Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 Killer B
Author: sinebar 
Date:   2009-03-31 19:48

That's what Tom Ridenour calls it the killer b. Anyway I have quite a bit of trouble with that middle "killer B" and my trouble is that somtimes it wants to play the 3 finger high G instead of the B. It just pops right up there. Does anyone know what my problem might be other than being a beginner?

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2009-03-31 20:04

Your middle-of-the-staff B wants to play as a top-of-staff G? Perhaps you should get your clarinet looked at...

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: JTS 
Date:   2009-03-31 21:22

G on top of the treble clef is pretty close to what you would get for the next partial from the bell-you've probably got a leak near the node for that partial.

JTS

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: Katrina 
Date:   2009-03-31 22:22

Sounds like a leak to me too...take your "axe" to a repairperson posthaste!

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: sinebar 
Date:   2009-03-31 23:56

The thing is I have had this problem with every clarinet I have ever owned and I have owned 4. If it's a leak then I must be bending a key when I put one together.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: Ralph Katz 
Date:   2009-04-01 02:59

A shot in the dark: are you playing with a relatively close-faced mouthpiece?

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2009-04-01 04:09

Do you have another clarinet playing friend that you two can switch instruments? This might help determine if it's the player or the instrument.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: kdk 2017
Date:   2009-04-01 11:19

You don't say if this is the only note you have trouble controlling. The kind of harmonic jump you describe, given that it follows you from instrument to instrument, suggests that for some reason you aren't controlling the reed enough - perhaps too lax an embouchure or too much reed in your mouth - but it's hard to imagine either of those affecting only the long B. It's also possible - and might only affect the one note - that your hand position is leading you to open a tone hole somewhere near where the node would form for the 5th partial (which would be a G-sharp if it were in tune but since you aren't aiming for it might be flat, sounding like the G you talk about) when you reach for the B lever. Does it happen more with right hand or left hand or is the problem the same regardless of which fingering you use?

A problem that sometimes happens to accomplished players is that they pick up the wrong instrument and end up producing this kind of squeak when the resistance of the note isn't what they expected. This is a question of voicing and could explain your problem, except that a voicing problem like that should affect other nearby notes as well.

Karl

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: sinebar 
Date:   2009-04-01 12:18

A shot in the dark: are you playing with a relatively close-faced mouthpiece?


I use a Selmer C85 105 which I think is a 1.05mm opening?

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: sinebar 
Date:   2009-04-01 12:37

You don't say if this is the only note you have trouble controlling. The kind of harmonic jump you describe, given that it follows you from instrument to instrument, suggests that for some reason you aren't controlling the reed enough - perhaps too lax an embouchure or too much reed in your mouth - but it's hard to imagine either of those affecting only the long B. It's also possible - and might only affect the one note - that your hand position is leading you to open a tone hole somewhere near where the node would form for the 5th partial (which would be a G-sharp if it were in tune but since you aren't aiming for it might be flat, sounding like the G you talk about) when you reach for the B lever. Does it happen more with right hand or left hand or is the problem the same regardless of which fingering you use?

A problem that sometimes happens to accomplished players is that they pick up the wrong instrument and end up producing this kind of squeak when the resistance of the note isn't what they expected. This is a question of voicing and could explain your problem, except that a voicing problem like that should affect other nearby notes as well.

Karl


The problem occurs when using either the left or right hand fingering. I also have trouble with the long C but not quite as much. Also these problems usually occur after I have been playing for a while and I think is associated with moisture because everything is fine when I first start playing. I am also using a #2 legere reed which is pretty soft.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2009-04-01 12:39

The leak is could be in the barrel or near the top of the upper joint. I have a boxwood barrel that had a leak around a knothole that caused exactly the 5th partial jump you describe. Sealing that leak immediately fixed the problem.

Check the pad seal on the keys near the top of the upper joint. Then try a different barrel and hope that you don't have an upper joint crack.

Ken Shaw

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: kdk 2017
Date:   2009-04-01 15:11

Well, moisture or fatigue. Those are the most naturally resistant notes (apart from any that are just stuffy because the tone holes aren't ideal) on the clarinet.

Karl

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Killer B
Author: sinebar 
Date:   2009-04-01 19:15

kdk wrote:

> Well, moisture or fatigue. Those are the most naturally
> resistant notes (apart from any that are just stuffy because
> the tone holes aren't ideal) on the clarinet.
>
> Karl

I tried a harder reed 2-1/2 legere and that seemed to do the trick. It's stiff though.

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org