right hand next to the thumb, block the upper joint lower tenon against your hand, put down your left hand fingers and suck the air out from the top. It should hold a vacuum for several seconds. Do the same with the lower joint.
If both joints hold a vacuum, check the linked keys. If the bridge key is bent, so that the pad attached to the right hand rings can't close, you won't be able to play below chalumeau C.
If the problem notes begin with open G, the adjusting screw on the throat Ab may be too tight, holding the pad open. Finally, make sure the link between the left thumb ring and the top ring key isn't binding.
If everything is OK down to the low G, then the crow's-foot key that lowers the F/C key is probably bent.
The Normandy 4 is made of wood. A leak could come from a crack. The thinnest spot in the clarinet is between the top hole for the right index finger and the hole covered by the pad just above. Even a tiny crack can mess up the response.
Whatever the problem, a repair shop can find it quickly and fix it. You pretty clearly have a hardware problem.
Ken Shaw
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Author: samohan245
Date: 2007-04-24 01:29
heres the checklist you should follow to solve your problem:
check for leaks in pads
check if you have fingers firmly pressed on the tone holes
check the tightness of the ligature
check for damage to the reed
check if you have your reed correctly placed on the mouthpiece
see if you reed size is the problem
lastly check your EMBROCHURE
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-04-25 12:12
I read Gordon's "Either your fingers are leaking OR the ring keys" fingers leaking ? thought it was funny misreading it ... ;-)
have you been able to figure it out haberc from the excellent info about ?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-04-25 12:35
I liked the suggestion that the rings are maladjusted - I am persnickety about this myself but often fail to bring it up in these discussions. Flush with the surrounding wood usually works most often but it's a matter of comfortably bringing down the cup above the right index finger while sealing the hole completely with the tip of your fingers.
Also in addition to the above suggestions, the problem may be that the right hand Ab/Eb key may not have enough spring tension. This key will "blow open" with standard playing air pressure and leave you with the notes below not speaking - these notes are more sensitive to the problem than the clarion register.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-04-25 23:34
Though you can have leaking fingers - air can leak through the grooves in your fingerprints which is why it's best to test joints with wet fingers or Blu-Tack.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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