 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2009-11-24 04:07
I was recently reading articles on reeds and I now have a few questions. Does it really matter about reed strength? I was told that harder reeds would play the altissimo register better compared than a softer reed. Is this just the need for added resistance or the reed itself? So is it true then that I should look for a mouthpiece that requires a harder reed?
Post Edited (2009-11-24 04:08)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarinetboy***
Date: 2009-11-24 05:48
Ok...You are asking a general question that many of us can have some trouble with. Personally, I believe that you should use whatever strength is comfortable but will provide enough resistance to make you blow but not tire out too quickly. Also, the choice might depend on your style of playing. Jazz players like using thinner and softer reeds for a buzzy, "jazz-like" tone. Otherwise, most people just go with strength #3-#3 1/2. Personally, I like the strength 3 1/4 but I will go as hard as 3 1/2. What I mean is, I can totally get a good sound out of a strength 3 reed but I tend to pinch it more and squeak since there is not as much resistance which makes me try to control the embouchure more. Oh, and I find the general consensus is that softer reeds=more embouchure control to prevent the reed from squeaking and harder reeds=good embouchure/air control to center the tone. Oh, and DON'T forget about the different types of reeds out there. There are thin blank(most common), thick blank(for darker/thicker sound), or other variations. As for mouthpieces, the only detail that really matters is that you find the right one to work with the particular strength range and type of reed that you have. There is no particular mouthpiece that you should buy but yeah, just basically try to find a mouthpiece that works with your current reeds. Other than that, the only other way to answer more of your question is that you should go and try reed/mouthpiece combos for yourself. All of this info may be overwhelming but that's just how it is. Good luck. Don't worry, more people will be here to help you...I hope.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kathryn777
Date: 2009-11-24 15:40
What mouthpiece/reed combo are you using now? Are you having difficulties playing the higher register with this combination?
I agree with clarinetboy*** that it is a personal preference of whatever what works best for you... buying different reeds and mouthpieces can become very expensive very quickly, so try out several before you go out and buy one that is "better" for harder reeds
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-11-24 16:14
The short answer is yes, reed strength does make a difference but it's different for everyone. I use #4s, if I were to use #3s I'd be very uncomfortable and would have trouble playing the high notes. On the other hand if I were to try 4 1/2 or 5s I would be equally uncomfortable. So the answer is the find a mouthpiece you're comfortable with first, one that feels good and gives you your desired tone and then try a few different brands and numbers in reeds. If you use 3 1/2 you might want to try a 4 or 3 but I certainly wouldn't go over board.
The problem with a reed that's too soft is that there's a tendency to "close" off the reed even though we're told not to pinch, most people still do somewhat but not necessarily. If the reed is too hard for you - you can't support it enough without biting a lot. I really depends so much on the mouthpiece, how much pressure you use, how much mouthpiece you take in your mouth, your teeth formation, over or underbite etc. Many jazz players, at least in the past, used open mouthpieces with soft reeds, I don't think that's the trend today with many but I don't play jazz so I'm not sure. I've always been able to play the altissimo register but when I found my present mouthpiece, about 19 years ago, I discovered it was much easier. Before I worked a bit to get a high B and C, with my present MP it just comes right out with a decent reed of course. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk
Date: 2009-11-24 16:51
*If* you're having trouble with altissimo notes' playing flat and not speaking reliably, a harder reed *on that mouthpiece* _may_ help solve the problems. It isn't a question of what a harder reed in isolation will do, but what a combination of reed and mouthpiece will do to cause or solve problems of response and tone quality in various areas of the instrument. I play on a Grabner Chicago mouthpiece, which is similar to the K11* he currently advertises on his website (close tip, medium length curve). If I tried to play on a K13 or K14 with the reeds - V12 4.5 or Vandoren "traditional" 5 - I use on the Chicago, I doubt that I would be able to produce anything even remotely musical - the reed would be too hard, although it's very vibrant on the Chicago. If I found a really good V12 3.5 that sounded gorgeous on the K14, it would more than likely close up too easily on the Chicago and my altissimo would be reedy and flat if I could make it speak at all.
From your other thread about Walter Grabner's mouthpieces, I am going to assume that you are not settled on a mouthpiece yet. If you have a teacher, he or she may have definite ideas about what mouthpiece you should use and what reeds will work best with it. If you are not studying with someone who is knowledgeable and experienced as a player (I would highly recommend that you do), you'll need to pick a starting place yourself. Choosing and buying a mouthpiece is not a life-long commitment and ultimately there is no "best" choice. If you stick to something not too extreme (medium curve length, medium tip opening) and the reeds recommended by the maker/manufacturer of the mouthpiece, you will have a decent starting point.
If, as you advance and the music you play is more demanding, you find that you're having problems that are seemingly reed-related, you can always experiment, first with different reeds (the next strength up or down. for example), then perhaps with mouthpieces. You may need advice on what effect a change to different makers, different facings, etc., might have, and if you can describe the problem you're trying to solve clearly enough, people here on the BB might be able to suggest a range of solutions.
I wrote "seemingly reed-related" because it's hard sometimes to know when the problem is caused by the reed-mouthpiece and when it's caused by some other technical issue in your playing. That's why a good teacher can be a great help - he/she can hear your playing and make a more informed diagnosis of your problems than anyone can who is only reading your description of a problem. For instance, to bring this back to your original question, certain problems in the altissimo range can be made worse by reeds that are too soft for your mouthpiece. That's rarely the only possible cause, but its often the easiest change to try first. On the other hand, using reeds that are too hard (again and always, _for your mouthpiece_) to solve an altissimo problem may cause lots of others lower in the clarinet's range.
There is no correlation between reed quality and reed hardness, nor between reed hardness and the player's level of achievement. Strength matters in reeds, but only in relation to other factors.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
