 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: _frozenwings_
Date: 2014-06-02 02:15
Recently I have noticed that when I cross from a throat tone to over the break, there is a short pause where there is no sound other than a raspy fuzzy air. It takes about the second for the higher tone to appear. The same holds true when I start off a breath with a note over the break.
I have never had problems with this before. I can play as high as the first few notes in altissimo. Therefore, I wouldn't really classify this as a newer player struggling to cross the break for the first time.
Around the same time I noticed this, I also noticed a fuzzy raspy sound that underlies every note I play. Could there be a correlation between the problems? What could I do to fix this?
I apologize if that didn't make sense. I will try my best to clarify if such proves necessary. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-06-02 02:35
If you've never had this problem before and you haven't changed your equipment (mouthpiece, reeds or instrument) then look for a leaking pad, probably just above the highest note you notice being accompanied by the "fuzzy, raspy sound." Or, look for a pad that is normally open most of the time (somewhere on the lower - right hand - section) for a torn pad that vibrates when it's open and leaks when it's closed.
Karl
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-06-02 18:45
Usually, this is due to one of the keys on the lower joint is bent and leaking, or there is a pad that needs replacing. Take it to a shop or your clarinet teacher.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2014-06-02 22:03
Yeah, it's most likely that you have leaks in the lower joint, BUT...
IF your instrument is sealing properly, and IF the mechanism is adjusted properly, you might have developed the bad habits of unconsciously "reaching" for the long-tube notes or getting sloppy with the fingers.
Typically, when my students have this problem (with a properly set up clarinet) they are doing one or more of these things:
- Not providing sufficient breath support so that the long-tube notes can speak quickly.
- Not having precise coordination of all the fingers that have to be put down from the throat tones to the long-tube notes.
- "Reaching" for the note by pinching the embouchure to the point where the reed doesn't want to vibrate for the pitch change.
AGAIN, if the instrument is set up correctly, you might try repeatedly and SLOWLY (and I emphasize "slowly") moving from open G or thumb F to the clarion B, making sure that you're not trying to muscle the B into speaking by changing your embouchure, that you have enough breath support so that the B can speak, and that your fingers are precisely coordinated so that they're placed for the B all at the same time.
SLOWLY! EVER SO SLOWLY on the fingers as you do this!
"Muscling" the pitch with the embouchure, not supporting the breath, and imprecise finger coordination are habits that insidiously sneak in sometimes, regardless of playing level or experience. Fixing or avoiding those habits is one of the reasons to play long-tone exercises like Labadorf's or Stubbins's.
B.
P.S. These same three habits also can sneak in when playing up to the altissimo from the clarion register or lower.
Post Edited (2014-06-02 22:25)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2014-06-02 22:26
The problem could be crud in the register vent. Take off the register key and run a damp pipe cleaner through it to clean it out. Look down the bore to make sure nothing is clinging to the vent tube.
If you have a bladder pad on the register key, have it replaced with cork. Tell the repair tech to bevel the cork to create better venting.
Oddly enough, setting the register key pad too high can interfere with response. You should be just able to slide a nickel under it when it's open.
Also, check the C#/G# key, where a leak can produce the kind of problems you're having.
Finally, the thinnest wood in the clarinet is between the top end of the right index finger hole and the bottom end of the padded hole just above it. A crack in that area can produce your type of problems. Also, when you take the clarinet apart, take extra care to remove any water at the bottom of the lower joint socket.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2014-06-04 16:34
Diagnosis for the most likely problem:
Get a narrow strip of cigarette paper or cassette tape.
Place it under the most open part of the F/C key's pad. press down the left had E/B lever - lightly - onto the strip. Now pull that strip out. You should meet significant resistance. If no, then that pad leaking is one of your problems. The do the same under the E/B key's pad. Then try the pads under the 3 ring keys.
These are by far the most maladjustments on clarinets, and are almost standard on brand new instruments. Correction is to do with the thickness of the pad &/or how it is glued in &/or misalignment of the key cup over the tone hole, &/or sloppy pivots, &/or (in the case of the low keys, poor linkage adjustment.
Second most likely scenario is that with the clarinet assembled, when you press right index finger, the A/D key pad closes before the low ring key's pad does.
If these are not causing problems, then look seriously at bmcgar's excellent post.
Of course, there could be other, less common problems with the clarinet itself, as Ken suggested, and quite a few more.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2014-06-06 12:23
Even with perfectly sealing pads there are differences between clarinets over the break.
One way I test clarinets is to play G-A-B slowly in pianissimo. On less good clarinets no tone comes out on B, only air.
The Mendelsohn scherzo also confronts issues over the break.
Very good clarinets over the break IMO:
* Buffet Divine (tested 2 different instruments)
* Leblanc Opus and Concerto (tested 4)
Post Edited (2014-06-06 12:23)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2014-06-07 09:58
Perhaps that is because the pads seal perfectly after rather too much encouragement.
I have never noticed it myself when play testing after precise adjustment, but then I am a relatively out of practice amateur player who rarely plays ppp.
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