 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jhkim
Date: 2014-12-13 06:59
For some reason my mouthpiece has stopped making a sound, the only way to get a sound out of it is to play with a bad loose embouchure but the normal tight embouchure I use won't get the sound to come out.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2014-12-13 07:15
Try opening and closing your trill keys. Sometimes the pads on these keys slip off the tone holes while the instrument is in its case. If this doesn't work you may have a bad pad.
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Author: jhkim
Date: 2014-12-13 07:18
It has something to do with either the mouthpiece, ligature or reed because if I switch out my mouthpiece it works fine
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2014-12-13 07:35
That would have been helpful to know. Is it a new mouthpiece? If so you may just need some time to let your embrocure adjust. Try using a softer reed till you get use to the mouthpiece.
Good luck!
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-13 07:41
If it suddenly closes up on you, then it's probably that your reed is too soft for the mouthpiece. If you play a soft reed with a firm embouchure, you can accidentally clamp the tip opening closed - that might explain why it works with a looser embouchure.
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Author: jhkim
Date: 2014-12-13 07:52
I tried it on 4 different reeds, one reed is new while the other 3 were ones I had for a week. So it must be either the ligature or mouthpiece. When I try to play it feels like something is blocking my air
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-12-13 08:11
What size are the reeds? Also how much pressure do you apply to the reed with your lower lip/jaw?
Could also be that the ligature isn't totally fastening the reed to the mouthpiece, or that the mouthpiece is no longer sealing for some reason.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2014-12-13 08:15
Is it a new mouthpiece? Different mouthpieces often require different strength reeds. The reed may be too soft for the mouthpiece as suggested above. It's very unlikely to be the ligature, unless the reed is slipping out of position as you play. Another possibility is that you've got a badly chipped mouthpiece facing. You should be able to easily see any damage that would cause this kind of problem.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-12-13 13:37
I have to assume there has been some switching of mouthpiece recently (for one reason or another). I would then further assume that you are placing your embouchure "in the wrong spot" on the offending mouthpiece.
Try the "squawk test." Play an open "G," starting at a point as close to the tip of the mouthpiece as you can. Continue blowing the open "G" while taking in more and more mouthpiece. At some point you will get a wild "SQUAWK." Just back off (ever so) slightly from that point (back toward the tip), and that is the one perfect spot ON THAT mouthpiece for your embouchure. One you have this correct fulcrum point, everything else about how this mouthpiece plays should fall into place.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-12-13 18:46
Possibly the mouthpiece has sustained some damage. This will produce exactly the symptoms you describe. Since you have already identified the mouthpiece as being the source of the problem it sounds as though you need a new one.
Tony F.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-12-13 18:47
Have you looked to see if there's there something stuck inside the mouthpiece? Did the reeds you're using ever work well on this particular mouthpiece (maybe the strength is just too soft)?
Trying to answer your question, with all respect, is really sort of a fool's errand. With the best of intentions, everyone here is making all kinds of guesses about an explanation for your problem without being able to hear or see it in person. Probably anyone with only a little more experience than you have as a clarinet player could look at and try your setup and tell you instantly what the problem is without having to guess.
Are you a student in a band program at school or an adult playing for yourself with no regular access to other clarinet players? If you're in any kind of band, someone there is capable of finding the problem for you. If you're an adult loner, someone at a nearby music store or maybe a local high school or junior high (or whatever the Canadian equivalents are) music teacher should be able to help.
Karl
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