 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-03-30 08:38
Hello, I'm a high schooler and my clarinet's not in the best shape, better than some but not the greatest, anyway sometimes when I try to play, let's say a low F, it goes high like it's having voice crack or something. If I play down from a C it'll go quite normally. Also if I get a new reed it has much less of a problem with it but it doesn't take long before I try a low note and it goes up. I don't know if it's the clarinet or me, or something but if have any suggestions I would like to hear them, thanks.
P.S. The register and the long side key thingy(?) seem to be in order.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-03-30 14:37
Your lower octave (chalumeau) is usually pretty stable. The so my first guess is a leak of some sort. If it is just that note (or maybe the low E as well) it may be a problem with the Ab/Eb right hand pinky key. Either a loose spring (should feel about the same to depress as the key immediately below it), or a pad that has developed a tear.
Take it to a technician and have it assessed for problems. It should be an easy and relatively inexpensive fix.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-03-30 19:42
My first response was not fully awake, sorry.
You say "let's say," as this is but an example. So any note below the "C" below the staff can do this? That would still indicate a leak, just higher up on the horn (maybe something as simple as the A key pushing the G# key open....make sure there is a little play between them by loosening the adjustment screw slightly).
So, still easy inexpensive fix, just could be anywhere further up the horn.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-03-30 19:56
As can be gathered from Paul's line of thought, when in doubt try to determine the highest pitched note having a problem, and thereby also identify the topmost open hole for producing that note, and then look for leaks at holes above that one which are supposed to seal closed to produce the note. Often the culprit will be the lowest of the closed holes, but sometimes a leak higher up could cause similar symptoms. There are various techniques for finding leaks, references to which are numerous in the archives of this board.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-03-30 20:38
Nonpareil wrote:
> Hello, I'm a high schooler and my clarinet's not in the best
> shape,
This is the key to the problem. Unless you know what you're looking for (which from your post seems not likely), you will save time and get a better result by taking it to a repair person and letting him or her do the detective work. It would be ideal if the person would let you watch, because it's always good to learn how the instrument works. That it isn't "in the best shape" suggests that you've been avoiding having it worked on, probably to avoid the cost. But now that your playing and the clarinet's reliability are being affected, it's time to have it looked at.
If cost is a major limit, be sure to emphasize that you only want whatever leaks are causing the register jumping to be fixed. There will almost certainly be other things that could improve the clarinet's overall playability, but they're less important than finding and fixing the leak(s). If you or your parents can afford it, you could let the technician try to restore it to like-new condition, which will fix other problems you may not have known you were having.
Karl
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Author: Burt
Date: 2016-03-30 22:05
The first thing I would do is to make sure my fingers are covering the holes.
Then I would check each joint for leaks. For each joint separately, cover the holes in the normal way. Put your other hand at the end of the joint to seal it. Then blow into the open end. It takes a lot of pressure to force open a normally closed key so, if you can't build up pressure, there's a leak in that joint. A friend may be able to listen to help find the location of the leak.
The way we used to find a leak in a car or bike tube was to pressurize it, then put it under water. NOT RECOMMENDED for a clarinet. HA-HA.
Burt Marks
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-03-30 22:22
Finding the leak is only half the problem, of course. Then you (the OP) or someone else has to fix it.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-03-30 23:24
Yeah, and I always use negative pressure first.....just more reliable.
Put fingers over respective hole, plug far end with heel of palm (base of thumb area), put mouth over close end (like a trumpet), then suck air out. You should feel fingers and other hand pulling inward and the whole system should hold for a few good seconds (best results would be that when you pull away from your mouth, you'll hear a good "POP").
Of course as stated above, if you determine it is NOT holding as seal, then you are left with finding the leak and repairing it.............take it in.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-04-03 07:23
We have sent it in and it seems there are some keys that aren't in very good shape, and I knew some keys were not good and that I should take it in. So we'll see what happens.
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