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How to "Sound Like Larry Combs" Part II

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-12-31 23:14

In a previous post from another contributor, the question was raised "how does Larry Combs sound the way he does." Or rather, "how can one sound like Larry Combs." I took the opportunity to speak of supported, uninterrupted, well focused AIR. I also mentioned that I had recently learned of just how important it was for Larry to teach articulating with the very tip of the tongue upon the very tip of the reed. He demonstrates a visualization for the student by drawing a pencil dot at the very center of the very tip of a reed, and saying that you tongue must connect at this point.

As I started my first feeble attempts at changing a forty year old habit of tonging a point on the reed about a quarter inch down on the reed with a point on the tongue just back from the very tip, it was clear that the starts and stops of notes were much clearer - NO QUESTION (this is because the business end of the tongue meets the business end of the reed). But it was also becoming apparent that my sound was more concentrated and even more resonant. As I worked this more (surely there will be many more months to follow) it became all too obvious that my sound was getting BETTER. Why is this?

I think now that as my tongue got even higher up the reed and the tip of the tongue got closer to the roof of my mouth the focus of the airstream literally became the tip of the mouthpiece/reed system (even more than before........and I am already a strict adherent of the "EEEEE" sound position of the tongue).

If this is true, then it makes it even more clear that focusing of the airstream is the MOST important element in producing a good single (and double) reed sound.

One way to hear this concept for yourself (without even picking up a clarinet) is to pucker your lips and blow a fine stream of air, starting with your tongue back in your mouth. Now, slowly bring the tip of your tongue closer and closer to the back of this hole in your lips until the air stops flowing. Just before you reached the point of stopping the flow of air you will have heard a pronounced hissing sound. It is at that point that the air flowing outward is moving as fast as it can (same volume of air moving through a smaller and smaller aperture moves faster and faster). This is in short what I believe happens when your tongue is in the the "tip-of-tongue-to-tip-of-reed" position. And THIS is how anyone can sound like Larry Combs.

I wanted to hurry and post this before midnight because I made a New Year's resolution to be less controversial. Of course I've also resolved to eat healthier, lose weight and save more money.

It's gonna be a rough 2014.

Happy New Year Y'all

.......................Paul Aviles

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