 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ramsa
Date: 2011-04-02 14:50
Having read a few posts on reed strength, it seems like a #3 or #3.5 is about the "ideal" stiffness that most players aim for. I seem to get alot of bad sound and squeeks with those numbers...
Being a beginner, I'm leaning more toward a #2 or #2.5, and get better tone and playability. Think I'm hindering my progress, or is it more of a personal matter that doesn't make too much difference?
Thanks in adavance. I'm confused by the seeming "push" to use a reed strength I can't seem handle at this point...
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Author: William
Date: 2011-04-02 15:08
As a beginning clarinetist, you need to use a lighter reed (#2 or 2.5) because you have not developed the necessary strength in your embouchure to play a stiffer (#3.5) reed. As long as you can produce a focused clear tone quality that is relatively even throughtout your range, there is not shame in using a #2.5 reed. We all creep before we run....... As you become a stronger player and your embouchure strengthens, then go for the stiffer reed. You will be able to tell when the time is right because--all of a sudden--you will start closing the tip of the softer reed as you blow. Increase your reed strength 1/2 value at a time.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-04-02 15:11
If you read the threads here about reed strength, you will see that over and over the advice is to use a reed that's comfortable for you on your individual equipment, especially your mouthpiece. Most discussion of reed strength is largely meaningless unless it includes the mouthpiece the reeds are being used on, because the reed's resistance and the resistance of the mouthpiece work in combination (do a search on the archives for more detail). Very few if any posts here advocate that you "'push' to use a reed strength [you] can't seem to handle..." The reed strength number isn't a badge of honor or courage or skill. Use the strength that works best on your mouthpiece with your embouchure.
Karl
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2011-04-02 15:28
There are some players, mostly I suspect at school band level, who seem to equate reed strength with capability as a player. Someone who plays on a 4 reed is seen to be a better player than someone who plays on a 2.5.
This is nonsense.
Play whatever reed you're comfortable with. As your embouchure develops you will find that harder reeds become more playable, but you will come to a point where your embouchure has reached its maximum development. This will determine what reed strength is comfortable for you with a particular mouthpiece/clarinet combination. Different mouthpieces and clarinets will give different resistance to airflow, and hence the maximum reed strength that you can comfortably play with that combination.Find what works for you and then learn to do all that you can with it. Remember, some very competent players never get much past a 2 or 2.5. The concept of shame has no place in reed slection.
Tony F.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-04-02 15:30
Karl, I agree with you. While it's true that most beginning clarinet players need a lower number of reed than most advanced players, there's a lot of social pressure when words such as "stronger" give people the competitive idea that a higher reed number means somebody's more mature or more macho. Some professionals, especially among jazz players, use a 2.5 or even a 2.0 reed. (For jazz, it's important to be able to bend the pitch fluently without a squeak or a silence.)
The combination of the clarinet player, the clarinet, the type of mouthpiece, the type of ligature and the type of music create so many variables that one size of advice does not fit all. Ramsa, if other students try to pressure you into the dumb idea that a low reed number means something bad, you can pressure them back: They're ignorant.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-04-02 15:55
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 are mostly for professionals that have gradually increased the strength over many years to achieve the tone and control that fits them. I don't know any pro player that uses anything less but I'm sure there are plenty out there because it also depends on the mouthpiece they use and the style of music they play, classical , jazz, pop, folk etc. You will probably move up in strength over the years as your embouchure strengthens and your concept changes but who knows, you may achieve your tonal control with a softer reed to. It all depends. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2011-04-02 16:41
In addition to the great advice given, I would also like to point out that the mouthpiece you play on has something to with the strength of reed you use. When I switched to a fine hand-made mouthpiece from a stock manufactured one, I had to begin using 1/2 to 1 greater strength reeds because that is what the mouthpiece demanded. But for the beginner, stick with what you have until your embouchure has formed and strengthened. You will know when to change.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2011-04-02 16:57
There's a story of John Denman going to a music store in Denver, and asking for a box of either 2 or 2 1/2 strength reeds.
The store clerk grabbed a box of 3's and said to him "here, try these - all of the good players use at least this strength".
I remember reading that story possibly in the Clarinet Mag., or here, but couldn't find it in the search.
Anyone else hear that story?
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: ramsa
Date: 2011-04-02 16:57
Thanks.
I'm currently using a Vandoren V13 on my Yamaha YCL62, and a B45 with the Buffet Festival. The B45 seems to let ALOT more air pass through, with whatever reeds I'm playing. The Vandoren #2 reeds in purple packaging seem to sound pretty sweet, and I'm very glad to back down after nearly a year of struggling with #3 strength reeds...
Wish I'd known sooner...
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Author: beejay
Date: 2011-04-04 08:31
It is a question of horses for courses. I have a Vandoren B40D on which I find it impossible to play anything harder than a 2.5 reed, and which is handy for using old reeds I once rejected as being too soft. I also have a Vandoren M30 which is best with reeds of at least no. 3 strength. Nevertheless, the sound I produce is the same on either mouthpiece. which indicates that the essential is in the embourchure rather than in the mouthpiece or the reed.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-04-04 08:46
It isn't a competition, so only play on the strength you're comfortable with. If that happens to be a 2 or a 2.5 that works best for you while your peers are all struggling on 4s or 5s to try to outdo each other, then let them.
Ignore tables that suggest which reed strength is suitable for which mouthpiece facing - only you will be able to assess which strength works best for yourself and if that happens to be a lower strength than suggested, so what? There's no 'I should be playing on a 4 by now because everyone else is' - it doesn't work like that.
Whatever works best for you is what you should stick with, and ignore thise around you if they're all playing the 'who can play on the hardest reed' game as reed strength doesn't equate to their progress. There are many fine top pros who don't play on anything harder than a 3 simply because they don't need to.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2011-04-04 09:21
I have never used anything but reeds with a 2 to 2.5 resistance and have no problem getting the entire range of the clarinet and in tune up there as well with good tone. The only thing is of course is that the softer reed doesn't last as long.
My mouthpieces are Vandoren B40 Lyre. M13 Lyre. B45. and B45 dot.
I also have a Ridenour Eroica. It also works best for me on a 2 or 2.5 reed.
My opinion of the much more resistance reeds are that they are paddle pop sticks.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-04-04 11:01
Barry Vincent wrote:
> The only thing is
> of course is that the softer reed doesn't last as long.
I'm not sure why this is an "of course."
Karl
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Author: Paul Globus
Date: 2011-04-04 16:38
Use what feels good to you based on your set up (your mouthpiece) and your way of playing. Then -- and this is the important part if you're concerned what others will say if they discover that you are using a "low number" reed -- lie. In your most boastful voice, proclaim your preference for a #6. That should silence the critics.
Post Edited (2011-04-04 17:08)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-04-04 16:50
Or if you want fun, say you're playing on 10s and trim the tips to make them even harder still.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Dori
Date: 2011-04-04 17:01
You could also make up a brand name and say their 2s are equivalent to a 5.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2011-04-05 03:06
Reeds are not created equal. A Van Doren 2.5 is as hard as a Rico 3, at least in my experience.
Joe Audience isn't going to know or care what the number on the box says. It's not the number on the jersey, it's the skill of the athlete in the jersey, and the same goes for us.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2011-04-05 05:53
Practise until you can blow rings round them, and then, when they ask, tell them that you've never found it necessary to play anything harder than a 1.5.
Tony F.
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Author: Bb R13 greenline
Date: 2011-04-05 06:11
Just would like to add, do not go with too soft a reed because you could end up reversing progress. When the pressure of the reed is to soft you don't need to use as much diaphram pressure so u learn bad habits to compensate
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