 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MarqueeMaragos
Date: 2016-01-21 21:04
This is my 4th year playing clarinet, and my clarinet is a slightly used one I bought from a local music store. I started out this school year in band able to play everything I needed to play, but in late October/Early November, my clarinet stopped playing anything below a C and anything above a high D. Any idea whats wrong? I've never encountered a problem like this. I started using better reeds and it hasnt helped, and I've put my mouthpiece on a friend's clarinet and I could play fine.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-21 21:27
Check the adjusting screw on the throat G# key has a small gap between it and the throat A key. If not, then make a gap there (by up to 0.5mm maximum) by backing the screw off (anticlockwise) if necessary and see if that helps.
If it's not that, then there could be some torn or poorly seating pads compromising playability.
Or weak/broken springs, binding keywork, bent keys, bent screws, damaged tenon corks, damaged toneholes, etc. that a repairer will spot and sort out.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2016-01-21 21:28)
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2016-01-21 21:41
Could also be the linkage between the two joints. Check to see if the pad on the lower ring key is seating properly.
I would highly recommend you get your instrument serviced as there may be other problems that need to be fixed.
-Jdwoodwinds
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-21 22:59
i second getting it serviced. i am speaking from flute knowledge, as i am only new to clarinet. but only one key needs to stop sealing and it can stop numerous notes from working. could be a pad or an adjustment issue. both of which would be checked in a service.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2016-01-22 00:08
There is a leak in the upper joint. You can try and locate it by blowing air through the upper joint while you cover the tone holes with your left hand, press the end against your thigh and then use your right hand to feel where the air is coming out.
Post Edited (2016-01-22 00:08)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2016-01-24 19:12
Bring to a repair tech, it's obviously leaking, probably in the top joint. Could be a simple fix like the screw on the A throat tone key being to tight or a little complicated if it's more than just a single pad.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2016-01-25 17:10
That pesky screw on the throat A crossover key will cause trouble if it's even half a turn too tight or too loose, but I agree with the advice to take that clarinet to a tech. There's definitely a leak in the upper stack but I agree with Ed Palanker and others that there could be more to the problem. I'm inclined to suspect there *is* more going on. (I'm an amateur who restores beat-up old instruments as a hobby.)
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-01-26 11:53
If you can't find a repairman contact me. Chances are I can fix it within a few minutes and ship it back to you the same day. No charge if it's just a pad or 2. I'm just north of Burbank. 15 minutes probably. I pretty much use cork pads on the upper register, because they last a very long time. 15 years in common.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-01-28 17:21
MargeeMaragos,
Have you read these posts? There are a lot of people that have taken the time to assist you. Was any of this advice helpful?
HRL
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2016-01-31 04:21
Maybe the OP was trying to convince mom and dad to invest in a new instrument ("better" than the friend's) and quit watching when that was not mentioned. After all, he/she has been playing for four years. Yes, it would be nice to know if any of the suggestions were helpful. There was good advice offered by some talented people. Vancouver is quite close to the world center of frequent upgrades. Something clearly happened if the instrument quit after only a month or two into the school year.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-01-31 16:31
BartHX,
Evidently the OP was a "one and done." I find that type of BB participation annoying.
HRL
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2016-01-31 22:44
Agreed. Learning only happens when you try something and see whether or not it works. It only becomes useful when it is shared. The days of philosophers deciding how every thing works by just sitting around and thinking about them are long gone. This BB gets its share of snark (including my own comment above), but it is first and foremost an invaluable source of information from many very talented people. The only thing required of the reader is an understanding that the ability to share knowledge and the ability to avoid ruffling feathers do not always occur in the same person (a few famous conductors come to mind). I don't post very often but, you can bet that if I ask for help, you are going to get feedback from me on any suggestions made. I guess I have just spent too many years at the front of a classroom to do otherwise.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-31 23:50
She is a high school student. She may have also seen the first reply, gone and got a service and forgot to come back. You know those high school students don't have many manners.
unlike us oldies who have impeccable manners at all times
I just sent my clarinet to get serviced, and adjusted so that i can hopefully easily play all the notes etc. So can't wait to get it back and be playing again. It is very easy to bend the mechanisms when you are trying to assemble an instrument when you are a careless highschooler, that also could have been the problem.
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Author: knotty
Date: 2016-02-01 03:22
I agree a thanks would have been nice and the thing to do. But it could be she may have been intimidated by the answers as being beyond her knowledge or ability to make a logical reply.
It happens all the time in the archery forum I'm at. Many come thinking Olympic recurve is just a pretty simple thing to learn but are blown away by the complexity of the equipment and discipline of the body involved and the time.
~ Musical Progress: None ~
Post Edited (2016-02-01 03:27)
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