 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: patrica
Date: 2017-01-08 03:16
After using Legere reeds for a while and I still find the high notes above high G are pretty difficult to produce. I wonder if this is my problem or I should work on my embouchure?
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-01-08 04:12
Need more information. Maybe to answer your question. How long have you been playing? What mouthpiece are you using? What strength reeds are you using? Did you have better luck with cane reeds? Do you feel like you are biting down, pinching on the reed? If so we need to help figure out whats going on with your embouchure.
I don't use plastic reeds, but I have.
Above high G is often hard for everyone at first. Sometimes it can be the horn. I was shocked how much easier it was to hit C, D, and even E above high G with Yamaha's compared to Buffet's. The position of the back of your tongue/throat has a big part of this, the amount of reed that is placed in your mouth is very critical. There is so much more to know. If you can take a pic of yourself when playing up high, some of us may be able to guide you in the right direction.
One problem is there isn't much music written above G for the clarinet. So you could play some violin music. 3 to 6 month of playing violin music will surely get you exposed to the upper register and you may naturally find the correct positions of the embouchure. But try to provide a photo if you can.
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Author: patrica
Date: 2017-01-08 04:51
When I used cane reeds, I had not problem at all to hit top C without changing too much of embouchure. With legere, exact same setup otherwise, I have to bite down a lot. I was quite happy with legere until recently I need to play a piece with many high notes in fast passages.
Post Edited (2017-01-08 04:56)
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Author: echi85
Date: 2017-01-08 07:41
I've been using the European Cut reeds since September. The reeds do seem to require an overall more precise voicing position in order for notes to be reliable and clear. I have to play a piece right now that has a lot of high Bb's and A. After I learned to make a slight adjustment, they are reliable for me. In general, I don't shift my embouchure at all for high notes, I find my throat position becomes much more open as if you are yawning. You can practice these notes double lip if you are concerned about biting too much.
Also be sure that the strength is correct. Those notes won't respond if your reed is too soft. You can also experiment with putting your bottom lip lower on the reed/taking more mouthpiece.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-01-08 07:44
IMO, it has more to do with the reed/mouthpiece combination than with you or your embouchure if those notes weren't a problem for you with cane. I'm a recent convert to Signature European Legeres and find the same issue.
If I need to play those notes in an exposed passage, I suppose I'll have to decide between using a cane reed or finding fingerings that work better with the Legeres. For the rest of the clarinet range the pluses of this specific synthetic model outnumber the minuses by enough to make the few trade-offs (including flat high altissimo notes) worthwhile.
I'm sure the mouthpiece makes a difference. Whether or not it's worth a search depends on how happy you are with the rest of the compass using the mouthpiece you have.
Karl
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Author: patrica
Date: 2017-01-08 08:20
echi85, with changing my bottom lip position, these high notes can be played. But in some fast and exposed passages, I just don't have enough time...
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Author: echi85
Date: 2017-01-08 18:34
I have found myself taking as much reed as possible at all times. You have to learn to control other notes better but it does facilitate high notes with ease. In any case, if it works with a change in a fundamental position, you can't blame the reed.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2017-01-08 20:07
I have the same problem. On notes above A (5th space above the staff), it's much easier for me using cane reeds. A harder reed does not help me, but a much softer reed makes the problem worse.
But I have never had to perform any piece with a note above A, so I'm not making any equipment changes to solve the problem.
Burt
Lyrique Libertas
Vandoren M30
Legere Signature 3.75 (vs Gonzalez FOF 3.5 or Canyes 4)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-01-08 22:13
Quote:
I have found myself taking as much reed as possible at all times. You have to learn to control other notes better but it does facilitate high notes with ease. In any case, if it works with a change in a fundamental position, you can't blame the reed. This route works very well for me. I use legere european 3.75. I have a very light embouchure (very little pressure), and take in a LOT of the reed. FWIW, I think taking in more reed will help you play the full range easily.
I find the amount based on an old exercise showed to me by Tom Puwalski. Take in reed. Play a strong open G. If it works, take in a little more, play a strong open G. If it works....etc. etc. At some point you will have taken so much reed that the strong open G you tried to play comes out overblown (altissimo D). Then you step back just a hair, and THAT'S how much reed should be in your mouth. (hint, it tends to be around where your reed meets the curve of the rails...you can also find a good starting point by slipping a piece of paper between the reed and mouthpiece, marking where it stops, and put your lower lip around there)
What this does is provide a place on the reed that allows the full reed to vibrate (you're not choking off the reed), but needs very little embouchure changes to change registers. It feels like you don't need to change it all, or at most, very SLIGHTLY throughout the whole range of the clarinet, through the altissimo A and beyond.
Alexi
[EDIT]
PS- Another good test to see if you have optimal amount of reed in, is to use Tom Ridenour's test for a balanced reed. Take in the optimal amount using the "open G", then play and sustain a forte C (below the staff). Press the register key without manipulating embouchure, and it should easily change to G. Lift your index finger without changing and it should effortlessly change to E. Press the LH C#/F# lever down with no embouchure change and it should effortlessly change to an altissimo A. (you might need a SLIGHT change in bottom lip location, MAYBE shifting it down the reed a hair, but you should NOT have to bite or increase pressure at all.... focus on keeping a light pressure)
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2017-01-08 22:16)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-01-09 02:50
i have found the Legere, both the Classic and Signature to play flatter, overall, especially in the altissimo register, and the A and above are more difficult to produce a good sound or a sound at all.
Playing in a wind ensemble, where the clarinets navigate well above the staff (especially on old marches!), I have been using, lately, an M13 (non lyre) and 56 Rue Lepic or V21s (both #3.5). A couple of weeks ago, I bought another M13 and it works very well on a Yamaha 650 and Ridenour Libertas. The Yamaha is pitched a little higher on the top notes than the Ridenour. Plays to super C and above, no sweat.
Not tried the European cut, but I suspect it will have similar issues. Hard to beat a good Vandoren reed/MP combo for everyday playing without fussing with a bunch of possibilities.
Tom
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