The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Reed Troubles

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-04-16 17:59

Beausoleiljacob wrote:

> I usually play on a Rue Lepic
> 3/3.5 and the same goes for the V12's. I play on a Vandoren M30
> Lyre Mouthpiece.
>
> Ok. So my problem is I am not achieving the sound I want with
> these reeds.

Without contradicting the responses you've already gotten, I need to go in a couple of different directions.

You mention two models of Vandoren reeds. There are still six others (Traditional, V21, two "German" and two "Austrian" styles) in addition to maybe half a dozen other brands (some with more than one model) out there. What else have you tried?

The real issue, though is that reeds don't make your sound what it is. They can have some effect, but the basic quality of tone is shaped by other parts of the system. Embouchure and oral (inside your mouth) shape, use of air and the musculature involved in moving it, tongue position and other more subtle parts of your approach to sound production have a lot to do with the result, at least once you've found the right *range* of reed strength. And then there are the influences of the mouthpiece, the instrument and even the barrel that, IMO, have more to do with sound quality than the reed's design (brand and model).

You have not, after six years, probably even scratched the surface of the possibilities in your own technical approach to sound production. That's not a criticism, not meant to minimize your accomplishments so far. But the fact is that there are probably many changes you can make, some bigger and some more subtle, to come closer to the sound you want. Meanwhile, finding the reeds that make playing easier - that get in your way least - is really a trial and error process. You can search among the obvious alternatives: VD Traditionals and V21s; D'addario Reserves, Reserve Classics and Grand Concerts; and Gonzalez FOFs and GDs. Or you can learn to make the Vandorens you're already used to play better by learning to make adjustments to improve the ones you can't play out of the box.

> The sound I am looking for is of a lot of clarinetists. A
> round, dark and bold sound. I like to be able to play loud and
> really soft. Yet not all of the vandoren reeds seem to do it. I
> love the sound of the ones that do play nice however.
>

Cane reeds are by nature inconsistent - from reed to reed and from day to day. You could try synthetics, but many players don't like them. And be careful of searching for a verbal ideal - "dark" and even "round" are not very meaningful when discussing sound, and without a clear idea in your imagination of the actual sound you want - independent of the influence of descriptive words - you may never find what you think you're looking for. Or, worse, what you thought you wanted doesn't work as well as you thought it would. Read through the thread about "What is dark sound?" that's still on the first page of BB topics.

Expect clean response and clear sound from a reed. Deepen and color ("darken?") it with your own sound production technique. Learn to improve the vibration of almost-good reeds with ATG or Reed Resurfacer or Reed Wizard or a knife or reed rush - any combination of techniques you can learn about to salvage them from the trash can (or recycling bin).

> Would switching down to a lower reed strength (2.5 :/) work?
> What do you guys suggest?
>

You'll get the best answer by trying a box of lower strength reeds. We can't hear you play. The right reed strength will not close easily with normal or even a little more embouchure pressure and vibrates cleanly when played with good embouchure and breath support.

Karl

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics