 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Erez Katz
Date: 2026-01-16 00:32
I tried ear plugs abd they just make things worse for me.
I use over the ear protectors and play in the basement sometimes.
However, if there is a good solution for clarinetists - I am all ears.
Especially something i could use on stage.
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2026-01-16 01:24
After trying several over-the-counter products (none of which fit properly, so they were annoying and didn't properly control sound), I finally broke down and had an audiologist make a molded pair. They run $250-300 US. You can order different inserts to vary the sound attenuation, if needed. Mine are "Soundgear"; I'm sure there are several satisfactory brands, depending on the audiologist's preference.
Much better, especially for my orchestral playing, where I sit directly in front of the trumpets! They reliably seal the ear canal and don't loosen or pop out in the middle of a piece. Worth the expense for me; YMMV.
Also, using ear protection takes some getting used-to, so expect them to seem weird for awhile.
Amateur musician, retired physician
Delaware Valley Wind Symphony, clarinet 1
Bucks County Symphony Orchestra, clarinet 2 (sub)
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2026-01-16 02:30
I don't know how they would work for clarinet playing, but I sometimes use "Doc's Pro Plugs" for scuba diving. They have a pin hole in them to allow for equalisation. Maybe they would reduce the noise level when on land?
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book-- Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: Erez Katz
Date: 2026-01-16 04:50
My challenge is pressure from inside my mouth that presses outwards through the eustachian and hits the ear drum from within in. Every time I ise something that seals the ear canal like foam ear plugs actually feels like my playing is amplified.
Maybe that diving plugs would work.
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Author: Luuk
Date: 2026-01-16 15:22
With growing tinnitus, I tried using several earplugs (playing in wind band). It didn't work for me at all, because the buzzing sound reaching my ears 'from the inside', through teeth and skull, was very annoying. This part of your sound is always present while playing, but since the plugs attenuate the part coming through via the outside, I was left with a loud buzzing sound making it impossible to judge my real sound. Tuning appeared also almost impossible because the attenuated orchestra was difficult to hear under the remaining buzzing noise.
This problem seems unique to intruments with the sound source in direct contact with your teeth/skull. I have seen the clarinettists in the Royal Concertgebouw, for instance, using a small U-shaped cushioned screen placed directly behind their chairs and 'wrapping around' their heads with some space left (15 cm at each side?), leaving the ears free but screening the brass and percussion behind them.
However, on a side note, I read somewhere that, for members of a symphonic orchestra, about half of a musician's sound exposure is coming from his own instrument, the other half coming from the orchestra. This is of course a general statement, and it may be differing between instruments. Violinists play with one ear very close to the instrument, while the sound of a trumpet is directed away from the player. Nevertheless, I found this statement insightful.
Regards,
Luuk
Philharmonie Brainport
The Netherlands
Post Edited (2026-01-16 15:40)
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Author: ramen
Date: 2026-01-16 18:32
I have a few different types of plugs that I use. but my all purpose go-to have been Earasers. I keep some in my desk, on my keys, in my car. They are comfortable, low profile and don't put a lot of pressure.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2026-01-17 04:42
When I play in rock bands or loud jazz big bands (saxophones) I often use my trusty Etymotic earplugs. Tried to use them once last year playing (bass clarinet) in an orchestra where I sit right in front of the brass and percussion but found quickly that it was impossible to judge what was coming out of my instrument.
Thanks to the bone conduction described above by Luuk, it is usually possible in such situations to know what PITCHES one is playing, but impossible to judge one's own VOLUME level or TONE quality.
Now that I'm 68, with most of a lifetime playing music in large groups, my tinnitus has gotten bad enough that it's starting to affect my ability to discriminate words and judge my own sound even in quiet environments. Aging has some upside, but some aspects of aging suck!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2026-01-17 18:48
When players say "these work for me," are you talking about effective noise cancellation from the environment (attenuating the intensity/volume of the trumpet player sitting directly behind you) or are you including the effect on what you hear of your own sound as you play. Given that the balance between internal bone conduction and airborne sound from your own instrument is changed, can you hear what you're doing accurately enough to be in control? Is this better with some than with others?
When I use earplugs (I have an audiologist's custom-made set as well as several OTC kinds), I can't tell what pitch I'm producing - or at least what seems in tune without the plugs sounds very much out-of-tune with them. Articulation sounds muddy with plugs in. Tone quality itself seems impossible to monitor or control. In short, unless I'm playing music where none of that really matters, I can't play comfortably with any ear plugs I've tried. What am I missing?
Karl
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