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 making cork pad less noisy?
Author: ruben 
Date:   2013-10-04 09:01

I use cork pad on the whole upper joint of my clarinet and on the two small holes of the lower one, almost entirely to my satisfaction. One problem: the noise factor. Does anyone out there know if there is anything to do about this. Cork pads tend to make a slamming noise.

rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com


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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2013-10-04 11:48

While cork pads are noisier than other kinds, the 'slamming' noise doesn't travel all that far and is usually covered up while you're playing.

Do try different finger technique - try closing the ring keys instead of slamming them closed. Seek advice from an oboist about finger technique to see what they do as oboes are mostly cork padded.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Steven Ocone 
Date:   2013-10-04 12:09

Cork pads get noisier as they age and get harder. I have repadded clarinets with newer cork pads just to get rid of noise. Now I use Masters pads on most of the closed tone holes and my discriminating customers are quite happy with them.

Key noise increases with key play. I expect you have already dealt with this issue.

I use a light synthetic grease instead of oil on all of the short rods (steels, or whatever you wish to call them). There is no noticeable change in key action and noise is reduced considerably. The grease doesn't evaporate or migrate and gives long lasting lubrication and noise reduction.

Steve Ocone


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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2013-10-04 13:08

If you're doing an upper register A-B trill and worried about the pad noise, play A as normal (sp. Th. xxo|ooo) trill with LH finger 1 instead of LH2.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: AAAClarinet 
Date:   2013-10-04 15:49

As an oboist of 15+ years ,the sound of cork has never bothered me. Keep your fingers as close as possible to the keys, be quick and light, never hard. Hope this helps.

AAAClarinet

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2013-10-06 01:56

Just in case you may not have tried, there are synthetics that seal like cork, but are a bit less noisy such as the Kraus Omni pads or the Valentino Masters.




................Paul Aviles



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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2013-10-06 03:17

In addition to an oboist, talk to a sax player. Sax pads are relatively soft, but they're big and make loud pops unless you find a way to prevent a hard impact. Marcel Mule was a master at this. Sigurd Rascher said he kept his fingertips touching the pearls at all times and was careful not to whack the keys down.

Think of Bonade's legato finger movements.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: donald 
Date:   2013-10-06 04:13

I don't use cork pads on the pads that are sprung in the "up" position for this reason, however if you wish you can great reduce the percussive element by developing "legato finger technique".
There is a great video on Youtube where Ricardo Morales shows a way to practise this, and I find the exercise he demonstrates is very effective (I think of it as a summary of the Bonade legato finger teachings, though there are some differences). Here is the link, well worth watching!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axTjcZTgy6w
dn

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2013-10-06 13:09

Ricardo's physics explanations are fanciful, but his finger motion lesson is right on. Bonade used the first two measures of Rose 40 #1.

The Jeanjean Vade Mecum is expensive ($32.30 for 21 pages), but worth it http://www.vcisinc.com/clarinetmusicstudies.htm item #C610.

It's no fun. It's nasty but essential medicine.

I got my copy years ago, printed on the horrible oversize high-acid paper that Leduc at least used to use. If a new copy feels like newsprint, it's best to scan it and print out new pages when the original starts to fall apart.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: ruben 
Date:   2013-10-06 14:37

Everybody's comment and suggestion was useful to me, but I found that the Ricardo Morales Youtube was a real eye-opener (ear-opener?) The only thing about "legato fingering" is that it is more difficult to achieve at a very fast tempo; playing the last movement of the Saint-Saƫns Sonata at quarter note equals 16O, for example. More difficult, but not impossible, especially if you are Ricardo Morales. I have been told I look like him, but nobody has ever told me I sound like him.

rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com


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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Tom Ridenour 
Date:   2013-10-06 17:34

(Written by Ted Ridenour)

Toms opinion, and based on his experience, is that your far better off using Valentino pads particularly in the upper joint.

Ridenour Clarinet Products,
rclarinetproducts.com
sales@ridenourclarinetproducts.com

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: bmcgar 2017
Date:   2013-10-07 05:24


Before you go changing pad sets, work on the legato fingering.

IMNSHO, slamming your fingers down or popping them up causes a lot more noise than whatever type of pads you might be using.

Once you get that down, have someone stand about four feet away and listen to you play. Betcha they won't hear any noise from the pads, cork or otherwise (unless maybe you have a frayed or torn bladder pad).

B.

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 Re: making cork pad less noisy?
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2013-10-07 19:08

Ditto what "B." says.......


Of course if YOU are fraying your last nerve with the sound, then maybe it's worth doing something about it.




.................Paul Aviles



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