 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SWTClarinet
Date: 2002-01-19 06:24
I finally went to Wal-Mart to buy some shoelaces to make some ligatures out of. I used to use them in 10th grade, about 3-4 years ago until I'd bought my BG Fabric lig. I played on a 27" "dress show" lace, and I soon after asked myself why I switched to any other ligature. I know the convenience of standard ligatures, but in school I normally have about 20 minutes before rehearsals, more than enought time to tie a shoestring, and I have about as much time before I teach my junior high students. I guess it was part psychological and part equipment that I amazed myself by playing late tonight at the music building. I can't wait to tell my lessons teacher (David Pino) who swears by them. I completely understand why. Sorry, I guess it was just one of those nights for a revelation to occur. =)
Joe
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Author: Paul Croshaw
Date: 2002-01-19 07:12
I also use a shoestring lig. I've tried gold, silver, plastic & leather ligs and so far the shoestring is the best. My teacher just looks at my set up kind of funny. But I just picked up a CD by Sabine Meyer and she has somekind of thick string around her m/p too. So there you go. Paul
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Author: Toby
Date: 2002-01-19 16:23
Hi, Can someone please explain how to use a shoestring as a ligature? Some questions I have include the following (assuming the mouthpiece is marked with two lines to show recommended ligature placement, and the line nearest your mouth is the "top" line.) Do you...
...wrap the shoelace once around?
...cut off the ends? let them dangle?
...wrap it around at the top line? the bottom line? somewhere in the middle?
...wrap it two times? three times? ? times around the mpc?
...wrap in a spiral completely from the top to the bottom line? or bottom to top?
...tie it with a bow? in a granny? do not tie it?
...make it as tight as possible? as loose as possible? vary the snugness depending where you are between the top and the bottom line? Etc.
Also, if/when the shoelace gets soaking wet, does it function better or worse as a lig? Should once-wetted laces be thrown away? Or should every lace lig be soaked before use? (LOL)
Or is the care and feeding of a shoelace lig one of those things that can only be shown but never adequately described? Or are all these questions matters of personal preference?
Seems like such a cheap choice as a ligature that I might as well try it, even if there is no improvement in tonal/acoustical quality.
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Author: SWTClarinet
Date: 2002-01-19 16:59
Hi,
Glad to see some questions =) Well first off, the 27" is a little long but not too long to the point that if carefully wrapped, it'll work very well. I may at most have to cut about 3/4 of an inch.
Second, if you angle one part of the shoestring at the bottom right side of the mpc (in a "" fashion) then you begin wrapping the rest of the shoestring around starting from top to bottom. I believe my 27" string wraps about 6-7 times, I'm not too sure. In either way, I found the best and easiest way to tie off the loose end was to stick it through the last loop around the mpc so that it sticks up and out (but just a little, not dangling) on the right side of the mpc. The fabric is flexible, so even if you wind it tight, it will still give in all the right places for the reed to vibrate well.
Thanks,
Jose Garza
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-20 00:21
I know that string ligatures are supposed to be excellent and that many top talents use them, especially in Germany, etc. But hypothetically:
The major symphony orchestra you are with is playing to a full house.
You have your string ligature and reed in place and everything is fine.
Your most important solo is coming up within the next two minutes and you are confident you will do well.
You picked up your clarinet while looking at the music, accidentally hit the music stand with the mouthpiece and chipped your reed badly enough to render it unplayable.
What do you do? How do you change reeds fast enough to make that solo?
Or:
You are playing and feel your reed is going kaput very fast. You have a very short break coming up in which you could, conceivably change reeds, but replacing a reed with a string ligature is more time consuming than the time will allow.
What do you do?
I was previously told in another post that using multiple set-ups only engenders more problems, so I am discounting having a second set-up ready to go if the first one fails.
What do you do?
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Author: Paul Croshaw
Date: 2002-01-20 02:48
Well, I guess there can always be some kind of disaster. Having a second set with a traditional lig is probably the best thing. Nothings perfect. Just practise with the metal lig once in awhile to stay use to it. As for the string I use, it's a black flat 27" shoestring. First cut of one of the tips off. Then I place the cut end near the top of the reed where the regular lig would go. Then I start wrapping a tight circle down the reed & m/p. Before I get to the very end of the bottom I come back up and wrap once or twice at the top and bring that final piece of string with the tip down and thread it through the bottom wrap. Then I pull to tighten. It just takes a few minutes. But I still have to say, I haven't found a nicer sounding lig! I too would be interested in how others tie there reeds on. Thank! Paul
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Author: Lisa L
Date: 2002-01-20 05:29
You know, I've always wondered how a shoestring lig would work. I'm surprised to hear it works so well. Thanks for the advice! Maybe I should try it some time. (Now I play on a Bonade lig).
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Author: donald nicholls
Date: 2002-01-20 09:45
hi
i have written and read many postings on this before- i use either bits of string i picked up in Germany or a Bonade ligature with the screws under. While i generally like the sound from the string, quite often the "power" of the sound when i use the Bonade seems to be useful. Also there are some things about string that bug me- most of them are hypothetically posed in the posting above by Peter. For those reasons i usually like to used string on a piece at the start of a program (and sometimes change ligature later) IF i am really happy with the reed situation.
but what i wanted to add was how i tie on my ligature..... i'm left handed so you may have to imagine my description the other way around. Also- this is for a french style mouthpiece without the "rille" grooves that may be on a German style mouthpiece.
-first i put the reed on, and hold it on with my right thumb
-then i place one end of the string lengthways on the uncut part of the reed, in the middle, with maybe a little bit sticking out the bottom
-then at the "top end" of the mouthpiece i loop the string around firmly (but not too tight). I do this deliberately higher than i eventually want the ligature to "start" as i will pull the string down later to tighten the ligature.
-then i do a 2nd loop that goes over the start of the first loop (and thus holds the string down)
-then i do lots of loops, all going over the bit of string that goes down the length of the reed butt.
-then i tie off the end by slipping the last bit of string UNDER the last complete loop....
-then i adjust the reed to it's final position, before "tightening" the ligature by pulling the string down over the mouthpiece
-if i want to adjust the reed later on, i can push the string UP to loosen it, then pull if DOWN to tighten it again.....
MOST of the time this is a relatively simple exercise, and i have played many concerts using the same piece of string i got in Hamburg in 1998. However, i have to say that one time i found myself completely unable to sucessfully tie up my ligature- the presence of a beautiful woman reduced me to self concious jelly and my fingers lost all coordination. Be warned all ye faint of heart....
nzdonald.
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Author: werner
Date: 2002-01-21 02:00
Peter:
It's almost unbelievable how fast some people
are with the string. You must have been there and seen it.
>going kaput very fast
*lol*
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Author: Arnold the basset hornist
Date: 2002-01-21 08:03
Well,
and finally a <a href=http://sterkel.org/wendl.htm>few pictures</a> while winding the shoestring ligature (but using a sateen twine, 60 % cotton, 40 % viscose).
Low quality pictures (cannot be enlarged enough) of the result are also viewable at the <a href=http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Uploads/Stand>Instructions for a basset horn stand</a> (the two total view pictures at the lower end) here on sneezy.
Arnold (the basset hornist)
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Author: t
Date: 2002-01-22 05:29
Hi!
thanks to Mr. Wendt, here is the info:
http://sterkel.org/wendl.htm
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