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Re: Resistant clarinet?

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-12-10 21:28

Eric, I'm not sure what you mean by "a very low heart" or "fairly transparent." Yet you say they aren't waterlogged. Are you describing what the reed looks like when you hold it up to a light? How are you looking at the reeds to see these things?

You don't say what reeds you're playing, but most of the commercial companies cut their reeds to one single set of dimensions - one profile that's the same for all strengths - and then grade them according to the hardness/density/flexibility of the cane after they're cut. I suppose a softer reed tends to absorb saliva more quickly and would become water-soaked (waterlogged) more quickly than a harder reed, but that would cause the appearance of a dark area extending from the tip, and, again, you say the reeds aren't waterlogged. The *shape* of the heart is a defining part of a reed's design - what makes one brand and even one model within a brand different from another.

As to your instrument's resistance, you should have the clarinet checked out by a competent tech if you think the resistance is unusual. At the least, have you done any DIY checking for leaks? Can you get a good suction when you close everything in each section and suck out the air from the top?

Notes above altissimo F(6) need more than the right reed strength, though too soft a reed does make them more difficult. "Voicing" and air flow are important. Random squawks in the clarion register *can* be a sign that you're taking too much reed into your mouth, which can, it's true, be a reaction to using too soft a reed but there can be other causes including plain habit.

Your teacher can hear you and may be able to give more accurate feedback about your instrument, your reeds, your mouthpiece and your approach to producing a tone.

Karl

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