 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kimchi012
Date: 2013-03-12 23:01
Is it normal for beginners to have hissing sounds when playing the middle Bb (the one that is octave above the lowest Bb)?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-03-12 23:20
No. But, first of all, what do you mean by "beginners?"
"Hissing sounds" conjures an image of air rushing out somewhere, either from the instrument or the embouchure. If it's coming from the instrument, something is probably leaking - either a pad or one (or more) of the player's fingers aren't completely closing a hole that should be completely closed. If, rather than a "hiss" it's more just a fuzzy tone or something like frying eggs sizzling, it could be several other things - still a leak, or dirt in the register tube or too hard (or unresponsive) a reed or just a lack of enough embouchure development to keep the sound controlled.
Ask someone else to play the instrument to either confirm or eliminate a mechanical problem as the cause. Have the beginner in question try to play the same notes on another clarinet to see if the problem follows him or her.
Are you a clarinet player (in which case there are a couple of other diagnostics you could try)? Or are you the beginner?
Karl
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2013-03-13 02:09
It could be all of the above from Karl, but the throat tone Bb is often a poor sounding note especially on beginner instruments. It is often fuzzy even on expensive clarinets and most players use special fingerings to improve the tone quality. For a beginner, though, there is not much to be done about it, unless there is a mechanical leak somewhere.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Taras12
Date: 2013-03-13 02:31
Practice...practice...practice using long tones. G to A to Bb to C. Watch your emboucher in the mirror. Keep your airflow steady, tongue curved and throat open. The other thing is keep the lower joint tone holes closed with your right hand fingers. This may improve the tone.
Tristan
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-03-13 02:38
Oops! I read too fast and missed the"b" sign after the B. I thought the question was about B4.
Yes, "throat" Bb is often a poor quality note because the register tube, which is designed to produce the venting needed for the second register, is too small and in the wrong place to produce a good Bb.
There aren't many pads involved that could be leaking - check around the ones close to the A key just in case, and it would be worthwhile to check the register tube (you have to take the register key off) to make sure there's no dirt, swab lint or other obstruction in it. Too stiff a reed can make the "throat notes," including Bb, fuzzier (frying eggs sound) than the ones surrounding them.
But John is right that it may just be a combination of instrument quality and a beginner's lack of knowledge about how to overcome the problem.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-03-13 09:52
Finger this note with just the "A" key and the register key, then put down the 2nd and 3rd fingers of both hands. You can use this "vent" fingering in almost any situation and it gives it a lot more body.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: mcaswell
Date: 2013-03-13 12:46
A few other suggestions (from a relative beginner, though one who has done extensive research on this)...
While cleaning the tube as Karl recommended, try playing the Bb (with the register key off). If the note sounds significantly better, perhaps that pad is not opening high enough. Adjusting this key so that it vents more could help (probably best to let a repair tech handle this, since there may be unintended side-effects if it's opened up too much).
Also, if it's a cork pad, you could try having the edges beveled to make it more of a cone shape... this reduces the hissing sound by helping the escaping air move past the pad without as much disruption.
Lastly, keep in mind that the hiss may very well be much more audible to the player compared to the audience. I made a recording of myself playing Bb and surrounding notes, and surprisingly, although the Bb was definitely weaker than the other notes, the prominent hissing sound I heard while playing was barely noticeable.
--Michael
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Author: kimchi012
Date: 2013-03-13 16:12
I'll see if I can get it checked by a repair tech any time soon.
Michael, when you said that if I have a cork pad for the register key, which I do, that I should get the edges beveled, did you imply that cork pads have a more hissing sound than regular soft pads?
Do you recommend getting a soft pad for the register key?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-13 16:23
Cork pads are better as they're firm and can be shaped, whereas skin or leather pads will end up concave as they compress which will increase the hiss, so you're best off having a cork pad with the edges bevelled to form a truncated cone shape resembling Mount Fuji.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-13 16:56
Yeah - a cone with the top cut off. The impression of the speaker tube is used as a guide and the cork around it is trimmed off and sanded smooth to form the cone shape.
It works better with a thicker pad, so the speaker key may have to be bent so the front of the pad cup is at a slight downward angle to achieve this.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-03-13 21:45
Chris P wrote:
> Yeah - a cone with the top cut off. The impression of the
> speaker tube is used as a guide and the cork around it is
> trimmed off and sanded smooth to form the cone shape.
>
> It works better with a thicker pad, so the speaker key may have
> to be bent so the front of the pad cup is at a slight downward
> angle to achieve this.
>
Will this make enough difference to be worthwhile on an entry level clarinet with a beginning player?
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-13 21:54
If the throat Bb is stuffy it could help. A combination of increased venting (by bending the speaker key so it opens more) and a domed/conical cork pad should do the trick.
I've seen some clarinets where the cork speaker key pad isn't particularly thick, but the sides have been bevelled. This isn't any better than using a soft leather pad as the sides aren't able to be bevelled enough compared to a thicker pad where sides can be bevelled steeper.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-03-13 22:10
Venting for throat Bb should equal the thickness of a nickel, more or less.
Steve Ocone
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