 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-09 00:42
Something that has been bothering me about my playing lately is a certain harshness of tone that has come into my chalmeau register. How do I fix this?
PS: This has only been a big problem in recent times, so I was wondering if it might be a problem that has come up with my clarinet. I suspect it might be a combination of me and the instrument.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-09 03:32
I get what I woiuld call a harsher tone in chalemeau when I use too soft a reed. The way I feel is that you should use a reed strength that requires a VERY firm embouchre in the lower notes. The lower the note, the firmer the embouchre. So try a harder reed and if those chalemeau notes sound airy and not as round, firm up the embouchre while playing them, then loosen up a bit as you go into the upper clarion and altissimo.
That's the only thing I can think of.
Alexi
Retired, playing more sax than clarinet, but still playing clarinet and still loving it!
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2003-12-09 10:01
Hi Rachel,
Well, my experience is that using too hard a reed will lead to some "harshness" in tone quality. The notes in the chalumeau register will suffer most while the clarinet register remains ok.
With harshness I mean an airy, unfocused sound with some unpleasant harmonics.
Hope this helps.
Jeroen
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-12-09 23:04
Ok, so I should use a harder reed, AND a softer reed. Do you think maybe I should get a really thick, hard reed and sand down one side of it so it is really soft?
The sound is very focused- no airiness about it- but there are a whole lot of unpleasant harmonics. My clarion register is great.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-10 01:18
If it's not airy, try a harder reed. If it IS airy, use a softer reed or firmen up the embouchre while playing those airy notes.
Retired, playing more sax than clarinet, but still playing clarinet and still loving it!
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Author: Burt
Date: 2003-12-10 02:05
Can you borrow somebody else's clarinet to verify that it's not a problem with your clarinet, such as a leak?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-10 02:25
Or you can have them play yours and that'll do the same as well. ALthough I'd be willing to bet a fair amount of money that it's the reed.
Alexi
Retired, playing more sax than clarinet, but still playing clarinet and still loving it!
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2003-12-10 04:32
Yeah, just make your own reeds. lol
Also, make sure there are no leaks? Maybe a slight leak in the bottom joint could be causing some kind of problem.
Reed is also a good idea to check. Try a couple to see if that can be ruled out.
Have you switched anything lately? New lig or mouthpiece? Maybe something like that has effected it.
--Contragirl
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-10 14:54
If your original post analysis is correct then I would go with the "something happened to the clarinet" hypothesis.....loose pad,leaky pad, weak spring etc etc. ......hopefully not a crack.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-11 01:18
Go ahead and try all the advice. If you still can't figure it out, find a teacher and ask them for help/advice. Visit a local college or very good high school. Between all the clarinetists and/or teachers there you should be able to find ONE that is willing to give fifteen minutes of their life to help you diagnose this problem.
Alexi
Retired, playing more sax than clarinet, but still playing clarinet and still loving it!
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