 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-28 07:29
Getting a lot of squeaks in upper B4 register and I never know what to suspect - fingers, reeds, etc. I tried sanding the bottom of the reeds in from tip to thick part on a 240 sandpaper 6-10 swipes and it seemed to help. Wetting or drying more did not seem to help nor did adjusting the reed and ligature. Always been confused what causes squeaks. Reeds played about once a day since March. Kept in 70% humidity with Boveda pack and soaked a minute or two in water before play.For some reason I suspect something about the reeds but unsure what or what to do. Upper register used to sound a lot better.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-07-29 00:51
Hey BGBG,
Gosh I hope you don't actually mean 240 grit sandpaper. I would use 400 grit (wet/dry) at the most gritty. Perhaps even 1000 grit (most car repair places have a better selection of the higher number grit than hardware stores).
The comment you made that the "upper register used to sound better" makes it sound as though something has changed. Usually a squeak is caused because one side of the reed is vibrating fast than the other and it binds up as it tries to vibrate evenly. However, squeaking can also be caused by the reed being "asked" to play higher and lower at the same time such as with a mis-fingering or a leak. Since the tolerances are closer playing high, all that is more critical. Perhaps you have a leak that is not affecting the lower "octaves" as much.
In an earlier post I mis-identified you as a beginner in age as well as experience. But beginner is as beginner does. ANY teacher would be able to quickly identify some basics of the horns playability or a mis-fire in fingering as you play. I still recommend seeking out somebody to help out once a week. Just a few months of basic lessons would iron out a lot of issues and prevent building bad habits that will be MUCH harder to break once they have "festered" for awhile.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-29 07:48
Actually it is 240 and I tried 5 distinct sanding strokes with the reed and it seemed to improve the squeaking, unless the fingering also improves with the playing of the notes. Haven't played as much lately though try to every day, but it has recently been only several times a week. There is just so much to this clarinet mechanics and my experience is so little I just cannot figure it all out. I would say I really am a beginner because I have had only 16 formal lessons, do not have a circle of clarinet friends, play in no bands and have no goals or requirements of me expect to play what and when I like. I do want to improve and be increasingly better however. I just do not have ready access to real live players or teachers which is why I post here in case someone sheds light that helps me. And because I am busy otherwise I do not have hours and hours I can play, read, study on any one subject and that unfortunately includes the clarinet. I am always seemingly rushed and in a hurry. I do the best I can though surely it is not enough. Need more lives or clones.
Actually I have a clipboard with a strip of 240, 400 and 600 grit paper attached.
Post Edited (2018-07-29 19:29)
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