 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2005-12-02 00:09
Hi, I'm a young teenager in a wind ensemble and I'm having difficulty playing the chamuleau register softly without having a stuffy or airy sound it's not my reed strength because I've tested it on a soft reed too and no leaks.
Tomorrow night we're going to be guest conducted by Eric Whitacre and I want to have a clear sound for that register because I'll be playing 3rd clarinet and we have a lot piano in the chamuleau and I don't want to be stuffy. I've had it for a while but never found a solution.
Thank you!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-02 00:42
You can firm up your embouchure and it'll help it go away. Can you tell us your setup? Mouthpiece make/model, reed model/strength?
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2005-12-02 00:50
My mouthpiece is a Vandoren B45 13 with Vandoren V12 #3 reeds with a standard 2 screw metal ligature.
How do I firm up my embouchure?
(And yes, I probably should have tested the mouthpiece at various volumes before I bought it but it's too late now the exchange period is over =( )
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-02 00:58
For an example of firming up your embouchure, put a finger in your mouth and form a rudimentary embouchure around it. Teeth on your nail, bottom lip against the flesh. Now try to "squeeze" your finger with your lips NOT by moving your jaw. Do that on the clarinet mouthpiece and see if the airyness goes away a bit (or hopefully, a lot!)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Steve B.
Date: 2005-12-02 01:04
The B45 has a medium open facing and can sound quite airy even with a #3 reed. It is a difficult mouthpiece for a young player, and can often be resistant and stuffy.
Try a 2.5 reed or get a closer facing like a 5RV lyre. This should solve your problem, and you'll be much happier in the long run. You can also try a Hite
Premier or a Fobes Debut, (2 excellent low cost mouthpieces)
Good luck,
Steve
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-12-02 01:31
I'll try firming up my embouchure and also softening my reeds. My dad will get mad at me if I ask to buy another mouthpiece!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-02 02:46
bflatclarinetist wrote:
> I'll try firming up my embouchure and also softening my reeds.
> My dad will get mad at me if I ask to buy another mouthpiece!
I've been there myself. Same mouthpiece, actually. But to be honest, the clark fobes debut, at about 40 dollars, is a VERY good mouthpiece. And forty bucks ain't much. Easily earned over winter with a few shoveled driveways or other chores.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-02 03:10
I stand corrected! Even MORE achievable then!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-12-02 15:09
B45s seem to vary a fair amount in characteristics. In my opinion, considering, your level of experience a #3 reed with a B45 is probably your problem.....plus a weak embouchure. You should have a talk with your Dad since we clarinetists never have enough mouthpieces. For the time being try a softer reed.
Bob Draznik
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-12-02 16:15
>> the clark fobes debut, at about 40 dollars, is a VERY good mouthpiece.
> $26.95 at Woodwind/Brasswind
Yeah. Ordered mine six weeks ago. Still on backorder. I doubt I'll receive it this year. :(
--
Ben
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-12-02 17:07
For most people who have been playing for at least 2 or 3 years, a #3 V12 shouldn't be too stiff for a B45 (unless you got the hardest reed in the box) and I notice you are not complaining about the reed/mouthpiece combination being too resistant in general. Before I went out and bought some softer reeds, I would try at least one other thing first because reeds that are too soft will cause other problems.
A possibility that, surprisingly, no one has mentioned yet is that your reed may be OK for strength but not balanced properly for your mouthpiece. A good description of how to test for balance is found at:
http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/articles/adjusting.htm
Once your reeds are properly balanced, if the problem remains, then it may be time to try some different reeds. FWIW, some players prefer the regular Vandorens to the V12's when playing Vandoren mouthpieces. You might try regular 2 1/2's (which will be close to the strength of a V12 #3 but may work better for you) or V12 2 1/2's which will be softer. Another possibility, unfortunately, is that you may just have a "bad" B45.
If you can't make the B45 work, I will second the recommendations above for a Fobes Debut. I can't recommend buying it from WW&BW, though. If my last order from them (in more than one sense) is any indication, you might have to wait three months and make several follow-up phone calls to get it. Personally, if you can't get a good price locally, I would buy from Muncy Winds (same price as WW&BW - much better service.)
Best regards,
jnk
P.S. I wrote my comments on WW&BW before reading Ben's. And now ... off to "Airy" Potter
Post Edited (2005-12-02 17:11)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-12-02 18:34
> I'm having difficulty playing the chamuleau register softly without having a
> stuffy or airy sound
OmarHo,
been there too. It magically settled; my mouthpiece, my chops and my reed are now compatible; all it took some time to "make friends". Just don't think too much about it. Concentrate on the melody. Next time you check the airyness is gone...
(FWIW I'm playing for maybe three months now and use a Yamaha 4C and Selmer Goldentone 3 mpc with a Vandoren (regular) #2 reed, occasionally a #2.5. Harder isn't automatically better. Remember that you can get a backache on a too soft and on a too hard mattress...)
(And before someone asks: yes I did order a better mpc  )
--
Ben
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