 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tim T
Date: 2000-09-06 11:58
Hi All!
Background:
I have been playing now for a little over three years. I try to practice every day even just a little. Currently I have finally been reaching high D, E, and F. I blow long notes most every day, and do scales. It is paying off.
Also, I am play longer, and more consistently. Actually finishing pieces I use to not even get 1/2 way through without stopping to replay the hard parts. Plus I've started to play in a band.
Problem:
It seems that I am going through reeds at an alarming rate. I use Mitchell Lurie Premium 3's(and have for some time), and plain do not have the time to make my own.
I have a hite premium mouthpiece(that I dearly love), and an old hite mouthpiece that is not as free blowing, but seems to help with the high notes. I bought a Vandorn B45 mouthpiece - YUK! - is all I have to say about it. It sits in the case.
Tried Vandorn reeds, but I hate paying for a box of 10 to get, maybe, two good ones.
Questions(looking for any and all opinions/experiences):
Would a stronger reed help me with the high notes.
Would a stronger reed last longer.
Would a different mouthpiece help at this time with the high notes? If so what one? and what reed strength to go with it?
I really do not wish to go back on the great reed quest for long, so any adivce that even points me in the right direction is helpful.
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 2000-09-06 13:07
The answer to your reed question is yes, stronger reeds will help reach high notes and last longer--they have enough wood there to prevent the reed from closing off or wearing out. A different mouthpiece may or may not help; people will have heard this before from me, but it's important that you find a mouthpiece that works for you, and since everyone's mouth shape is different, it's hard for someone else to tell what's best for you. For example, I play a Vandoren B45 13, and I think it's the best thing I've ever found; for you, however, it's pretty clear that the B45 didn't work very well. Most stores will have a few display model mouthpieces you could try out, which would give you a better idea if the mouthpiece switch might help your playing, without making you pay for one of each.
Just an aside, by the way, if you decide to go back to trying Vandorens: there are advantages to their system, because there are reeds of different strengths in each box (ranging around the number on the box, for example 3=about 2.7 to 3.2) and that provides opportunities to find a few reeds that will work in the box; the disadvantage being that many of the others won't work. You'll get a lot more good reeds out of a box of Vandorens (and probably any other reed, for that matter, although I can't say for sure because I've only played Vandorens) if you get some 600 grit wet-dry sandpaper and polish the back and sides of each reed with a few strokes on a flat surface. You'll be able to feel the difference when you put them in your mouth--the back will feel much smoother--and it seems to even out some of the reeds so you get more like 4 or 5 out of a box instead of 2. Also, keep those extras! When you go back later, they may have aged or your playing may have changed, and some of them may work well for you then. Hope all this helps!
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-09-07 04:29
I use Gloten #3 GIII reeds with a Gennusa (sp?) mouthpiece, and moisten and play them for a few minutes several times before I seriously start to use them. I frequently work them down a little with a reed knife until they play easily enough. I don't get the knife out right away though, I break them in at least part way first. I'm probably playing them at a stiffness that is more like 2 1/2, but if I buy 2 1/2 stiffness reeds they crap out too quick, so I prefer to adjust down. When they get too soft I clip the ends (as little as possible). Often times they'll play awhile longer. Sometimes after I clip them they get too stiff, and I work them down more with the reed knife--kind of like sharpening a pencil. After awhile I lose control of the shape of the reed, then it has a second useful life as a glue applicator.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-09-07 17:01
Ken,
You sound just like me. I play Glotin No. 3, and scrape them down until they are comfortable on a B45 lyre mouthpiece. You touch on a question I had. Does hardness refer to the thickness or the consistency of the cane? Or both? Like you, I find that the 2.5 reeds go mushy too quickly.
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Author: K.S.
Date: 2000-09-07 18:56
Perhaps, I'm being extremely stingy, but I use a generic mpc supplied by the music store I bought my horn from, so I don't know how its dimensions compare to the others, except that I tried Vandoren 5RV, B40 and B45, and didn't like them and opted for the generic no-name blank mpc.
With Rico Royal 31/2, I don't experience problems up till altissimo B/super C ( of course, they eventually soften and die, but I haven't measured how long that takes ). With Vandoren V12 32/1 the upper limit extends to super F/G, but the lower altissimo sounds too reedy for my taste. My guess is that Vandoren 22/1 to 3 would be the ideal all round high notes reed. Also I try to use as many reeds from the box as possible, sometimes, a little balancing seems to work miracles. Breaking them in slowly is also fairly important, I think.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-09-08 02:37
The reason we cannot emit higher notes satisfactorily is:
1)We try to press the reed too much (nearly choking).
2)We try to change lip position toward mouthpiece tip.
To correct these,I would use short lip and place the lower lip down,and relax. I disagree with the opinion the harder the reed,the easier to play higher notes.
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