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Question: Bass Clarinet Reeds

Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2011-05-03 17:00

Hi! I'll quickly introduce myself since I'm new here. (Just joined) I've monitored this site for a few months and have found some very useful advice, so I decided I should probably join so I can get some of my own questions answered. =) I'm a junior in high school who plays both clarinet and bass clarinet (I prefer bass but have learned to not be very picky =p) I've played clarinet for eight years and bass clarinet for almost a year and a half; and approx. a year ago I started taking private lessons.

But anyways, to my question: My private instructor keeps insisting I use soft reeds on the bass clarinet. Before the lessons, I used a vandoren 3 1/2 on both bass and ordinary Bb clarinet. But months ago switched to a 2 1/2 vandoren, and recently 2 1/2 vandoren V12 bass clarinet reed. (I use V12 clarinet 3 1/2) I really like the reeds.... they play well. I think he suggested this so I could play with a fuller sound, and I think I can actually play the high notes more consistently with the 2 1/2. The only negative thing I've noticed is that I can't play the Bb clarinet with my usual 3 1/2 sized reeds unless I soak the reed in a cup of water for what seems like forever. Is this due to the difference in reed size or something else completely?

So my main question is if I should be playing on a harder bass clarinet reed. I've heard online that the soft bass clarinet reeds negatively impact the tone of the high notes, but I don't honestly think my high notes are that nasty. Maybe my bass clarinet just covers it (I now play a Buffet 1183 that my dad bought as a gift for competing in state solo/ensemble a month ago)... But I haven’t really noticed it when I play a Selmer 1430 or Buffet 1180. So I guess I'm just being my usual curious self. =) Any answers/advice/thoughts?

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