 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dobby
Date: 2023-11-22 21:44
Hi,
I noticed recently the following issue while playing staccato notes at soft dynamics: whenever I try to play a middle C staccato, the note is briefly preceded by a (very) short squeak. This short squeak is not present on other notes, except C an octave above middle C. Also, the squeak isn't produced when I play staccato notes on loud dynamics. Do you have any idea of what could cause this issue? I'm fairly sure that I am 100% responsible for the squeak, as the problem persists on other clarinets, mouthpieces or reeds. I tried to pay attention to properly place my fingers, to keep my embouchure steady, but that did not solve the problem.
If this is relevant information, I am an adult learner and started the clarinet 3 years ago.
Dobby
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2023-11-22 23:17
It may be caused by pinching the reed slightly as you begin the note, although I don't know why it would only happen on the two Cs (are you talking about ![[C4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c4.gif) and ![[C5]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c5.gif) . As an alternative, you may be leaving a tone hole just slightly open, although again I'm not sure why it happens with only those specific Cs.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-11-23 06:39
So neither a run up to the “Cs” or an air attack (no tongue) produces a squeak?
…….Paul Aviles
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Author: m1964
Date: 2023-11-23 07:17
Dobby wrote:
"I noticed recently the following issue while playing staccato notes at soft dynamics: whenever I try to play a middle C staccato, the note is briefly preceded by a (very) short squeak. This short squeak is not present on other notes, except C an octave above middle C. Also, the squeak isn't produced when I play staccato notes on loud dynamics...
I'm fairly sure that I am 100% responsible for the squeak, as the problem persists on other clarinets, mouthpieces or reeds. I tried to pay attention to properly place my fingers, to keep my embouchure steady, but that did not solve the problem. If this is relevant information, I am an adult learner and started the clarinet 3 years ago."
Even though you tried to check finger placement, I would do it again.
Being an older adult, I have problems with fingers not covering tone holes completely. Often happens to my left thumb or left ring finger.
Also, the lower four keys need to be checked for proper functioning just to make sure it is not the clarinet causing the problem.
If you keep digging, you eventually will uncover the source of the problem.
Good luck.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2023-11-23 09:57
Dobby,
I think I know what is going on...
I used to have a home business wherein I made mag air leakage testers for clarinet. I was always surprised at the leakage introduced by my fingers whenever the rubber plugs were pulled out and replaced by my fingers. I could actually vary the leakage by how much finger pressure I put on the keys.
You mentioned the problem exists only on soft staccato and that with loud dynamic staccato, there is no "very" short squeak before the tone. Also, you mentioned that the problem remains with different clarinets, mouthpieces and reeds.
I saw a video on YouTube today about squeals. When the player was ever so slightly not covering a key properly, the squeal produced was constant...it did not go to the tone of the fingering.
I'm going to make the presumption that you are right handed. If so, this might possibly mean that your dominant right hand is pressing just a little bit harder against the keys than your left hand. This, of course, could possibly mean that your left hand, by not pressing as hard, might possibly be introducing an incremental amount of leakage that could possibly cause the beginning of a squeak or squeal.
Allow me to explain further in better detail. When you do loud dynamic staccato, I believe you are unconsciously pressing harder on the keys with both hands. This would seem (to me) to be a normal consequential muscle response for a louder tone. I'm also assuming that with a soft staccato, you may be pressing ever so slightly lighter with your left, non-dominant hand thus introducing a small amount of leakage which could possibly cause the beginning of a squeak and then unconsciously pressing just a little bit harder with your left hand when the squeak begins. This is the only way that I can account for a "very" short squeak appearing before the tone.
The above explanation, however, doesn't reveal the "why" it only happens on C4 and C5.
Allow me to inject a short story about Pete Fountain. He gave a friend of his a neck massage and his friend said something like: "Good grief! Your fingers are so strong!" Pete did not press lightly on his keys.
So...a possible solution...press as hard with both hands as you would with loud staccato when doing soft staccato.
This is just my theory and I hope that I've made some sense.
Post Edited (2023-11-23 10:40)
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Author: Dobby
Date: 2023-11-23 13:40
Hi!
Thank you for your answers. It seems that Karl is right: I tried to put less pressure on the reed, and the problem disappeared - at least for now:-). So thank you Karl.
To answer the questions:
- @ Karl, yes those are the two Cs in question
- @ Paul, yes, the short squeak only appear when I tongue those specific notes
Dan Shusta wrote
> I saw a video on YouTube today about squeals. When the player
> was ever so slightly not covering a key properly, the squeal
> produced was constant...it did not go to the tone of the
> fingering.
Could you share a link to this video? I'm curious:-)
> The above explanation, however, doesn't reveal the "why" it
> only happens on C4 and C5.
This is the big mystery to me...
> This is just my theory and I hope that I've made some sense.
>
I'll keep this theory in mind:-) I'll definitely try to pay attention to my finger placement. I know that I sometimes fail to place them properly... Thanks:-)
As for the pressure, I always assumed that you were not supposed to put a lot of pressure one the keys otherwise you could bend them. I may be wrong...
m1964 wrote
> Good luck.
Thanks:-D
Anyway, I'll try to concentrate on the pressure I put on the reed and see if the problem is still fixed. I'll try to check finger placement and possibly leaks (which seems unlikely since the clarinets I experienced this problem on are both in very good shape (one being new and the other maintained by a professional musician))
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2023-11-23 18:33
Dobby wrote:
> > The above explanation, however, doesn't reveal the "why" it
> > only happens on C4 and C5.
> This is the big mystery to me...
>
This also makes me curious. Nothing suggested so far (including my own "Occam's razor" solution) explains why specifically C4 and C5 squeak and not the notes near to them (e.g. D4, C#4, B4 C#5...).
> As for the pressure, I always assumed that you were not
> supposed to put a lot of pressure one the keys otherwise you
> could bend them. I may be wrong...
You aren't going to bend keys with the finger pressure you're able to exert while you're playing. Too much pressure can, however, make going from note to note smoothly and evenly difficult.
> ...I'll try to check
> finger placement and possibly leaks (which seems unlikely since
> the clarinets I experienced this problem on are both in very
> good shape (one being new and the other maintained by a
> professional musician))
The maintenance work should be done by a skilled repair person. Being a musician is necessary but not sufficient for a skilled repair tech. Sometimes "very good shape" is a relative phrase that depends a good deal on your own sensitivity to an instrument's response and playability. A skilled tech can sometimes (often) find mechanical problems the player has simply gotten used to putting up with and no longer notices.
Karl
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2023-11-23 20:29
Dobby:
Here's some videos from YouTube. The first one is the one I mentioned in my post above.
How to stop squeaking on your clarinet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnFoHfVt7_s
Stop squeaking on the clarinet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xofFF8ll6k
Clarinet Squeaking: How and Why? | Backun Educator Series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS3CO5wHbdc
How to - Say bye to the clarinet squeak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAFBnv8Vbuc
Identify and Solve your Squeaking!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RnSD8uvTVI
Stop Squeaking!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr8RDByQn1M
How to prevent squeaking on Clarinet!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IS79bFDTNvE
Clarinet Lesson: Fewer Squeaks, Better Fingers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snCeyazbGLM
Clarinet -- Causes of Squeaking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9MMJEIrYos
Around 15-18 years ago, I did some experimenting with my magnehelic leak detector. I rubber plugged the upper section, hooked up my meter and the leakage was zero. However, then I took out the rubber plugs representing left hand fingers 1,2 and 3. When I placed my fingers over those 3 holes, I was surprised to see how much leakage was present. As I varied my finger pressure over these 3 holes, the harder I pressed, the less leakage I read on the meter. This lead me to coin the phrase: "Fingers can Leak a Lot".
I thought about putting Latex over my finger tips but never did.
I believe that drier fingers leak more. So playing in a low humidity environment would probably cause more leakage than playing in a high humidity one.
Another thing I thought of this morning is to simply put some hand lotion on the finger segments and left thumb which cover open holes. This, theoretically, should reduce the leakage and thus produce faster and easier tone note starting.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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