 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-07-10 01:02
I was wondering what the primary differences are between open and closed mouthpieces, and why people opt for one or the other. Also, I don't really understand the concept of closed mouthpieces taking harder reeds than open ones. I would have thought an open mouthpieces would need a harder one. I play on a Viotto B3 mouthpiece and I've been told its a medium facing, maybe a little on the open side, therefore one would think I would need soft reeds for it, but I use mainly Vandoren 3.5 and 4's (blue box) and recently Sinus 3.5. Thanks to anyone who has a crack at this one.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2002-07-10 11:37
The main difference between playing characteristics on an open mouthpiece and a closed one is the way the player interacts with the dimensions of the facing. What I mean is that some players can't play an open mouthpiece ands some can due to the physical characteristics of the performer. The more traditional closed classical type facings range from about 1.02 mm tip to aroung 1.12 mm and a medium open starts around 1.16 mm and goes to about 1.2 mm...within these paramenters you may find quite a variance in the response , resistance, and feel of just playing a single open g. The main reason why the closed facing takes the harder reed is becuase the air speed is changed by the closer facings and therefore a harder reed is required. Also, to add fuel to this fire is the concept of the window and how long it is, it is know too that a long window requires a hard reed as well and the shorter the window the softer reed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rene
Date: 2002-07-10 13:04
Correct me, please, if I am wrong.
A reed acts like a valve, opening and closing the connection of the pressure inside the player and the bore. If it is too hard a reed mounted on a tip opening that is too wide, it cannot open and close completey. The sound becomes airy and low. The player can counteract this with a harder blow, which generaters stronger pressure changes and wider reed movements (and more air speed on the upper reed surface). A soft reed needs a wide opening or a gentle blow. Otherwise it would close too long and cut away the tone.
The length of the window should be connected to the point where the mp bends away from the reed. If this point is further away from the tip the reed can bend more easily. (A spring is determined by its stiffness and by its length.) Thus it requires a harder reed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-07-10 14:01
It's NOT all Bernoulli. It's more akin to solving the wave equation with some highly complex boundary and initial conditions. Bernouilli's Law has very little to do with it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rene
Date: 2002-07-10 14:37
Actually, I thought it has to do with Bernoullis law. Once the reed opens, the air begins to stream on top of it into the clarinet, giving a push to the oscillating wave. This stream helps to close the reed by the underpressure it generates. For some time I thought this was the only dynamic force involved. But I begin to unsterstand that the pressure changes caused by the oscillation add the most part.
Sorry to bore you with this stuff. I for my person find that fascinating. It does not really help to play well though.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tim k
Date: 2002-07-10 15:29
On the question of why people choose open or closed mouthpieces...in my first musical incarnation, when I was a clarinet player who doubled on tenor sax, I liked a close mouthpiece with a medium facing because of the control and pure tone. Now I'm a tenor player who also dabbles in clarinet. The close facings just don't work for me now. A medium tip, no closer than 115, with a medium to medium long facing is most comfortable. My sax chops don't adjust easily to a close tip.
As for the physics involved, no thank you, I already have a headache.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-07-10 18:45
Here is my unscientific way of understanding it: The wider the tip, the more the reed may be allowed to vibrate to produce sound; hence, you use a softer reed. But if the opening is narrow, a soft reed will vibrate so much it will hit up against the mp tip and choke off the sound, so you need a harder reed. A close tip / hard reed combo doesn't allow as much leeway in tone production, so you can "bend" notes easier with an open tip / soft reed combo, but the former will give you a "straighter" sound than the latter, at least until you develope better control over your embouchure.
As far as window length (is that same as, or proportional to, facing?), I thought thick blank vs regular or V-12 vs traditional took care of that, appropriately putting more or less usable reed surface on the mp.
I'm speaking in generalities. Everyone's embo is different. But if my generalities are wrong, please correct me. I'm sure someone will:-)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ChattyClar
Date: 2002-07-18 18:50
Nick,
Don't believe everything people tell you. Trust your own common sense! I've played on open mouthpieces and closed mouthpieces. The more open the mouthpiece, the harder the reed I've needed to darken it down and keep it in control. On more closed mouthpieces, I've used softer reeds. I do know a few odd ducks who play on closed mouthpieces with hard reeds, but they are an abnormality. Most of the time, they have very stuffy, bright sounds.
The Woodwind and Brasswind defines open and closed mouthpieces very well: "open mouthpieces require more control to play and generally have brighter sounds" and "closed mouthpieces require less control and are 'darker.'" It doesn't take a physicist to figure out that open=hard, closed=soft in order to get a decent sound.
Mike~
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
