 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2010-07-06 04:33
I bought a new mouthpiece today. Since I only march clarinet, I try to use a cheap mouthpiece. I decided to buy a new one, my $10 Goldentone wasn't really cutting it anymore. I bought a Hite Premiere and as soon as I started playing I noticed a difference. One problem. There are 3 notes I tend to squeak on: Middle C, and the E and F just above that. This also happened with my old mouthpiece. I experimented a little with the notes, and I notice the F gives off this weird grumbling sound, but I figured out it usually happens when I bite down hard. Being a marching clarinet I strive for volume and bite down pretty hard on the mouthpiece. Bass is also my main instrument, so I guess that could cause me to overbite as well. Any tips on fixing these notes or too help overbiting?
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-07-06 07:53
Could be over biting. Are you biting hard on the mouthpiece? It could also be your reeds, maybe too soft. There are other things to look at, are the rails chipped or dinged? Your hand placement could also be the cause if your fingers aren't covering the holes.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2010-07-06 08:32
I had this problem when I returned to the clarinet. I found that changing mouthpieces and reeds improved the situation, but none of these measures fixed it. When I changed to Legere plastic reeds the problem vanished. Your mileage may vary.
Tony F.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-07-06 12:20
You want to play loud and strong: so you use a lot of fast air to excite the reed and increase the volume.
Then you "bite down hard" and inhibit the reed from vibrating, diminish the quality of the sound, and invite squeaks.
Sounds like you've already identified the problem. Although it may be possible, I don't think a change in equipment is the solution to your issue.
Does your mouthpiece (the old one or your bass) have teeth marks on top of the beak?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-07-06 12:44
Squeaking sounds like a leak of sorts to me.
Can't tell which C you mean. If it's the long clarion C (E and F) then there may just be a problem with the pad at the top of the lower joint being out of adjustment........sealing before the ring comes down (that would make air leak from underneath your fingers), OR too low, making this pad itself not seal properly.
If you mean the chalameau C, this could be an analagous problem with the pad between first and second fingers and/or the pad under the "A" key.
Either way, unless you have major chip issues along the rail of your mouthpiece (or severe imbalance...........but this would not be the same on both mouthpieces) I would look at sealing issues.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-07-06 15:04
Kontra, is it C4 ![[C4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c4.gif) or C5 ![[C5]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c5.gif) you are having hte issues with?
Check with a technician to amke sure your caleinet is sealing properly, before you do anything else.
Also, make sure the reed is matched to the mouthpeice. Generally speaking, the Premiere uses a Vandoren Traditional 3 or a V12 3.5 as a starting point. (Or the equivalent from another maker, of course!)
Bitig is not the sloution for higher volume. As mentioned above, biting will keep the reed from vibrating, which closes off the reed. Avoid biting at all costs. The embouchure muscles are there to support and provide a resting place for the carinet mouthpiece. Tom Ridenour goes into a fair amount of detail about proper ebouchure technique in his videos, as well as in his book, "The Educator's Guide to the Clarinet." It's worth reading!
Jeff
“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."
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2010-07-06 18:32
Yes, both my bass mouthpiece and my old clarinet mouthpiece have bite marks.
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2010-07-06 18:34
It's C5. I took it to my tech and he said the clarinet was fine. So I think its probably biting or my reed. Ive been wanting to switch from Vandoren 3's to Legere 3's, and now sounds like a good time...
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-07-06 19:24
A leak would exacerbate the issue, but biting is your culprit. I imagine that after you play for an extended amount of time you have a line or a welt on your inner lip.
This is a frustrating issue to solve, and if you're only going to play through the end of HS then it may not be worth the trouble. If you would like to progress more quickly, play more freely and without discomfort, you should start trying to alter your habits now.
In an aside: when you say "overbite" in relation to a mouthpiece I usually picture someone taking too much mouthpiece. This would cause the sound to spread and invite squeaks everywhere.
Again, is it possible that some equipment change will help? Yes. But there is no magic bullet that's going to solve your biting.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-07-06 19:32
I doubt switching reeds will fix the problem, as it seems to lie largely in the interface between the chair and the mouthpiece. (Translation: STOP BITING!)
Jeff
“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."
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Author: bennyclarinet
Date: 2012-08-22 14:50
hi guys
why would soft reeds make you bite more..? shouldnt it be more relaxed..?
benny
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-08-22 15:55
They wouldn't necessarily make you bite more, but they would exacerbate the effects of biting and make the problem seem more severe.
Tony F.
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