 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: blue jay
Date: 2011-07-31 07:31
Hi. I have recently re-taken up the clarinet (played for about 9 years as a child/teen but that was 20 years ago). As the title says I have this problem with key noise. I am playing a plastic Yamaha student model. Almost all of the keys make a terrible racket. The worst is the C# B keys.
My question is whether this could be something in my technique? I don't have a teacher. Can poor technique cause this and if so how?
Any information would be appreciated since its curtailing my enjoyment.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-07-31 07:49
Could be any number of things from you hitting the keys too hard to the keys just not being tight enough and padded enough, or even out of adjustment where they hit things they shouldn't (like other keys!).
Do they seal well and are there no leaks? If there aren't leaks, I wouldn't worry too much about it right now. It's a student instrument, and without leaks, will do just fine for you getting back into it!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: blue jay
Date: 2011-07-31 08:08
Thanks Alexi. I suppose I shouldn't expect too much at this stage but even at the C# key on the lower register goes "clack" when I press it. The sound is from the little strip of cork under the key hitting the clarinet I guess. Just surprised there isn't more cushion under that key but again, as you say, I could be pressing it too hard.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-07-31 08:33
A drop of thick oil on the ends of each key where there's metal to metal contact (between the keys and pillars) helps keep the key noise down, but open standing keys can be helped further by having felt glue to the undersides where they make contact with the instrument body (such as the RH rings and LH E/B lever) as cork is too noisy.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-07-31 09:05)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-08-01 12:51
If you're switching from cork to felt, be sure that the felt is the same thickness as the cork. It needs to be firm felt that won't just go squish and let the key open too much. The height that those keys open is important. The corks or felts under the keys have to be the right thickness or else the keys can produce notes that are too sharp or too flat. If you can't find firm felt in a fabric store, go to a music store where they do repairs and ask for some trumpet felts or saxophone key felts that you can cut down to size.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Pastor Rob
Date: 2011-08-01 23:25
I also have a plastic Yamaha 20. It has pretty good tone and blows easy without the resistance of my plastic Evette. But it does have a lot of key noise. I haven't taken it to a tech because I have other clarinets that are much better. If you get the noise problem settled without a big expense please post a comment on what you did. I would appreciate it as I am probably going to give this horn away soon.
Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-02 00:04
I don't know why Yamaha insist in using cork or rubberised cork on the thumb ring, the RH rings, crows foot and low E linkage as 1mm thick felt will dampen the key noise in these areas - not just on their plastic clarinets but across the entire range including the CSG.
And the spring tensions they set the open standing keys is too heavy as well.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: richard1952
Date: 2011-08-02 02:55
I have heard this problem addressed in the past and I ask the question" Who hears the key noise other than the person playing the instrument?"
richardseaman@cox.net
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-08-02 12:30
richard1952 wrote:
> I have heard this problem addressed in the past and I ask the
> question" Who hears the key noise other than the person playing
> the instrument?"
>
Excellent point. Maybe during a quiet passage, if it's a solo piece will the key noise be heard. But I HAVE heard it on a few recordings. I've got a recording of a clarinet quartet where the bass clarinetist actually slaps down the keys to provide a sort of "beat" to play against, making the bass a woodwind AND percussion instrument at the same time!
But overall, key noise is probably not something I'd worry about too much. Without being able to hear how bad it is, we can't tell, but overall, little things like this escape being detected by an audience.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: blue jay
Date: 2011-08-05 03:07
Thanks for the responses to my newby-ish post (I really should learn the correct names of the different keys). Key oil didn't really help very much. Looks like I have to buy some felt and try that solution. Someone asked who notices besides me. Actually, I don't play in any kind of ensemble but friends who have heard me play have commented on it, so its clearly a distraction to a listener...hopefully I can fix it .
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DougR
Date: 2011-08-06 13:41
Friend of mine did a recording of the Brahms sonatas--a serious recording, intended for commercial release. On listening to the first day's playback, he kept hearing repetitive key clicks that were bothersome enough, the entire day's work had to be scrapped and an emergency appointment scheduled with a tech.
On the other hand, I have an ancient Command LP called "Reeds and Percussion" (pop music played strictly by reeds & rhythm section) and the bassoonist's key clicks (a doubler named Wally Kane, I believe) were so loud, the liner notes referenced them--something along the lines of "our microphones are so precise, you can even hear the bassoon's clicking keys!" When life hands you lemons, etc......
Personally, I hate key clicks, they're an annoying distraction. If it were me, next time I had the horn checked over, I'd ask for an estimate on quieting the thing down, and maybe ask the tech to do it one joint at a time if cost is an issue.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-06 15:01
Are there any recordings of Gran Partita or the Dvorak or Strauss wind ensemble works with no clicking keywork in them?
Even period performances have key clatter!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2011-08-06 15:17
In my recording of "Blues for Sabine" the close miking brings out some key clicks and even chair squeaks. I find it one of the most enjoyable, intimate recordings I own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-08-06 21:10
I've found out that pad felt (from worn pads) makes excellent felt dampers. They're past the being-squishy state, and if they're too thick, they can be cut in two when held between thumb and first finger (careful, please).
(Reminds me to ask a manufacturer if they sell their thin oboe pad felt in sheets)
Oh, and before I forget - some (of the most annoying) key clatter is caused by too short (or worn) rods that don't exactly fit between posts.
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-08-06 22:14
Thanks Chris.
Per the lateral motion of the LH levers...recently I had an especially annoying specimen in the form of my sunk-with-the-Titanic Leblanc LL (a personal instrument, rather unsuitable for selling due to lack of shininess).
I could have used a headless screw but didn't have any. So I resorted to a snippetlet (i.e. half the size of the tip of a rice grain) of felt of a former pad which I shoved into the hole of the LH lever. Drop of oil, perfect. I'll see how long this holds and how it behaves outside of Ocean Liners.
(I always try things with my own instruments, just to set the record straight)
I really think that Minibals are the solution. Must try them some day.
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
