 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sofus2106
Date: 2022-09-29 19:15
Hello, I’m a new member here, and a relatively fresh clarinet player. 20yo, been playing quite a lot since i started last year. as for everyone else, one of my main struggles is the break. most of my problems, i just have to practice and i know how to practise them, but I just cannot comprehend how to get a smooth attack on the B. when playing down to it from C, I get an okay sound. even when playing up from A or Bb, the attack on the B seems to be better. but when i start from no sound and play the B, i struggle so badly with getting a smooth attack. i’m sure other people have had this issue, would love some tips:))
Cheers,
Sofus
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Author: Klarnt
Date: 2022-09-29 19:51
Assuming that the equipment is all well, I'd say...
Tighten the corners/sides of your embouchure because long B requires good lip work in order to not grunt/squeak. Typically for me I find that if I get sloppy then for a moment the attack jumps up to Clarion G and quickly settles back on B.
Also when I play long B I picture in my head the air quickly going through the whole instrument, usually I can feel the vibrations on my finger tips.
You could also try playing a low E, and then hitting the register key. When warming up I like to play the chalumeau notes to get a more 'open' sound, and I try to apply that to the clarion register. Maybe then you'll be able to hit long B smoothly?
Post Edited (2022-10-30 03:45)
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2022-09-30 02:32
I've never found middle B to be much different from the rest of the lower clarion in terms of response (quite reliable), so if you are doing fine with the rest of those notes, I'd suspect a leak or two somewhere along the way. Probably at that low B/E pad, but sometimes a number of little leaks around the instrument start to compound for notes that rely on more holes covered (and pads down).
I'm not ruling out a technique issue altogether, but I'd make sure the instrument is in good working order first. I'm always surprised what a difference it makes when I get my clarinet back from its yearly-ish adjustment at my tech, even when it seems like it's playing well when I bring it in.
Don't make it harder for yourself!
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2022-09-30 06:42
> when playing down to it from C, I get
> an okay sound. even when playing up from A or Bb, the attack on
> the B seems to be better. but when i start from no sound and
> play the B, i struggle so badly with getting a smooth attack.
There can be several reasons why ![[B4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/b4.gif) might not sound. You've eliminated some of them by telling us the note plays when you play down to it from C and that it even sounds when you go up over the break from A or Bb. So once you've gotten the sound going - the air column vibrating - from somewhere else, you're able to produce B.
The most likely two causes given what you've described are:(a) when you start cold from B, your fingers may not be set exactly and something that should be completely closed isn't, or (b) you may be pinching the reed closed when you try to "attack" the B directly. Try to slur downward from C, then stop the air for a second **without moving anything,** then just begin the note again by just blowing - no tongue. Not a hard blow, just try to reproduce what you left off with. If clenching/tensing is the problem, you may find it easier this way to get the feel of how the response should feel.
Karl
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2022-09-30 06:46
Try other clarinetists' instruments. Do they give you the same trouble making smooth entrances on middle B?
If the trouble is with your clarinet, it could originate in leaky pads as others have suggested or it could be some debris clogging the register key vent. A good tech can best judge that.
If the rowdy entrances on B occur on all the clarinets you try, then you need, with the help of a good teacher, to track down 1) what you might be doing wrong, and 2) what you could be doing right to remedy it.
Just calling the B entrance an "attack" might be one thing you are doing wrong, The misnomer might have you tonguing too hard or on the wrong part of the reed, or not using the right syllable starting the tone. Experiment with "du," "dee," "thee," and "lee" to see if any of those brings about a friendlier entrance rather than an assault or attack.
On some clarinets the resonance and focus of middle B can be improved by opening the throat A key just a bit. if you anxiously expect the B to enter with a poor sound, you may be trying to compensate in some way that overstresses the note. If the B sounds better with the throat A open, you may relax more when you play it and the entrance may consequently sound softer and less abrupt.
Post Edited (2022-09-30 07:50)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-09-30 07:04
One thing that I was reminded of just the other day is to have a modicum of air going just BEFORE the note. This sorta "primes the pump" (reed for vibrating) and could help.
My vote is that there is a leak that you have not discovered. You can take the lower joint and do a negative pressure test. Cover the holes and hold the right low B pinky key down as you would normally with your right hand. Cover the bottom with your left hand and place your lips upon the open upper socket. Now just suck the air out of the horn (perhaps you've done something like this with an empty coke bottle). It should hold air for at least about three seconds. If not, there is a leak. You could to a positive pressure test as well by just blowing into the lower joint. You will more likely blow open the Eb/Ab key, but before that amount of pressure, everything should hold. If not, you may even hear air escaping from that area (one of the those big pads).
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2022-10-01 02:44
Your clarinet needs to be repaired. This is the most common problem I had to deal with in my years as a repair tech. I don't care if you had it repaired yesterday. It can come out as easily as any other note.
Steve Ocone
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