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 Middle B Problem
Author: renjer 
Date:   2010-02-16 09:55

Hi, got myself a sort of "old" clarinet recently. I have just started playing not more than a week ago and I'm able to produce all the notes of the clarion + chalumeau register (including low E). However, I'm having difficulty producing middle B as it is sometimes coming out as high F or altissimo C. Is this because of me, or is this because the key needs to be readjusted?

P.S. Apparently Low E comes out fine.

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 Re: Middle B Problem
Author: clarnibass 
Date:   2010-02-16 10:22

Since you only started playing a week ago it's hard to say. The middle B is hard if the low keys for F/C and E/B are out of adjustment which is the most likely reason. Sometimes they are a little out of adjustment, exactly an amount that would make E feel ok but B be a problem. Does the B come out better if you use both hands i.e. press the B key with your left pinky and the C key with your right hand, and vise versa?

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 Re: Middle B Problem
Author: renjer 
Date:   2010-02-16 10:28

Actually the B comes out better if I use my right pinky and not the left, though the problems I describe will (most of the time) pop up.

Also, I don't really know if this is the issue, but if I'm playing low G and press the E key, the E will automatically sound. If I'm playing on clarion D and pressing the E key however, the B does not sound. The sound just gets cut off or the problems (high F or squeaks) will sound.



Post Edited (2010-02-16 10:30)

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 Re: Middle B Problem
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2010-02-16 10:51

Probably the "crow's foot" (the V-shaped tab underneath the two lower r.h. pinky spatulas) is slightly out of adjustment, which means the two pads controlled by it are not seating at exactly the same instant when you finger the low clarion ('long') B. The low chalumeau E, which of course uses the same fingering, is less affected by such a maladjustment.

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 Re: Middle B Problem
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2010-02-16 15:32

David's advice is very accurate. Assuming the instrument is working well you are probably pulling you third finger, the one next to the pinky, slightly off of the hole. Even a "pin" hole amount will cause the B to squeak but not necessarily the low E. This is a very common problem with beginners or returners. They tend to tense up their fingers and leave a pin hole space when playing on the break notes. Try relaxing, but the clarinet has to be covering well too. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com

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