 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-06-12 00:46
What is generally considered "normal" as far as reed strengths for Eb clarinets go? Do players generally play on similar strengths as to what they play on the Bb? Or is it like Alto, where I play with much softer reeds?
I also like to use actual Eb reeds, not cut down Bb reeds. I play of off of 3.25-3.5 Gonzales reeds for Bb, and the Vandorens I keep on hand are generally 3.5s. I need new reeds for my Eb however. The reeds I am playing on are ancient, Vandoren 3's, and they aren't producing a conistant sound. Sometimes its great, other times its NOT (it could just be me, too). What brand of Eb reeds am I most likely to get good consistancy and quality from?
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2005-06-12 07:54
I tend to go slightly softer with my Eb reeds. I play on a Vandoren 4 on Bb, Vandoren 3 on bass clarinet, and Vandoren 3.5 on Eb.
So it doesn't hurt to try slightly softer than you would on Bb, or just the same strength.
I have only had experience with Vandoren. They seem pretty trustworthy. I just bought some Rogottis, which I should be getting soon. I'll let you know how they work out. hehe
--CG
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2005-06-12 08:30
Reed strength for Eb-cl is like everything else in that field a very, very personal matter. It’s impossible to give an advice since it depends on what MP you play as well as on your personal embouchure and your experience. Generally speaking for Eb-cl you should use as hard reeds as you can master without the sound being stuffy but still resonant. This requires a lot of practicing and patience to build up an embouchure strong enough to get the high notes in the altissimo register WITHOUT PINCHING. This is only possible with a relatively hard reed, an open throat and AIR, AIR, AIR and EARS, EARS, EARS. Never allow yourself to pinch, it hurts your lip and is very bad for your Bb embouchure.
I suggest that you start up on a reed with just about the same resistance as when you play the Bb so that you feel comfortable. Practice scales and other basic exercises as high as you dare WITHOUT PINCHING, I can never underline this enough. You should firm the embouchure as you go higher but not pinch. Use your ears to decide when to stop. Always take a break when you get tired. After a few days/weeks depending on how much time you spend with the Eb you can gradually increase the reed strength and work yourself higher up. Don’t force yourself to play higher than you can master, it can be very harmful for your embouchure. Be patient and don’t give up until you can play an altissimo G6 with a full powerful pleasant sound in all dynamics. Then you can consider yourself an Eb specialist.
I usually suggest for serious players to use a medium open MP, not too close so that not enough air comes through and not too open that makes you pinch. A Vandoren B40 or similar is usually a good start. Just try to find a MP that feels right for you having these advices in mind.
For reeds I personally use cut of White Masters 3½ or 4. This is also a matter of taste but I recommend that you try them as you get more advanced. The amount of wood in these reeds is a great help in the altissimo.
To be a good Eb player requires a commitment. No one can get there without a great deal of patience, a good blowing technique and a well worked out firm embouchure. Despite what everybody says and here I expect comments from “fundamentalists”, don’t be afraid to use air in your cavity, puffing your chins a bit to get the highest notes WHEN YOU GET THERE, NOT BEFORE YOU’RE READY FOR IT. This can give you that little extra power you need to play confidently in the altissimo register.
Finally, a mind trick that I got from singers: Always think the high notes from above, like if they came from your forehead. Never think that you squeeze the notes from below, it makes you PINCHING and that IS BAD.
Alphie
Clarinet/Eb clarinet RSPO
(COPY, PRINT AND SAVE)
Post Edited (2005-06-12 08:49)
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-06-12 09:50
Also experiment with Black Master Bb clarinet reeds. They are fairly narrow, and usually work quite nicely on Eb clarinet. The strength will be a matter of preference for you, also the blanks are thicker than the standard Vandoren Eb clarinet reeds, so they are more stable. You won't have to cut a whole lot off of them either, maybe, just a little of the heel depending on your mouthpiece, and maybe, again, depending on your mouthpiece, a little narrowing of the sides. 220 garnet paper works well for the narrowing, and shortening.
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-06-12 15:58
Alphie- Great advice! I'll ask at the music store in town and see what they have for Eb reeds, maybe buy one or two at a few different strengths (both harder and a little softer).
I've already played the Eb quite a bit in band, at contest, etc. The highest I've had to go so far is G6, and no one winced or covered their ears when I played it, so I think it sounded okay. I've always liked the altissimo, even on bass cl. I've fiddled around with higher notes, taking easy passages from my lesson books and transposing them up. Not really a problem. In picking contest pieces, however, I've stuck to pieces with lower notes. I'm working on Rigaudon for next year, I love the piece. If anyone has any suggestions for that piece, I'd love to hear them!
I hope next year, when I switch back to Bb from Bass for concert band, I'll have a few more opportunities to play Eb.
Oh, and the mouthpiece I play on my clarinet is a Bundy. It says something like Geo. M. Bundy on it, and has a 3. I believe this is the mouthpiece that came with the clarinet. I've been thinking about upgrading it for awhile, but haven't had the extra $$.
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Author: Kanehira
Date: 2005-06-12 17:43
Yes, I play Eb clarinet also and I also do not cut down Bb reeds. I play on a 5RV mouthpiece with size 3.5 Vandoren Eb reeds... the problem I've been having is that I think that the tip of the reed is too thin, because it just doesn't "feel" right when I am going higher in the registers. However, I don't think I have the skill to cut down the Bb reeds (I mean, if you cut off the butt end incorrectly, don't you risk ruining the veins that run through it?-- I am no expert so don't hold any of these opinions against me). I still have a lot of issues with playing the Eb clarinet, even with a year of eefer playing under my belt. As they say, you must "tame the beast."
Cheers-
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-06-13 03:32
You could play Bb reeds cut down to size - The Larger cane has better quality.
Make sure that the reed is hard enough to get the really high stuff.
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