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Squeaky G4

Author: Maruja
Date: 2016-11-19 21:06

I have quite a nice reed (strength 3) which gets altissimo fairly comfortably but seems to sqeak badly on G4 . Is this my fault? Am I overblowing? - but if so, why do I not squeak on other notes around this area? I am loath to jettison the reed as I like it otherwise... or maybe it's not the reed at all...

any ideas gratefully received!
Maruja

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Re: Squeaky G4

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-11-19 21:26

(1) By G4 do you mean throat G? Or a different one?

(2) You should never be "loath to jettison a reed" if it doesn't allow you to do something you need (or want) to do. But it does help to know what is the reed's faulty and what isn't.

Karl

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Re: Squeaky G4

Author: Maruja
Date: 2016-11-19 21:45

No, the G above (but not altissimo G!).

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Re: Squeaky G4

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-11-20 00:29

So, G just above the staff. If it's the only note that's unstable, it probably isn't either you OR the reed. The LH C#/G# might be leaking, although that would probably cause trouble all the way down from G. The top pad on the lower section (the one above RH index finger's tone hole) might not be opening enough. Sometimes the bridge key can get bent and holds the pad and the RH rings too low, or the pad might be too thick. If it's an isolated note like that, it's more likely than anything to be a mechanical problem on the instrument. How does low C sound - whether or not it squeaks, does it feel at all stuffy? Is altissimo E any harder to play than D or Eb?

It's important in troubleshooting this to decide whether it's only G (that's G5 using the key next to the title "The Clarinet BBoard" - the numbers change at each octave of C). If you have any trouble from G# up to C, it's a different situation. Likewise, if there's anything wild or unstable about the notes between long B (everything covered) and G5, then it's likely some other cause. I know you've said everything else is good, but it's worth going over everything again deliberately looking for something that feels resistant or ready to go out of control.

Karl

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