 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-01-16 01:36
i was practicing for about a half hour no problem. then all of a sudden the clarion C was hard to play. i have to blow harder than usual for it to come out and when it does it isnt clean - its harsh and edgy. and sometimes there a sqawk first.
i checked the pads, key mechanisms and i just cant figure out what happened.
geez - when i was asking about when to get a tune up in another thread i should had been knocking on wood. Now what do i do? i live in no where land and the one tech i know is gone until the 26th,
i have a performance on monday, will see my teacher for a lesson tomorrow, but if she cant figure it out, i dont know ....
any idea what is wrong?
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Author: LgClarinet
Date: 2010-01-16 05:32
A pad might be covered with water.
Or, more likely, you have a bent key. You might not be able to see just from looking. While you play C, you need to have someone press down the keys of your instrument to find the bent key.
If you do that, you'll find the bent key. Fixes can be done quickly, but at your own risk... You might be able to make a makeshift fix, but you should take it to the shop as soon as possible.
Dan
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-01-16 11:55
Mrn
the second C pictured. isnt that called clarion? and the first one altissimo?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-01-16 12:35
Yes, the mid-staff C is the clarion C.
If the C is difficult, is the chalumeau F difficult as well (same fingerings except the register key)?
If it is, then the pad connecting with the C touchpiece god torn or loose, or something is preventing that hole from closing completely. What about the notes just below (i.e. clarion B and chalumeau E)? How do those sound?
--
Ben
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-01-16 12:53
The clarion B is hard to play as well. Although that is usually a resistant note.
However the Chalumeau F and E play fine. nice and clear no resistance at all.
i'm baffled. the clarinet isnt much more than 2 years old. pads look good. no swelling. no rips. none are loose. the keys have smooth action and seem to be working fine. The only thing I cant do by myself is have someone press the key while I play to see that its closing tight enough. will have to ask my teacher when i see her this morning.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-01-16 14:32
Try cleaning your register tube. Remove the thumb key and use a pipe cleaner or Q tip. Might be just a small piece of lint or other gunk and easily removed. Other than that, I too would be baffled.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-01-16 14:35
I second the register tube thingy then.
What do clarion C# and up sound like? Nice and clear, or also bit stuffy but not quite as bad?
--
Ben
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-01-16 16:59
I would suggest looking at the top pad of the lower joint.....or rather, whether is comes down all the way when you have your fingers down. If the rings are too low, perhaps this pad is not sealing with your fingers down, OR perhaps the rings are too high and the pad comes down before your fingers can seal the holes.
Try the suction/positive pressure test on the lower joint: three fingers down and pinky on the "B" key; cover the end of the joint with your left palm. First try sucking in with your mouth against the top openning (this requires having your tongue serve as a stop for the air in your mouth). You should be able to take several quick "drags" and feel more and more "pull" on your palm and fingers...in fact, it should remain so until you release either a finger or the palm and the release should cause a "popping" sound.
If it does this.......it's good, if it does not do this..........you have a leak.
It's also good to try the same tactic, but blow into the bottom joint instead. This will reveal that the first key to blow open will be the "Eb/Ab." If this key blows open VERY easily, the spring should be made tighter (perhaps a project for your repair guy). This key will probably blow open at some pressure point and the best point where this happesn (vs proper spring tension) is a matter of experience.
.............good luck,
..........................Paul Aviles
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-01-16 21:31
Thanks so much everyone. The problem was in the register tube. Took it off, cleaned it out - problem solved. whew!
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The Clarinet Pages
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![[C6]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c6.gif)
![[C5]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c5.gif)
