The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Stop clarinet from "squaking"

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-02-05 18:11

GenEric wrote:

> I play on the BD5 with 3 Traditional reeds. Any way to remedy
> this? Specific Rose etudes or studies to practice? Specific
> Scale pattern to practice? Change in air?
>

The way to remedy the problem has nothing to do with the music you practice. It has to do with changing or at least refining the way you form your embouchure, the way you move your tongue and the way you use the air coming from your lungs. Also the way you select or adjust reeds. The most convenient materials to use, once you've learned enough of them, are scales because you already have them under your fingers.

> Just a quick question. I'm learning the Beethoven 6th Symphony
> clarinet solo for fun.

Are you talking about the one near the end of the first movement? There are several important solos in the symphony.

> I'm having a problem with having notes having a full sound in
> the start. Most of the time, especially in the upper register
> from anything from G and up in the clarion register, notes
> sound pinched for a second when I play short staccato excerpts.

Probably, you *are* pinching the notes to start. Your embouchure shouldn't be actively involved in articulating anywhere in the range, but the higher you go, the more audible the bad consequences become. Your reed needs to be responsive without closing easily. Your jaw needs to stay still, not move up and down against the reed. A continuous air stream provides the cleanest start to the individual notes in an articulated series - making a new puff of air for each note takes longer to produce a response and introduces a need to coordinate the breath with the tongue that can muddy the response. If the air stream is continuous, you only need to stop the reed from vibrating with light contact between your tongue and the reed tip *while continuing the air pressure* to stop the tone between notes.

Karl

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics