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Re: Chirping

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-01-04 06:13

I once defined the cause of a squeak as the reed not vibrating evenly from left to right. But with more and more views of what standing waves look like, I would amend that to be.... it is when the reed does not vibrate naturally across its width.

So I'd say chirping is a micro disruption of the natural wave across the reed. For instance I had experienced chirping with a reed that had a small chunk taken out of the tip. I would think the same could apply to a divot in the front rail or somewhere on either side rail close to the tip. In weather conditions as we have had in the US recently, we are really running the heaters and that dries out the air. This can and does cause the reed to dry up unevenly, ON your mouthpiece, AS you are playing (I have experienced this during a particularly rough Boston winter).

Here is where EVERYONE should own at least one reliable (and correct strength) Legere (my recommendation is the Euro Cut). Since plastic is impervious to humidity (or lack thereof) you can at least see if that is the culprit. As for cane, a longer break-in period of maybe 5 or 6 days would not be out of the question before assessing ANY characteristics of your new reeds. If it's an old reed......chuck it and start new ones. If it's a newly established reed that worked just the other day, make sure it is really moist and evaluate quickly to see in the first ten seconds if you are getting those chirps.

.................Paul Aviles

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