 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KristinVanHorn
Date: 2008-05-31 21:46
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> A lot if the reed is too soft you won't be able to go very high
> without the reed closing off.
>
> The higher you play, the faster the reed vibrates.
>
> It however isn't "the harder the better" though
>
I play with a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece and a #2 Legere reed. Is that too soft? My high notes don't sound very good.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-05-31 21:50
As one goes higher we tend to bite more. Softer reeds will close up. Tone quality is thinner......Dynamically not as loud. The biggest issue might be pitch....high notes don't slot as well resulting in squirrelly/unstable notes or notes that are just flat compared to the lower register notes. Reeds that are too soft also take away from rapid articulation. I guess the reed just doesn"t rebound quickly enough. Your question was regarding quality....... you didn't specify tone quality so I expanded a bit on my reply to cover more ground.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-05-31 22:01
try a vandoren m13-L mouthpiece and a #3.0 vandoren blue box reed - see what happens. can you try one out at a local music store?
do you have a private teacher who can let you try out a few different combinations? i keep 10-12 different mouthpieces and a bunch of different reeds around just for my students to test out different combinations..
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: KristinVanHorn
Date: 2008-06-01 04:38
try a vandoren m13-L mouthpiece and a #3.0 vandoren blue box reed - see what happens. can you try one out at a local music store?
do you have a private teacher who can let you try out a few different combinations? i keep 10-12 different mouthpieces and a bunch of different reeds around just for my students to test out different combinations..
Unfortunately our local music store is very limited and ill equiped. They have a good tech but that's about the only good thing about them. Anyway I did try a Vandoran V12 #2-1/2 reed with the C85-105 mouthpiece that came with my Selmer 10S II and it improved the high notes quite a bit. Those seem to be really good reeds. Expensive but good. I think if I can work up to a 3 the high notes will improve even more.
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Author: KristinVanHorn
Date: 2008-06-01 04:43
Yamaha isn't a very good mouthpiece. If you are serious about getting a good sound, consider upgrading.
Actually I ordered a Grabner K13 mouthpiece. The mouthpiece that came with my Selmer clarinet is a C85-105 and I was told that it supose to be a good mouthpiece too. I assume that 105 means 1.05 tip opening?
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2008-06-01 05:46
Kristin, yes the 105 means 1.05. I personally play a C85-105 with a Gonzalez FOF 3.5. TRY THEM! I USED to play V12 3.5 but I like the Gonzalez's better because they project more and play easier out the box, are cheaper at my store, and give a darker tone quality. I get wonderful remarks on my tone. The other day, I had to do a rehearsal on a Vandoren 4.5 traditional and my director told me that what did I do different because my sound was thin and nasally like an oboe and that I had lost my dark tone quality. I also should add I can comfortably get to "super C". I also used to play a Yamaha 4C. IMO, the C85 is a MUCH better mouthpiece.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-06-01 10:01
"Freelance woodwind performer" Hey John, I like that handle!
Bob Draznik
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2008-06-01 16:30
When playing, the reed flaps against the mouthpiece at the frequency produced by the clarinet. In order to do that, it has to be able to respond quickly to the pressure fluctuations in the mouthpiece. And, to do that, it is necessary for the reed to be able to vibrate faster than the frequency of the tone being produced.
In the altissimo register, the tones being produced by the clarinet rise in frequency to approach the natural vibration frequency of the reed alone. If the reed is not stiff enough, the clarinet will not "speak."
If your altissimo is not working, you should experiment with a stiffer reed. A softer reed will work fine in the lower registers. But you need a minimum stiffness to enable the highest notes.
Bob Phillips
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Author: estclar82
Date: 2008-06-01 17:00
I don´t know. How do you practise high notes.
I play long notes chromatic intervalls, like seconds, thirds etc. But chromatically. It very useful for technique and useful for all instrument. Of course we may play correctly without mistakes first and secund register, but the upper register has to be correct without mistakes too.
You may play every reed you like the upper register.
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2008-06-01 21:17
Hi Kristin,
You will sure notice a difference in the K-13. If you wish to stick with the Legere, I would try the Quebec #3 with that mouthpiece. If you wish to experiment then the FOF's are great reeds. If the number 3 is to hard, move up to a regular 2.5 like David suggested then after awhile you will be able to do the #3's. I find the number 3 Legere's about the same hardness as the FOF's. For my playing and other reasons I like the Legere Ontario reeds, but the FOF's were my favorite cane reed.
...Jim
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Author: LonDear
Date: 2008-06-01 22:03
You will certainly enjoy your Grabner K13. I use a Legere 3.5Q on my K13 and can hit double C 100% of the time, and I'm an old dude who doesn't practice consistently. I prefer a K14, but miss hitting the double C every once in a while. My mentor is constantly telling me to relax - that doesn't mean the embouchure, but the whole air column. Try playing some of the Bach violin sonatas at fortissimo, in practice, not performance for a while and you should get the confidence to put the serious amount of air into the horn that you need to extend your range.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-06-01 23:38
HTe K 13 works very well, as mentioned above, withe Legere Quebec cut reeds. THe mouthpiece performs best with about a 3.5 Legere, if you will still be using that brand. It is also designed to work well with comparable strengths of Gonzalez FOF and Vandoren V12 reeds. My K13 sounds great when I use Legere Quebecs on it. I keep reeds in 3.5 and 3.75 strengths, for differing situations.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2008-06-02 13:02
Regarding several messages about Legere Quebec reeds. Please know that Quebec reeds are not made in strengths below #3.
Roger
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