[Back to Basics] Fix the Fuzzy, Airy Clarinet Sound

[@MsAmira1988]

Today was my first day ever playing the clarinet. I assembled it as meticulously as I could. Put the reed on the mouthpiece as if I was performing open heart surgery, and blew my first note!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Congratulations! If you haven’t seen this video it will have a lot of helpful information for getting started: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpK1dGmtfamZi6csi=BrdOKqm5GKwuqMwA Let me know if you have any questions!

[@AnggieZelaya-xp4dt]

@@QuickStartClarinet my clarinet only plays high notes not any low ones. and when i plug all the holes it doesnt sound low pls help me

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That is most likely a clarinet problem. Ask your music teacher about it, or take it into a repair person, and they should be able to get it sorted out!

[@AnggieZelaya-xp4dt]

@@QuickStartClarinet i dont have one :(((

[@AnggieZelaya-xp4dt]

@@QuickStartClarinet i am learning alone. its not damaged at all. i need ombishure and how im supposed to blow into it.

[@brandonmm]

Currently in 9th grade with clarinet and your videos still help when my instrument sounds really weird and when I needed help with high notes

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yay, I'm glad they are helpful, and I hope you are enjoying playing clarinet!

[@clcheatw]

Thanks for these videos! I am (attempting) to teach myself clarinet after playing low brass instruments for several years.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That’s awesome! Definitely let me know if you have any questions, and if you haven’t seen The Next Generation Clarinet Method yet check it out at www.quickstartclarinet.com/nextgenbook it is a fantastic resource for self-taught clarinetists!

[@MrGlenn0143]

Quick start clarinet is amazing

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@lindamorgan2678]

Excellent Thanks so much and yes it was helpful

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

[@barbmichaelleisinger3938]

I have a new, to me, rental Bflat clarinet (LeBlanc Vito 7212). I used to have a Jupiter and found the upper register notes much easer to play. With the LeBlanc Vito, the Bflat, B, C. C# (the notes above the ledger line) are causing me problems. Sometimes they sound and sometimes they don't. I can play up the scale successfully and then one of those notes won't sound. Or, I can be repeating one of the notes and suddenly get no sound. It is just a matter of strong and consistent air flow and proper embouchure?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Air and embouchure support is definitely a good place to start! Are you using the same mouthpiece and reeds? That will have more of an impact on those kinds of things than the clarinet itself. When there are major issues like no sound coming out it is never a bad idea to have a good repair person look at it just to make sure everything is sealing. As you are playing up the scale try to really memorize how it feels to get those notes to come out and replicate exactly that feeling when playing them individually. My general advice without actually hearing your playing would be to do a little less work with the embouchure and much more with the air, and probably a little more mouthpiece in your mouth wouldn't hurt. I hope that helps!

[@barbmichaelleisinger3938]

Thank you. I have had those moments when I felt something different when the notes came out more effortlessly and purer. I will pay more attention to that and continue to work on air flow. I have learned so much from your videos and the rhythm course. You are very good at teaching and sharing your expertise.

[@egg1677]

Have a concert coming up and i was so worried, thank you

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Have a great concert!

[@videomsumoviemsi]

The try you gave at 8:54. I still hear the air together with the note. I am having huge struggle with that and not really sure if it's me or the instrument. What's the best way to test it? get to a repair shop or hire a teacher for a class or two? I'm just trying to sort it out myself but I'm not successful with it so far with what's available online.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

It is alright to hear a little bit of air, but if it is a bothersome amount and you feel like you are doing as much as you can to eliminate it here is what I would try: 1. Explore lots of reeds. Even different strengths and brands within reason. If some reeds even get you really close to what you want then it is probably a matter of finding good reeds and working on your playing. 2. Take it to a good repair person. They will definitely be able to at least make sure it isn't an instrument problem. 3. Find a teacher. A good teacher will be able to help you learn how to minimize the airiness as well as diagnose any reed or equipment issues. This step will probably take the most work, but also will be the most valuable. I hope that helps!

[@patticarey9016]

Can you refer me to a video that talks about unbalanced reeds and what you can do about it? I have many reeds that simply do not play whereas another one from the same box plays well. Very frustrating.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Here is a pretty good one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWe4Z5pqoZmfatksi=vyRBjo5vJxtTK40I If you search KZbin for “clarinet reed balancing” or “clarinet reed adjustment” you can find a lot of good stuff. However, reed adjustment takes a bit of practice to get good at and it isn’t the only variable. Once you get good at it you can improve reeds pretty consistently, but you can almost never make a bad reed great. It is totally normal for reeds to vary a lot even within the same box. I know professionals who get a new box of reeds play through all of them and throw away about half right after the first playing because they know they won’t be good enough. Trying to find good reeds is unfortunately just part of the process of playing clarinet. Although, if you can find a good synthetic reed at least you don’t have to worry about reeds for a little longer than when you find a good cane reed.

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

@@QuickStartClarinet " I know professionals who get a new box of reeds play through all of them and throw away about half right after the first playing because they know they won’t be good enough." true! when I first saw that, I was shocked....

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

I would suggest give the "bad" reed some time to "break in", maybe after a few session, it'd become tolerable or even decent. Either that or get used to the bad reed "airy sound", because you know it's largely because of the reed not you. "Balancing" the reed I find not very worth the time and effort, you'd be better off spending that energy on playing instead.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That’s typically what I do. If it is just for practice I will suffer with the bad reed for a while, but if it is still bad after a few weeks I will either practice reed adjusting on it or throw it away. I do feel like practicing on bad reeds has helped me understand reeds better and adjust my playing to lots of different reeds!

[@knowitstime7961]

HI, I have an issue. My Clarinet has just been renovated. (I'm usually a string player) I cannot make a sound with the Clarinet. The chap who repaired it, played it for me with his mouth piece attached. I have absolutely tried with the body connected and the mouthpiece on its own, and I absolutely cannot make a sound. Can you suggest what the issue might be please? thank you

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Sure! If it isn’t making a sound with just the mouthpiece, then it is likely a reed or embouchure issue. My guess is you are using too much embouchure pressure for the strength of reed, and completely pinching off the vibrations. Though it is possible the reed may be on totally wrong, or you aren’t blowing strong enough and focused enough air. Watch from about 17:00-36:00 in this video and that should give you some things to try! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpK1dGmtfamZi6csi=95spcv-60nx6Lnhp

[@ieshalewis801]

Thank you!!!! 10:39

[@davidcockcroft5444]

Just tried a French cut legere reed.. And just getting that airy awful sound ☹️ I usually play the European cut legere, and that's absolutely fine! What I noticed is that the French cut is a lot narrower than the European cut... So perhaps it's just that? I'm using a vandoren bd7 mouthpiece. Maybe the French cut just isn't suitable for the mouthpiece? Or more likely... I'm just not very good 😅

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I do believe the French Cut runs a little harder than the European Cut, so with a mouthpiece as open as the BD7 a little bit harder reed could likely feel quite bad. If the European Cut is working for you, then it is totally fine to just stick with that! Though I know how tempting it is to try new things because maybe a French Cut that is the right strength would feel even better???

[@ieshalewis801]

Thank you!!!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

You're welcome!

[@bestiesfortheworld]

tysm for this this really helps bc my clarinet has been doing this

[@QuickStartClarinet]

You're welcome, and I'm glad it was helpful! Keep that bottom lip firm and get that reed vibrating!

[@michelafton3923]

I’ve been playing for 3 years and this is the first time I’ve had an issue with this, it starts from low G up

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Have you recently increased your reed strength, or got new reeds? It is very easy for a box of 10 reeds to have like 6+ fuzzy reeds, especially before breaking them in.

[@Mpreza.]

Is Bb supposed to sound kinda fuzzy?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Kind of. Of course we want to make it sound as clear as possible, but it is naturally the fuzziest and stuffiest note on the instrument. Check out these two videos for some help with it and an explanation of why it is fuzzy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnfTiJeJfdaWqcksi=sDvIbrLXUn_THGVw kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXmxn4aFqLmNeassi=0yDZC9aX2vqcqM_K

[@Mpreza.]

​@@QuickStartClarinetthank you so much

[@craigbutcher8079]

The problem with reeds is... one damn thing going wrong or another or another or another or another....

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes! Reeds are the worst!