 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sanya
Date: 2006-03-05 22:20
Hey guys,
I haven't posted for a while because I've been doing okay with my playing, I suppose. But recently, I've noticed that I sound terribly airy and all around terrible. I play on a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece and a horrible clarinet that I rent from school -- it's a NoName, I swear! -- and I use a Vandoren #3 reed which I have to sand down. I broke a reed today and started to use a new one, so I sanded it as usual, etc., but when I play, I sound awful. I've been noticing this for a while and I thought it was my old reed, but it's like this on this new one, too. What's up?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-03-05 22:57
sanya wrote:
> I broke a reed today and started to
> use a new one, so I sanded it as usual, etc.
Try not to automatically sand a new reed until it is sufficiently broken in.
During the first few days of break-in, the reed is continually changing during the wetting and drying process.
After a few days, when the reed has stabilized, you can then tell what part(s) of the reed need adjustment.
If you find yourself having to do a lot of sanding with each reed, the chances are you are playing the wrong strength...GBK
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-03-05 23:37
Ditto, but only play on each read ONLY 10 minutes per day max!!!! If you have access or $ for another mouthpiece, perhaps try M13 or 5RV Lyre or M30 or even a B40 (close to 45 but not so).
I like the suggestion of going down reed strength to a point. I may be wrong on this one (as I have been on MANY past occasions) but I find a minimum effective strength for classical reeds to be around 3 (Vandoren of course) before the "sound of the reed" (every one pounce at once!!!) becomes too flacid.
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-03-06 05:04
"but only play on each read ONLY 10 minutes per day max!!!!"
My approach is differnet. I take a reed out of the box, and unless it is not unusually defected or way too soft or hard (which rarely happens) I play it until it is dead. Then take another reed....
Also no one of the (about) 20 clarinetists (all but me are classical) and saxophonists (both classical and jazz) in my university do the 'break in' method either.
"I find a minimum effective strength for classical reeds to be around 3"
For the (about) 12 years that I played only classical music I've almost always used Vandoren 2.5 reeds. After I found this board I learned about the V12 reeds and tried them and since then I play V12 3 reeds, which are still softer than regular 3.
I think the problem could be a lot of things. Your embachure (spelling?) is not good enough, your air is not focused enough (and everything that has to do with air which I can't really explain in English), your reeds are the wrong strength for you, your mouthpiece is the wrong one for you, the reed/mouthpiece combination is wrong for you, your clarinet is very bad or in poor condition - or any number of these together.
Another option which is unlikely is your ligature. I thought I sounded bad in the last few months comapred with how I vagly remembered my sound and it turned out something happened to my ligature - a Vandoren Optimum, which was very good at first and now it is worse than any ligature I try.
The best way to solve the problem would be to ask your clarinet teacher, and if you don't have one I recommend getting one.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-03-06 07:48
Whenever I suffer from what I think is a "bad reed day" I pick my cheap student Légère reed (no affiliation whatsoever). It may not sound great, but it consistently sounds okay. If that one sounds bad too, then it definitely is me and not the reed.
In such cases I put the clarinet away and do some other worthwile things like going for a walk (stay away from music shops) or do some household work.
--
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-06 08:30
Yep, save yourself the hassle of sanding down reeds by using a softer reed.
It's not a competition to see who can use the hardest reed, and using a 2.5 isn't going to do you or your self esteem any harm.
I think using a Vandoren 3 on a B45 if you've only been playing for a short while is a bit excessive, and will make the lower register wooly and hissy - and using too hard a reed will lead to developing some embouchure problems.
There's no point in struggling with a resistant set-up.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-03-06 12:14
I find that one of the biggest mistakes that students make is playing on reeds which are too hard.
In an attempt to get a dark sound (whatever that means) they play on reeds which are not suited for their individual set-up. This often causes undue tension and pressure in their embouchure.
A hard reed does not equate to a dark sound. Rather, it produces a sound which is diffuse, unfocused and without carrying power...GBK
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-03-06 14:05
sanya,
If you will have a look at Vandoren's web site, you will find that their reed recommendations are a function of the mouthpiece.
In general, a more open mouthpiece requires a softer reed. Your B45 is considered "medium open", with a recommended (Vandoren Traditional) reed strength ranging from 2.5 to 3.5.
If you want to try different mouthpieces, recommendations above include M13 (100.5 mm tip opening), 5 RV Lyre (109 mm ), and B40 (119.5 tip opening) so that these represent quite a large range and big steps. Note that according to Vandoren the B40 is "designed to use soft reeds...".
As has been suggested above (assuming the clarinet does not need repairs), you should try a softer reed, at least until your embouchure has developed further. IMO this is the best place to start.
Regards,
Hans
Post Edited (2006-03-06 16:14)
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Author: D
Date: 2006-03-06 19:51
It would also be a good idea to get a friend or two to try playing their mouthpiece and reed on your clarinet. And you play your mouthpiece and reed on theirs. It is the quickest way to see if your instrument has developed a nasty without dragging it down to the shop. If everyone sounds airy on your instrument then get that fixed before buying millions of reeds.
Personally I always try to have at least three or four playable reeds on the go of slightly different strengths (often all out the same box) because a wet day/dry day/hot day/cold day etc will all change the way things respond.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-03-06 21:48
Why inflict such pain......use a 2 1/2
Bob Draznik
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Author: sanya
Date: 2006-03-07 02:50
It seems like the general reaction to this is to get a softer reed. This is good, because I just finished my box of #3's -- ain't I lucky! Thanks guys. I'll try a softer reed and if I still have problems, I'll post again.
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