New Clarinet Options

[Katy_Clarinet]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum although my partner raves about it all the time!

I have just bought a second hand clarinet to attempt to learn as previously I've never played a musical instrument.

Are there any tips for playing? Ill be learning with my partner's teacher from September but until then Im learning the basics from a book.

However somethimes it comes out fluffy (or wooly) and squeaks a bit too. I think the squeaking may be a technique thing but what about the fluffy-ness?

Its a Buffet B12 with a Yamaha 6C Mouthpiece and I use 1.5 reeds at the moment.

Any ideas Id be really grateful! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/anyone.gif)


Thanks,
Katy.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bob.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/newHere.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bob.gif)

[cat_loves_flute]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.gif)

Clarinets rock!
(but flutes rock harder!)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Malone]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum although my partner raves about it all the time!

I have just bought a second hand clarinet to attempt to learn as previously I've never played a musical instrument.

Are there any tips for playing? Ill be learning with my partner's teacher from September but until then Im learning the basics from a book.

However somethimes it comes out fluffy (or wooly) and squeaks a bit too. I think the squeaking may be a technique thing but what about the fluffy-ness?

Its a Buffet B12 with a Yamaha 6C Mouthpiece and I use 1.5 reeds at the moment.

Any ideas Id be really grateful! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/anyone.gif)


Thanks,
Katy.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bob.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/newHere.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bob.gif)

Hi! And (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.gif) to the forums.

I have found that with beginners who have no previous experience of a woodwind intrument, they usually need to start initially with a 1 reed. I know it sounds soft, but you will probably only need to use if for a week before comfortably moving onto a 1.5 then your mouth/cheek etc muscles will have developed a bit into the shape they will need to be for playing the clarinet. Squeaks are usually caused by a] bad reeds, or b] fingers not covering the holes properly. You may not even realise it, but this is a big problem with adult beginners as their hands are a little stiffer than that of a child beginner, so they are not as easy to bend into the correct shape and need a bit of 'training' before they do what you want them to.

[jennthesaxplayer]

I'm learning Clarinet too, after my other half brought me one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) !! I love it, but I cannot play it in the slightest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) My 1st instru. is the saxophone, so I think I have a bit of an advantage, but I'm pratically at the same stage with it as you are now! I really need to focus on learning the Clarinet a bit more lol! Want to make my bf proud of me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) xx Good luck with it x x

[pikkoloflautist]

I have found that with beginners who have no previous experience of a woodwind intrument, they usually need to start initially with a 1 reed.

aaaaaaaaaaaaah! i started on a vandoren 3...

[BeamishBoy]

I have found that with beginners who have no previous experience of a woodwind intrument, they usually need to start initially with a 1 reed.

aaaaaaaaaaaaah! i started on a vandoren 3...

I have been using Rico 3.5 and I love it. I don't know why but Vandoren does not seem to agree with me. Maybe when I change to a Vandoren mouthpiece, it'd be different.

[pikkoloflautist]

oh well. i need to try a 3.5 vandoren because gr. 6 clarinet needs more oomph for the high notes...

[jacobpianofluteorgan]

i want to take up the clarinet too. is it any easier to learn if you already play a woodwind instrument(flute), (and a few other instruments)?
i feel like a challenge, and im going to try and teach myself(which will be insteresting!), but if i get a bit stuck, my aunty used to play, so i can ask her for help.

does anyone have any advice on the type of reed, mouth position, etc.
also, what make/model is a good bigginers clarinet?

[Rosemary7391]

Flute will be a help with the breath control, and reading music is a help too! Vandorens are a good make of reed, they give quite a warm sound. You'll find a lot of controversy, but I started on a strength 2 and it worked for me! As for the embouchure, you want to cover your bottom teeth with your lip, rest the reed on that, then your top teeth on the top of the mouthpiece. Then close up all the gaps around the mouthpiece and breath down the clarinet.

The buffet B12 is pretty reliable, or you could look at the hanson student model, which I've heard good things about but havn't played (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Although I do play one of thier pro models!

Go for it, and have fun! Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[OlderClarinetPlayer]

oh well. i need to try a 3.5 vandoren because gr. 6 clarinet needs more oomph for the high notes...

I used to use Vandorens 3.5 to achieve altissimo notes but my bopttom register sounded very "breathy". My then teacher suggested using a slightly soft reed and to be honest I get a much better response using a vandoren 2.5 and the bottom register is nice and "woody" in tone and I still can get a good quality altissimo register (thats using a vandoren B45 mouthpice) just need to tighten my embouchure!

As for the embouchure, you want to cover your bottom teeth with your lip, rest the reed on that, then your top teeth on the top of the mouthpiece. Then close up all the gaps around the mouthpiece and breath down the clarinet.

Go for it, and have fun! Good luck (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

And don't forget to smile! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[barry-clari]

oh well. i need to try a 3.5 vandoren because gr. 6 clarinet needs more oomph for the high notes...

I used to use Vandorens 3.5 to achieve altissimo notes but my bopttom register sounded very "breathy". My then teacher suggested using a slightly soft reed and to be honest I get a much better response using a vandoren 2.5 and the bottom register is nice and "woody" in tone and I still can get a good quality altissimo register (thats using a vandoren B45 mouthpice) just need to tighten my embouchure!

You should be able to achieve altissimo notes without resorting to harder reeds (a 2.5 - 3 should be sufficient). If you DO have to use hard reeds to achieve the altissimo register, you probably need to look at your embouchure.

Malone, I meant to say when you originally posted the comment, it's interesting that you get most of your pupils to start on strength 1 reeds. I tend to start people on 1.5, strength 1 I tend to find is too soft for most of my pupil's purposes, even those who are just starting. Would be interested to know how you decided that starting people on strength 1s was the way to go. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Malone]

oh well. i need to try a 3.5 vandoren because gr. 6 clarinet needs more oomph for the high notes...

I used to use Vandorens 3.5 to achieve altissimo notes but my bopttom register sounded very "breathy". My then teacher suggested using a slightly soft reed and to be honest I get a much better response using a vandoren 2.5 and the bottom register is nice and "woody" in tone and I still can get a good quality altissimo register (thats using a vandoren B45 mouthpice) just need to tighten my embouchure!

You should be able to achieve altissimo notes without resorting to harder reeds (a 2.5 - 3 should be sufficient). If you DO have to use hard reeds to achieve the altissimo register, you probably need to look at your embouchure.

Malone, I meant to say when you originally posted the comment, it's interesting that you get most of your pupils to start on strength 1 reeds. I tend to start people on 1.5, strength 1 I tend to find is too soft for most of my pupil's purposes, even those who are just starting. Would be interested to know how you decided that starting people on strength 1s was the way to go. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I do try to start them on 1.5 but if they are having alot of trouble and down hearted that they cant get a good strong sound out of the clarinet, then I switch them to a 1. The usual case is that when they phone me up asking for lessons, they ask which reed - I say 1.5, then when they turn up, if they need it, I will give them one 1 reed to get them on their way, by the time they have been practicing enthusiastically for the first week because they enjoy the sound they are making, they are usually ready to move up to the 1.5 already. Its not a long term thing, as I feel that 1s are excessively soft and no one should need them for any length of time and should expect to move up to a 1.5 as quickly as possible.
Does that make sense?

[CJB]

oh well. i need to try a 3.5 vandoren because gr. 6 clarinet needs more oomph for the high notes...

I used to use Vandorens 3.5 to achieve altissimo notes but my bopttom register sounded very "breathy". My then teacher suggested using a slightly soft reed and to be honest I get a much better response using a vandoren 2.5 and the bottom register is nice and "woody" in tone and I still can get a good quality altissimo register (thats using a vandoren B45 mouthpice) just need to tighten my embouchure!

You should be able to achieve altissimo notes without resorting to harder reeds (a 2.5 - 3 should be sufficient). If you DO have to use hard reeds to achieve the altissimo register, you probably need to look at your embouchure.
<snip>

For once I'll disagree (slightly) with Barry - I agree you should be able to get the altissimo with a 2.5, but if the mouthpiece is a really closed tip it probably won't sound too pretty.

[pikkoloflautist]

i can get altissimo with a 2.5, it just sounds really bad...

(and my two psycho clarinet buddies agree with me, although maybe it's because i'm always the one with spare reeds for them!)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[barry-clari]

oh well. i need to try a 3.5 vandoren because gr. 6 clarinet needs more oomph for the high notes...

I used to use Vandorens 3.5 to achieve altissimo notes but my bopttom register sounded very "breathy". My then teacher suggested using a slightly soft reed and to be honest I get a much better response using a vandoren 2.5 and the bottom register is nice and "woody" in tone and I still can get a good quality altissimo register (thats using a vandoren B45 mouthpice) just need to tighten my embouchure!

You should be able to achieve altissimo notes without resorting to harder reeds (a 2.5 - 3 should be sufficient). If you DO have to use hard reeds to achieve the altissimo register, you probably need to look at your embouchure.

Malone, I meant to say when you originally posted the comment, it's interesting that you get most of your pupils to start on strength 1 reeds. I tend to start people on 1.5, strength 1 I tend to find is too soft for most of my pupil's purposes, even those who are just starting. Would be interested to know how you decided that starting people on strength 1s was the way to go. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I do try to start them on 1.5 but if they are having alot of trouble and down hearted that they cant get a good strong sound out of the clarinet, then I switch them to a 1. The usual case is that when they phone me up asking for lessons, they ask which reed - I say 1.5, then when they turn up, if they need it, I will give them one 1 reed to get them on their way, by the time they have been practicing enthusiastically for the first week because they enjoy the sound they are making, they are usually ready to move up to the 1.5 already. Its not a long term thing, as I feel that 1s are excessively soft and no one should need them for any length of time and should expect to move up to a 1.5 as quickly as possible.
Does that make sense?

Yes, that makes sense Malone - was interesting to read your viewpoint. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

oh well. i need to try a 3.5 vandoren because gr. 6 clarinet needs more oomph for the high notes...

I used to use Vandorens 3.5 to achieve altissimo notes but my bopttom register sounded very "breathy". My then teacher suggested using a slightly soft reed and to be honest I get a much better response using a vandoren 2.5 and the bottom register is nice and "woody" in tone and I still can get a good quality altissimo register (thats using a vandoren B45 mouthpice) just need to tighten my embouchure!

You should be able to achieve altissimo notes without resorting to harder reeds (a 2.5 - 3 should be sufficient). If you DO have to use hard reeds to achieve the altissimo register, you probably need to look at your embouchure.
<snip>

For once I'll disagree (slightly) with Barry - I agree you should be able to get the altissimo with a 2.5, but if the mouthpiece is a really closed tip it probably won't sound too pretty.

...yes, the mouthpiece will also have some bearing on which reed you need to use. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)