 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lisseyjj
Date: 2017-07-15 23:02
This is possibly one of the craziest music-related questions I have, and likely ever will have, but is it possible to use a Harmon mute from a trumpet on a clarinet?
I have an old Holton Collegiate that I'm restoring myself. This is a little more of an 'experimental' instrument that I'm wanting to play around a bit with.
Providing I can find a way of strapping the mute to my instrument, and that it will actually fit in the bell, would a clarinet still sound with a mute, and would it sound 'muted'?
Thanks
Alicia
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-07-15 23:08
The only notes that will be directly affected will be the E/B as they issue directly from the bell. Other notes above that will be affected less and less as you go up.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-07-16 00:07
Borrow one from someone - don't buy one.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-07-16 00:16
Yeah, what Chris said. Assuming you're trying to lower the sound, not alter it, your muting needs to occur before the first opening "in the pipe."
I've seen a product for Clarinet Muting that most who tried it report here was a hunk a junk. Here's a version on one:
http://www.ackermanmusic.co.uk/magilanck-clarinet-practice-mute.html
Note: putting an "11" strength reed on your setup likely will do the same thing.
There is a device for sax muting that is essential a case for the sax with curtains on the sides for you to stick your hands in. I think the neck strap attaches to the case, and the inside of the case to the sax.
http://tinyurl.com/y96pvlr8
I once saw a similar product from the Far East that was a long suitcase like looking thing for the clarinet.
These things create back pressure I imagine. The question is how much.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-07-16 00:30
I use e-Sax mutes for alto and tenor and they're excellent in they allow you to play at full volume so you can really work on your tone, but you can still hear the telly and not disturb your neighbours whilst practicing.
It's only the lowest note that suffers with the sax ones - one main issue is they do get a bit warm after a while and access to the side keys is a bit restricted. I've also found I have to use a slightly harder reed when using these mutes.
I definitely wouldn't mind one that works for clarinet, oboe and soprano sax.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2017-07-16 04:37)
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Author: lisseyjj
Date: 2017-07-16 00:42
Hi
Not sure if I was clear or not, but I was interested in altering the sound of my instrument. Would it still be possible using a trumpet mute?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-07-16 01:29
Mutes work best on brass instruments as the sound issues directly from the bell. On woodwind instruments the notes will issue from the nearest open tonehole to the mouthpiece end.
Only when all toneholes are closed on clarinets does the sound issue directly from the bell, so bell mutes won't do much to the majority of the notes on the instrument besides the bell notes (low E and upper register B).
The only way you can really alter the sound over the entire range on a clarinet is with different reeds or altering the mouthpiece tonechamber - experiment by using Blu-Tack stuck in the tonechamber and alter the shape and height of it.
Sax mouthpieces are often made with preset tonechambers that are either built up inside to make the sound bright or with a large tonechamber for a fuller, fatter sound.
Even so, embouchure changes can also have as much effect on tone as the tonechamber, so you can also make a bright sound with a large chambered mouthpiece by using different lip and tongue positions as well as with different reed strengths.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: lisseyjj
Date: 2017-07-16 02:38
So in conclusion, using a mute on a clarinet will sound like total garbage and should never be attempted because of the way the instrument sounds its notes?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2017-07-16 02:47
Borrow a mute. Try it. See what happens. You'll learn something new. Let us know what really happens. It won't hurt anything.
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Author: ned
Date: 2017-07-16 10:37
Here's a picture of Larry Shields (ODJB) with a mute on his clarinet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WojNaU4-kI
I read somewhere that it was used just for the picture...
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Author: toffeeman3
Date: 2017-07-17 00:59
I have a clarinet and Alto sax mute but find that they only affect the lower notes ie those clase to the bell. Higher notes are not affected by the mute. So if you are trying to change the sound it would be ineffective because all the notes would not be changed in the same way.
If you want to quieten down the sound then it is not necessary as you can just apply less pressure into the reed.
Many clarinets are super sensitive to small changes ie. the type of mouthpiece, any slight leaks or ajustment errors and may also be affected by placing a mute into the bell
07469847273
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Author: ned
Date: 2017-07-17 06:06
''...I have a clarinet and Alto sax mute but find that they only affect the lower notes ie those clase to the bell...''
So, why use a mute? What sort of mute do you use and what is the reason for its use?
tks
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