 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Niteowl
Date: 2011-02-20 10:21
Although I have come to music quite late in life I am getting great enjoyment from playing my clarinet and learning a little about music along the way. I have only been playing for a couple of months but I try to get 30-60 mins a day if possible. This has enabled me to play some basic tunes (I'm sure you all know the ones I mean) from the method books and things are 'coming along'.
The main problem is I don't really know how a clarinet should 'sound'. The sound from mine seems OK but doesn't sound like any kind of recorded clarinet music that I've heard, but I suspect that it is difficult to tell when you're playing, if that makes sense. I am also having a lot of trouble getting any upper register notes from my instrument.
I have a very basic (Odyssey) clarinet and I am using Ricoh Royal 1.5 reeds.
Peter
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2011-02-20 11:55
Unless you use a very open jazz mouthpiece (Vandoren 5JB, Pomarico Jazz**) you won't able to get a decent sound with Rico Royal 1.5. What kind of mouthpiece do you play? Maybe a harder reed would help to improve your sound.
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Author: Niteowl
Date: 2011-02-20 13:03
As you may have guessed I just use the standard mouthpiece that came with the instrument. I am only just discovering that you can change different parts of the instrument to improve sound, but especially the mouthpiece and reed strength as it would seem that this has the biggest effect.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-02-20 13:11
Peter -
Just as your voice sounds odd to you when you record it and play it back, your clarinet won't sound the same to you and to others. When you play, you hear and feel things that are not audible to anyone else -- the vibration of the reed against your lip, the vibration of the mouthpiece against your upper teeth and the bone conduction of that vibration to your inner ears, the sound of air moving, and so on.
Find a way to record yourself. Even the relatively primitive recorder built into cell phones can do that. Once you know what you sound like to others, work on finding how to vary that sound. Listen to recordings and work on matching what you hear.
No one can tell what you sound like without actually hearing you play. At the beginning, you really need a teacher to help you do it right. Try to take some lessons, or at least find a good player to listen to you and give feedback.
Ken Shaw
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2011-02-20 15:29
Peter - since you have played for a few months and have built up some muscle strength in your embouchure you are ready to begin using at least a #2 reed. You might also try a 2 1/2 to see how that works for you. A harder reed may seem difficult to blow and stuffy sounding for a while, so give them some time. You can always go back to your 1 1/2 from time to time when you get tired.
I would also suggest a good beginner mouthpiece, since even mouthpieces sent with very expensive clarinets are often not very good. I have had good results with Clark Fobes Debut mouthpieces with my beginning students and the price is not too bad. You can buy one from his website or various other web stores.
And yes, if you possibly can, get some private lessons. It will save you a great deal of time and frustration, I guarantee. You have made a great step in the right direction by listening to clarinet recordings and figuring out what you would like to sound like.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2011-02-20 15:56
In fact, using the #1-1/2 reeds on the Buffet stock mouthpiece may well have encouraged some poor habits that will make the harder reeds even more uncomfortable, even though in reality even a #2 is generally a little soft for those stock mouthpieces if you're forming your embouchure and blowing effectively. Especially if you find these slightly harder reeds to be difficult to play, getting at least a few lessons - even if you don't intend formal study to become an ongoing activity - would be perhaps even more important.
Karl
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Author: Niteowl
Date: 2011-02-21 06:47
Many thanks to all of you that have replied and provided such useful advice.
To be honest I think I realised that a few lessons would be essential at this stage and your advice has reinforced this. I will also try the recording to hear my 'sound' and try some firmer reeds and perhaps after some more effort a new mouth piece might appear!
Peter
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2011-02-21 14:01
A good teacher will set you straight on many things.
As above, get some no.2 reeds. Maybe try the Vandoren brand, they're available everywhere and they build character. Think about replacing them when they start to look ropey compared to new reeds (i.e. try a new reed and see. Many beginners forget this bit).
Blow from your middle, not just from your mouth.
Take the right amount of mouthpiece in the mouth (a teacher will advise, but listening to your tone is the way to know when it's right).
Listening is at least half the job of playing.
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