 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2000-11-20 16:45
I'm extremely embarrassed (and rightly so) to say that I don't know what causes (me) to overblow into the clarion register of my clarinet when I play in the fundamental ("chal-uh-mo") register. This really only happens on one clarinet that is very much in need of repair. Still, I love the instrument and I try to play it. The top joint is pretty airtight, and the bottom is relatively airtight---sortof (!). Actually, I've had this happen with one or two other (older) instruments, but to a much lesser degree. My sense is that the air (column?) is "pushing back" at a certain point in the lowest tones of the clarinet. I'd love to hear from someone who understands what is really happening. I mean, I guess it's leaking pads in the lower joint but I wonder to what extent other variables come into play? For instance, with different mouthpieces the overblowing is decreased. --Bill.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-11-20 17:00
Generally unintentional overblowing is most commonly due to minute leaks. Pretty airtight isn't enough to prevent this. It must be very airtight. These minute leaks can be due to 1) pads that leak because they are bad or poorly seated, 2) loose mechanism so that the key may unexpectedly shift slightly in position, 3) the player inadvertantly bumping keys, this happens more than you might suspect, 4) player not always getting the holes completely covered.
An embouchure that is not yet disciplined and developed can also lead to unintentional overblowing.
Actually if one is skillful, you can overblow to the clarion deliberately without using the register key. So embouchure and air support enter into the equation too. Later in your development (it's really too early to work this now), drilling on playing the clarion without the register key can lead to greater embouchure sensitivity and control.
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Author: Fred McKenzie
Date: 2000-11-20 17:11
Bill-
There are probably several things that could cause your problem. I believe one of them is a weak spring on a key on the upper joint.
Vibrating air from a low note could push a pad open just enough to kick it into the higher register. It could be a pad in the vicinity of the register key, or even the register key itself.
Try blowing into the top of the upper joint while sealing the bottom with the palm of your right hand and closing all the keys with your left hand. You may hear air escaping from one particular pad with much less air pressure than would be required on one of your other instruments.
Fred
<A HREF="http://www.dreamnetstudios.com/music/mmb/index.htm">MMB</A>
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-21 09:03
I can add to causes of leaks:
5. Rusted or bent pivot tubes that bind so that springs cannot close the key securely.
6. Gummy oil deposits in pivot tubes having the same effect.
7. Looses posts that have springs mounted on them. The spring tension turns the post, making the key jam enough to result in the same effect.
8. Loose pads that move about in the key cup.
9. Non-level tone hole edges.
10. Splits or chips on tone hole edges.
11. Leaks around glued-in tone hole inserts.
12. A flat spring has worn a ridge where the tip slides, so that exactly when the pad has 'closed' there is suddenly negligible spring tension. (Very common for the throat A key.)
13. Rusted flat springs with far too much resulting friction.
14. An inappropriate or inappropriately-installed, semi-functional flat spring on the throat A key. (Very common)
15. When the top ring key (F#) is pressed it touches a side key and opens it slightly.
etc, etc, etc, etc......
The repadding is a very small part of a complete overhaul of an old neglected instrument. Get the instrument fixed!!!!!
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