 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sab15
Date: 2008-07-07 04:21
Hi,
I bought 2 1/2 strength reeds to start off with as a beginner. Should I or shouldn't I be able to play high notes with these? I'm able to get a B out and barely a C. Anything above that I can't seem to play.
Also, in line with the same question, when I play lower notes like low E through C the sound is pretty smooth. When I play D and continue moving higher to E, F, G, and A and B Flat the sound is more fuzzy than the lower notes. Could this be the reed also, or is it just me as a beginner? This is a Selmer wooden CL201 by the way (brand new).
Thanks.
Steven
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-07-07 05:54
The reed strength must match your embouchure, and it must loosely match the mouthpiece.
It's not impossible to get a good tone all over the place with a 2.5 reed, but as with all, it takes practice. Experiment with putting more or less mouthpiece in your mouth, you must find the sweet spot (which is near where the reed separates from the mouthpiece table) with your lip. Do you have a teacher, btw?
What mouthpiece are you using? (just to see if it prefers much stiffer reeds)
--
Ben
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-07-07 12:44
I like Ben's answer. It's hard to generalize. The right reed for a particular person with a particular mouthpiece and clarinet might be a terrible reed for a different person with a different setup. As an experienced amateur, I use mostly no. 3 reeds, which a lot of people consider too soft, but I need 3-1/2s on some mouthpieces. (Beware of "size matters" beginners who get into the silly competition of thinking harder reeds equal more maturity and more advanced playing. That destructive mania seems especially prevalent among young teens.)
If you're in touch with other beginners, maybe some of them would like to experiment with reeds by pooling everyone's money to buy reeds in different sizes. Split up the packs between you all until you figure out what works best for whom.
Also, developing the embouchure is even more important than choosing the reed. Playing is exercise. It takes time for the mouth to get into training for those high notes. Few beginners can pop those notes out right away.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2008-07-07 12:52)
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2008-07-07 13:56
Steven,
I'm also a beginner. If you haven't read my latest post, "Question on B and C..." below, it is somewhat similar to yours.
David Blumberg suggested I put a bit more reed in my mouth to blow the higher Clarion notes (and I would think Chalumeau notes also for that matter). He also warned against the abuse of putting too much reed in, etc.
CarlT
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-07-07 14:48
I use a Vandoren V-12 2 1/2 and play ultra high notes all the time. However, I think the practice thing is the ticket. I've played that reed strength for about the last 12 years. In my early years I played hard reeds because I thought you were "supposed to" as you got more advanced in playing. Teachers kept saying I needed harder reeds, so I followed their advice. Then one year I played in a professional orchestra overseas and the first clarinet was playing a 2 1/2 reed. I was totally shocked. I asked her what the deal was and how she managed the high stuff. She just laughed and said not to tell anyone. She had a fantastic tone and her Klezmer stuff was wonderful. So the next year I came back with my own 2 1/2 and haven't turned back since. I can use a 3, but I'm spoiled now.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-07-07 15:07
I too play on V12 2.5 reeds on some mouthpieces (Vandoren A1 and B46) and can play the entire range with no trouble, though a stronger 2.5 or a weak 3 will give the extra bit of resistance that is sometimes needed. I use various types of Vandoren 2.5 reeds on saxes as well as I don't see the need in struggling.
Though on an M15 I use 56 Rue Lepic 3.5+ as these work with the close facing, though they don't last all that long. One day I might try Legere reeds going from the reviews they're getting.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: sab15
Date: 2008-07-07 15:54
Ben,
I'm using the mouthpiece that came with the clarinet. I suppose I should upgrade to one of the Vandorin ones that I see everyone talking about.
Re: a teacher, still have not sought one out. I actually just got the clarinet a few weeks ago and have been playing around with it myself. However, I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that I need one. I played clarinet in elementary school and for 4 years in high school played the sax. There is definitely memory there in my mouth, but apparently not enough!! It's been a little over 20 years!
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2008-07-07 17:20
Steven,
Before you buy a Vandoren mp, don't overlook the Fobes Debut (@$30) or the Hite Premiere (@$20). I have the Fobes after making the mistake of buying a Vandoren B45, only to find I was not ready for such an open mp. When I got the Debut, things got sooooo much easier for me.
Maybe someday I'll grow into the B45, but it'll be awhile.
CarlT
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-07-09 15:34
See a teacher for a recommendation on an appropriate mouthpiece. While there is good advice here, once you get past the student level of mouthpieces, it's a highly specific scoice for each individual as to what mouthpiece will sound best with your playing style and abilities. My daughter upgraded to a Vandoren M13 a couple of years ago (and sounds great!), but I find that it doesn't work at all for me. She also uses harder reeds than I do. I use a totally different design of mouthpiece from Walter Grabner, who is a sponsor of this BB and makes rather nice mouthpieces. You would be wasting your money at this point in your musical development, however, with either of those mouthpieces (most likely).
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: rtmyth
Date: 2008-07-09 15:46
Beginners should not attempt high notes until the teacher advises. Do you have a knowledgeable teacher?
richard smith
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Author: sab15
Date: 2008-07-09 17:47
Don't have one yet. Will do soon. We have a music conservatory here in Brooklyn called Brooklyn/Queens Conservatory of Music. www.bqcm.org. They have a really good deal pricewise. Around $1,300 for lessons for a semester (17 weeks) and you also get to take unlimited music classes. This is good, 'cause I really want to learn music theory and study more about music in general. My musical experience the first half of my life with clarinet, sax, and piano has been mainly one of just learning to play songs. This time around, I really want to understand more about what I'm playing. And maybe if I can do that, I'll even be able to compose my own stuff one day.
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-07-09 18:01
I believe you have a leak in your pads on the lower joint. The height difference might not be equal between the two lower pads. Make sure you don't have any leaks on the instrument first, then try working on the upper notes. IN my experience, most of the problems originate with leaks in the pads, and therefore the students get so frustrated even though it has nothing to do with their playing ability at all.
good luck!
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Avie
Date: 2008-07-09 18:43
I tryed the 4s and 5s. It was a great workout but I have been using 2.5s for 2 years. Thanks for the pro 2.5 posts.. ![[huh]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie11.gif) avee
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-07-09 19:09
Sab15,
You are speaking of the B and C in the middle of the staff, is this correct? An earlier post to this thread made me believe that you were talking about the notes an octave higher than that.
A 2 or 2.5 reed is more than adequate to play even in the altissimo for some people depending on whether or not your fundamentals are correctly allowing the reed to vibrate. (FWIW I play 3.5's because they are the strength most appropriate for the mouthpiece!!!)
A way to extend your range:
Play low E concentrating on a full/rich/focused sound (shhhh-ing the air) and then simply thumb open the register key with the most efficient (meaning small) motion that you can. The note B should result with no effort or change in embouchure.
Then move on to low F, low G, etc...
All my students do this as a warm up and I have some first year students playing in the altissimo without the strangled cat-murdering sounds that usually accompany this.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: sab15
Date: 2008-07-09 20:39
Yes James, it's the B and C in the middle of the staff. Thanks for the tip. I'll try it. I also will bring my instrument to sam ash and have the guy there check it out.
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-07-09 20:50
yup sounds like a leak to me.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-07-09 21:30
...and yet could still be a host of other things as well...
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: autumnsilence
Date: 2008-07-11 07:44
I have had similar problems as well, and I am playing a Selmer CL300... i think the problem can mostly be fixed with more practice concerning hitting the high notes, if you play music that is just slightly challenging where you have to play notes you are a little iffy about, it really helps to get used to it, and eventually it will come out fine with time. The other problem i have, and still do have but only noticed it after a year or tw of playing (maybe never noticed it should do that..) but when i play anything from a mid staff Bb to the C just below it sounds like i have an air leak or like its really breathy, and i have come to notice that it ususaly goes away when you change reeds to a new one, and it comes back eventually once i have used the same reed for quite some time.. so as far as im concerned, it means that i need to change reeds, but then again it could be the intsruments considering i have never had mine checked that i know of..
so try using a new reed when it gets fuzzy and breathy like that, usualy solves the problem for me.
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