 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Henry
Date: 2002-10-25 21:03
I retired a few years ago and decided to pick up my old alto sax (a 1955 Dolnet) again after a 20-year hiatus. I joined a local big band and things are going marvelously. Great fun! Since then, I have bought a used Leblanc LL with the intention to double in the band (Glenn Miller stuff, etc.). I only played (an Albert system) clarinet a bit in my teens, and nothing since. So this is a real challenge! But again, everything is going very well and I feel ready to fly. The Leblanc is great and has a beautiful tone. The only problem: I have a tendency to squeak in the range of high G to C into the higher harmonic. The horn came with an old Brilhart (B3) mouthpiece. Since then I have acquired a Vandoren B-45, but both pieces behave about the same. I have backed off on the reed strength and that clearly helps. I am currently using Rico Royal and Vandoren #2 reeds but the squeaks are still there uncomfortably frequently! I believe that things are slowly getting better as I practice. But does anyone know of any short-cuts?
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2002-10-25 23:35
tighten up your embochure, put a lot of "face" into it, and have solid controlled breath support. That always does it for me.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2002-10-26 03:17
A better embouchure and better support - so that's why one will squeak, and another will take the same instrument (yes, mouthpiece and all) and not squeak at all on it?
What would you suggest for embouchure exercises?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-10-26 12:31
Do be sure that the instrument is properly adjusted. Minute leaks can also cause squeaks, especially when attempting the higher notes.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-10-26 13:13
Henry, check closely to determine if one of your left hand fingers is accidently touching one of the keys at the lower end of the upper section...arthritis will do it
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Author: Henry
Date: 2002-10-27 00:52
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! All of them clearly have merit and I shall be paying special attention to them. The horn was looked over very carefully by a tech and I don't think there are any leaks. I do have some arthritis but it is mainly in my RIGHT index finger. Nevertheless, it is possible that I sometimes slightly open some unintended key. From what I said, the problem is probably related to the embouchure that is still being built up. The sax seems to be more forgiving! Thanks again to all of you.
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-10-28 03:47
Additionally, if you have a lower lip movement WHILE blowing, this can also cause squeaks.
The three different causes make different sound squeaks. If the "squeak" is actually an overblown note (i.e., it sounds a twelfth higher than the intended pitch), then you are probably either bumping a trill key or are pushing a LITTLE too hard on the reed.
The embouchure movement makes a squeak particularly at the very beginning of the note. It's the really loud, ugly one.
If your fingers aren't covering a hole all the way, you'll get a muffled sort of squeak that is probably closer the the "overblown" squeak...
Katrina
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