 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dawn
Date: 2002-11-13 00:11
Hey,i had a couple questions about my playing. My tone isnt really where i would like it to be. If you have any tips on how to make it better please tell me. I just bought a Buffet E11 and it doesnt sound as good as i would like. I have a friend that has the same one that sounds extrodinary. Could it be the type of reed? I have mitchell Lurie Premium 3. Or my embroschure? thanks for the help.
~~DAWN~
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-11-13 02:13
What kind of mouthpiece are you using? The mouthpiece which comes with the E-11 isn't worth keeping. This is a MAJOR factor in your tone quality (I don't mean to yell, but it is).
Do you think you sounded better on your old clarinet or had some of the same issues as you do now? This could help you tell if your clarinet or your technique is at fault. I'm sorry, I can't really tell more without hearing and seeing you.
Keep in mind that the clarinet alone won't create the tone quality. Other pieces of equipment and, most importantly, you make a big difference.
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2002-11-13 03:15
one thing for sure, don't go to recent editions of the klarinet list serve and search for tone color or 'dark' vs 'bright'. There have been 200 posts in the last two weeks. I suppose that someone has read them all, but I doubt they have benefitted much.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-11-13 04:08
If after a new mouthpiece it doesn't change, I think it might be embouchre (in case you already have a good mouhtpiece). I had a good mouthpiece, but still sounded bad until an instructor showed me how to concentrate on my embouchre. Now that I make an effort and keep a strong emouchre, I think my tone has definitely improved. But mouhtpiece is probably the first factor.
Alexi
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Author: Rene
Date: 2002-11-13 06:02
I may not have gone far in the clarinet world, but one thing I learned from experience and all these experts here: Only to keep the embouchure "strong" is not the right answer.
IMHO, a good tone comes from the right balance of lip pressure to the read (also called embouchure) and air pressure (also called blow). Most players I have watched start out with much to little blow and a very hard bite. I am yet to meet someone who does the opposite without being told so.
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Author: Colin
Date: 2002-11-13 08:49
Try a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece and a V12 2.5 reed. This combination seems to work well on an E11.
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Author: Stéphane
Date: 2002-11-13 13:25
Colin,
What seems to be good for you, might not for others. The B45 is a good m/p indeed, and will work on any good clarinet whether E11 or whatever as long as it is the right combination for the clarinettist. If Dawn is a beginner, I don't think I would recommend the B45 as it is quite a tiring m/p for a young embouchure (I mean young by experience). I guess an easier m/p would be better recommending such as a B40 or 5RVLyre. But again, this all a matter of finding one's own working combination.
Stéphane.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-11-13 15:12
"Could it be the type of reed? I have mitchell Lurie Premium 3. Or my embroschure?"
Your individual tone quality is dictated (more than any other factor) by the concept of sound that exists in your mind. The equipement you choose to use will only exspedite the emergence of "your sound." Just remember the rule--"the farther from your head that you get, the less important the equipement is." The moluthpiece choice is important, but do not rely solely upon it to "make your sound." Your mind will tell you that--just continue to listen and you will succeed.
As for your friends sound being better than yours, just remember that often, "the grass often appears greener over the fence line." Good intonation is key to sounding "pretty."
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-11-14 00:08
You may also not be in the best seat to evaluate your sound.
Much of the hash, brightness and rough sound that may turn you away from your sound will actually help the tone carry.
To get a fix on what is really happening, you may need to find a corner room that is neither too resonant nor dull and play facing the corner.
Your teacher may also be a resource for listening to your sound.
Start with the cheap adjustments FIRST;
Set your ligature a little lower on the mouthpiece.
Take in a little more mouthpiece.
Try clipping the very tip of your reeds.
Go up to the next strength reed.
Try the Legere reed in 3 1/4 as a belleweather... it will be very consistent whenever you make some change and it is nearly immune to humidity shifts (which could be your core difficulty).
I like the Rovner ligature, which may help you dampen the higher frequency partials that you dislike (it's a low pass filter), but that's spending money and you don't want to start that!
There is NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR E11... they're terrific instruments and are very responsive to reed and mouthpiece changes.
Lastly, try changing one thing at a time. When you find the one that achieves your aim... STOP FIDDLING about and play for a week.
Otherwise, you'll end up with thirty unused mouthpieces acres of reeds and a floor covered with cane shavings.
(Not that I know anything about that.)
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Author: ~ jerry
Date: 2002-11-15 17:33
Why not try using your MP on your friends clarinet and judge the diference. And/or have your friend use his/her MP on your clarinet.
Go from there.
And a good inexpesive beginner MP is a Fobes "Debut" -- about $30.
~ jerry
Still in clarinet bootcamp -- with no DI.
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Author: Dawn
Date: 2002-11-16 15:11
I have a B45 mouthpiece people
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