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Re: Why does my clarinet sound like this?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-05-17 00:47

If you're having to apply lots of pressure to the lower part of the reed, that sounds like either your reeds or your mouthpiece side rails are warped and leaking air making it chirp, so you're having to apply extra pressure to make the reed seal.

Play as normal with just left hand notes and using your right thumb, press the reed at the bottom of the scrape to see if that suddenly improves the tone. If that's the case, either your reed is warped or your mouthpiece facing has a dip at the base of the window.

Another way to test your reed is sealing well is to take the mouthpiece off and seal the tenon with your thumb, then suck all the air out from the tip of the mouthpiece to create a vacuum and see how long the reed remains closed against the facing for. If it's only a few seconds, then there's a leak. You want the reed to be held closed by the vacuum and then after a long period of it making a hissing sound, it should suddenly spring open with a definite 'pop'.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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