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Re: 3.5 Strength Reeds Too Weak?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-08-17 02:47

You're using far too strong reeds, so drop down to a 2, sort out your embouchure and then consider upping your reed strength once you've got your chops in order and can make a good tone with a much softer reed.

The reason why the sound is cutting out is the reeds you're using are too strong for your developing embouchure.

You wouldn't start out weight training by lifting 50kg weights, you'd start with around 5-10kg and work up from there. Same with clarinet playing - start out on an easy reed to get your embouchure muscles used to a new discipline, then only move up half a strength once you've become accustomed to the softer reeds and are finding their limitations.

Reed strength isn't a competition with your other clarinet playing peers - use the reed strength that you're comfortable with and not the next strength higher as a matter of personal pride or one-upmanship with your peers.

Your opening statement "I am a student clarinettist and have not been playing long, my embouchure is not very strong but is improving" has made things clear, so do the right thing and back off the reed strength until your embouchure has strengthened. The low register will be far clearer with a softer reed and the upper register will require more embouchure development to make it sound better - using hard reeds isn't the alternative or a quick fix to making a better sound here, your embouchure working with correct strength reeds is the best course of action as you have to learn control which you won't have with hard reeds as you'll only be struggling.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Post Edited (2015-08-17 09:21)

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