 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TooYung
Date: 2009-12-23 03:34
Is too soft. It feels like i'm playing on a 1 1/2 when i'm actually playing on a 4 (vandoren classics(the blue box)) I'm just wondering if i should go up to a 5? Or is that an extremity? I'm 13. Played clarinet for 4 years. Kthx.
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2009-12-23 04:00
Perhaps you just got a bad box of reeds, unless this is constantly happening. Try 4.5 first before going to 5.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-12-23 04:00
It would be much more helpful if you took a step back, and talked about the symptoms that make you feel that the reed is too soft. What is happening in your playing that makes you feel the reed is too soft?
Details about your mouthpiece are also critical
At the age of 13, and already playing on a 4 does suggest that there is a problem you are experiencing that you have tried to solve by increasing the strength of your reed, but may be better addressed more specifically.
I assume you currently do not have a teacher for guidance?
Chris
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2009-12-23 04:06
how long have you been playing on the reed? i feel that once i've played mine for a few weeks, they get too soft and i have to adjust them....
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Author: TooYung
Date: 2009-12-23 04:49
I just bought one reed. It was playing beautifully, when I first got it. It's been a couple weeks now. I'm also playing in the cold, (mom refuses to turn the heat on), so it could be that. I don't know, it just feels like it doesn't give off a nice waaaaaaaaaaarm tone. It gives a Rico reed tone. Not a vandoren one. And yes, I play in advanced band, on a hard plastic clarinet, (some student Bb clarinet.) Also, the fact that I am 13 isn't relevent-in this case-to how I acknowledged my problem. This never happened on any other reed, but i'm just starting to wonder since my instrument is SLIGHTLY cold, and my fingers are a tiny bit stiff, it could be affecting my overall sound. I do have a teacher for guidance, but not available at the moment, it's Xmas break over here.
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2009-12-23 04:53
TooYung wrote:
> It gives a Rico reed tone. Not a vandoren one.
There are quite a few well-known clarinetists who play only on Rico reeds (I'm not going to name any). One should choose a reed not by brand, but by whatever sounds the best with the clarinet setup.
I play on Rico reeds (not the orange box Rico ones), and several university professors (who came in to our school for a clinic) (again, no names) have noted that my tone was good. They didn't ask me what reed I used, and I don't think they cared. The point is, different clarinets and different mouthpieces are best suited with different reeds.
Brian Chau
University of British Columbia Concert Winds
Post Edited (2009-12-23 20:15)
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2009-12-23 05:38
Ditto. I sometimes play on some Rico reeds such as the reserves and reserve classics. A reason why your reed might have gotten soft is because it became unstable and wasn't broken in. I know you might be too young to know about breaking in reeds maybe but, that's probably the reed your reed died so fast.
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2009-12-23 06:24
Here's the thing. If you just use one reed all the time, the following can and will happen:
You'll be putting lots of germs in your clarinet.
Your reed will go soft in no time at all.
You'll still be putting lots of germs in your clarinet.
Mold might grow on your reed.
I recommend you have 4 reeds ready for use, and keep them on rotation. Don't play on reeds for more than 30 minutes a day. That kills them faster if you do.
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2009-12-23 07:48
About 4 years ago when I didn't practice and only played in band class at school, I found that each one of my reeds only lasted about a month. Now, I do practice (a lot), and I have about 7 reeds in a rotation, and I use a box (of 10) about every 2-3 months or so.
My point is, I find that a reed will die after about 5-10 hours of playing.
Brian
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-12-23 14:39
Actually, your time playing the instrument is quite relevant, as is whether you have a teacher, and what mouthpiece you use which I did not see in your posts). High reed strength is not a sign of maturity level as a musician. You match the strength and cut of the reed to the mouthpiece you are using.
Assuming you play on a daily basis, that you just use one reed without rotation, and it's been in use for a few weeks, it;s most likely worn out. As mentioned above, a minimum of 4 good reeds, used in rotation, will greatly extend reed life. Most likely, you played to death the proverbial "one good reed" in that shipment from Vandoren.
And don't sell Ricos short. You would be surprised at the number of professionals using the Grand Concert and Reserve series reeds from Rico. I just switched over from the Vandorens, myself. And no, I'm NOT a professional, but I've been playing since 1968. In that time, I have come to realize that the snob appeal of a brand name is far less important than the result you desire, which in this case, is a good sound.
“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."
Post Edited (2009-12-23 14:41)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-12-23 15:43
For what it's worth, our 1st clarinetist always played on a 4.5 reed. Then she decided to find a teacher again, and the first thing the teacher did was suggest she use a softer (3.5) reed. She now sounds a lot more relaxed, less shrill, less pinched (her own words). She said she was probably a victim of that "harder reed==better player" myth.
FWIW II: I never break my reeds in. I will get a fresh one when I feel the other is past its prime and after ten minutes it's good to go. For about two weeks I play both reeds, then phase the old one out, eventually keep it as an emergency backup.
My reeds last about 30..40 hours of playing. (2..3 months, depending on schedule)
FWIW III: What's good for me needn't be good for anyone else. We're all different.
--
Ben
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-12-23 15:45
How cold can it be in Florida? You ought to be up here in the north-east, or Worse, the mid west. Anyway, There's Rico and there's Rico. The old basic Rico reed is a far cry from the new brands of Rico reeds that a great many professionals use today. They've been making professional cuts for over a decade now and they make about 4-5 different cuts and cane types. Rico Select, Thick Blanks, Reserve, Reserve Classic and I think another cut as well. You can check their web site and see how many players now play them, their great.
As far as your reed getting soft, If you open a box of reeds, like most of us do, chances are with almost any brand, a few will be too hard and a few too soft no matter what number you buy. Even with the ones that are "just right" one or two might get soft right away, with in a day or two, and one or two might even get harder in a day or two. That's why we learn to make adjustments and break them in properly, not to mention that they drive us crazy. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: TooYung
Date: 2009-12-23 21:45
I have broke my reed in. But one thing I did do was play too long on one reed, without rotating reeds. You are most likely right - it is worn out because I didn't rotate. Many thanks.
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-12-24 00:19
"cold" for us in Florida tends to be when it doesn't reach 70. Sometimes it does get colder though. We have had high's in the 50's. (being originally from Texas, I do get to enjoy staring at the people who think it gets cold here, and wear 3 jackets. I on the other hand sport my T-shirt in the pleasant weather.)
I can say reeds go crazy here. One day it will be almost 90, the next it will be 60, then right back up to 90.
Post Edited (2009-12-24 00:19)
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2009-12-24 03:17
What kind of mouthpiece is it?
I would suggest that you get a softer reed. 4.5 is really hard.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-12-24 09:55
Yes, what mouthpiece?
Always have AT LEAST two reeds and take turns with them. Then you'll always know if one has 'gone off' compared to the others.
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