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 Stuffy B and "Grunting"
Author: Exiawolf 
Date:   2014-09-15 05:36

Greetings! Recently my Buffet E12F has been having some problems with the middle B. It sounds stuffy and I have trouble slurring from notes such as E down to it (It creates a grunting noise occasionally for a split second before the B tone really resonates). I'm not sure if this is an embouchure problem, or Clarinet problem seeing as sent the clarinet in mid August. Do you have any tips or suggestions?

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 Re: Stuffy B and "Grunting"
Author: TJTG 
Date:   2014-09-15 05:47

The B on a clarinet needs adjusting regularly, about twice a year. I would take it into a good tech and have them do a "long b adjustment"

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 Re: Stuffy B and "Grunting"
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2014-09-15 15:16

Sounds like a leak to me. First thing to do in this situation is to play the "B" with just the left pinky paddle key, then add the right hand pinky "C" key as well. If the "B" is much better adding the RH pinky "C," then the problem is just an issue with the crow's foot.


Easy fix, we just talked about this in another thread - prop your left thumb (more wedge really) under the crow's foot while pressing on the "C" cup to bend it lower. Once it is aligned better with the "B" cup, the two will come down TOGETHER and seal properly. If you go a bit too far with bending, you can more easily go the other way simply by pressing on the "C" key to bend the cup 'more open.'


There could be a leak further up the chain that only becomes obvious when playing the "B." One other mechanical issue that comes to mind could be that the pad at the top of the bottom joint (above your index finger) may not be coming down all the way. This could be caused by the bridge key being adjusted too low. Turn the joints relative to each other just enough so the bridge key is NOT engaged. Now try to play the "B." If that is the issue, you can do some judicious bending of the bridge itself. I do this carefully, just barely trying to move it up using a small screw driver or even a key (a regular key on your keychain that is) propped under the bridge furthest from the end, and with the tip of the whatever I use as the lever up against (or next to) that bottom post. Going backwards (if you've gone too far with this = 1 and 1 Bb won't play) is a bit more tricky. You would wedge your thumb between the bridge and side keys while pressing on the cup that sits between your LH first and second fingers.



Could be another leak too......let's see about those first.






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



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 Re: Stuffy B and "Grunting"
Author: D Dow 
Date:   2014-09-17 05:05

middle B always feels stuffy..open the bell up away from the lower joint and this may relieve some of the vibrations that make this happen..

David Dow

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 Re: Stuffy B and "Grunting"
Author: D Dow 
Date:   2014-09-17 05:06

by this I mean slightly ..very little away from the lower joint tenon

David Dow

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