Mouthpiece Work / Harder Reeds
FROM: lubydjackson (Bro. Luby D. Jackson)
SUBJECT: Harder Reeds
On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune and handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to 50 cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking of getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at least in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature.
FROM: tenorman1952 (Paul C.)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
I do fine with a 2.5 reed.
Paul
Link to Paul's articles from Main page of "Saxgourmet":
http://www.saxgourmet.com
Listen to Paul's MP3's and view saxophone photos at:
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/tenorman1952
Paul Coats is the sole US importer of SAXRAX products from
http://www.saxrax.com
For SAXRAX products, email Paul at saxraxus@...
--- On Thu, 4/23/09, Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> wrote:
From: Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...>
Subject: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds
To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:19 AM
On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune and handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to 50 cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking of getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at least in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature.
FROM: saxgourmet (STEVE "SAXGOURMET" GOODSON)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
Could we get a show of hands here as to who actually believes reeds have anything to do with intonation? From: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul C. Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:11 PM To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds I do fine with a 2.5 reed. Paul Link to Paul's articles from Main page of "Saxgourmet": http://www.saxgourmet.com Listen to Paul's MP3's and view saxophone photos at: http://briefcase.yahoo.com/tenorman1952 Paul Coats is the sole US importer of SAXRAX products from http://www.saxrax.com For SAXRAX products, email Paul at saxraxus@... --- On Thu, 4/23/09, Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> wrote: From: Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> Subject: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:19 AM On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune and handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to 50 cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking of getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at least in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature.
FROM: zangsax (John Zangrando)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
I play relatively soft reeds i.e. #3 on alto and tenor and bass, 31'2 on sop but 4 on nino I used to play 1/2 step harder. One thing I have noted consistently is that a fresh reed plays in tune but if I start playing a "pet" reed too long it tends to play sharp on the top 5th of the horn. I could learn to compensate but I am actually talking about a reed that should be changed for fullness of sound and solid articulation reasons. When I change it of course I always wonder why I waited because all the above things come good. The intonation is usually the reason I finally realize that the reed is gone however. After 40 yrs you would have thought I would have learned already. JZ On Apr 23, 2009, at 8:44 AM, STEVE SAXGOURMET GOODSON wrote: > > > > Could we get a show of hands here as to who actually believes reeds > have anything to do with intonation? > > > > > > > > > > > > From: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > ] On Behalf Of Paul C. > Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:11 PM > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > > > > > > > > I do fine with a 2.5 reed. > > > > Paul > > Link to Paul's articles from Main page of "Saxgourmet": > http://www.saxgourmet.com > Listen to Paul's MP3's and view saxophone photos at: > http://briefcase.yahoo.com/tenorman1952 > > Paul Coats is the sole US importer of SAXRAX products from > http://www.saxrax.com > For SAXRAX products, email Paul at saxraxus@... > > --- On Thu, 4/23/09, Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...>wrote: > > > From: Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> > Subject: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:19 AM > > On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in > tune and handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then > because I'm 40 to 50 cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone > mouthpiece, I was thinking of getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a > strength 4 to be able to play at least in tune. Would this remedy > my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature. > > > > > >
FROM: pfdeley (pfdeley)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
- Reed strength never seemed to change my intonation. Perhaps it does for someone with a different embouchure. I was fortunate years ago to have a teacher convince me to get off the hard reeds and stick to the mediums. I still have at least 10 boxes of unopened Vandoren 5s for clarinet from 1977 if anyone is interested in buying them. Peter - In MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com, "STEVE \"SAXGOURMET\" GOODSON" <saxgourmet@...> wrote: > > Could we get a show of hands here as to who actually believes reeds have > anything to do with intonation? > > > > > > From: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com] > On Behalf Of Paul C. > Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:11 PM > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > > > > > > > I do fine with a 2.5 reed. > > Paul > > Link to Paul's articles from Main page of "Saxgourmet": > http://www.saxgourmet.com > Listen to Paul's MP3's and view saxophone photos at: > http://briefcase.yahoo.com/tenorman1952 > > Paul Coats is the sole US importer of SAXRAX products from > http://www.saxrax.com > For SAXRAX products, email Paul at saxraxus@... > > --- On Thu, 4/23/09, Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> wrote: > > From: Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> > Subject: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:19 AM > On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune and > handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to 50 > cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking of > getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at least > in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature. >
FROM: jonomaphone7 (Jon Flodder)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
It sounds to me like you're using lip pressure to compensate....try getting a shorter barrel and pushing you sop mouthpiece on all the way to the end of the bore. Don't take it out on your lip. Horns are built to play in tune with a middle-of-the-road embochure playing a middle-of-the road reed about halfway down the cork (about 1-1.5") However, yeah, a V16 reed (or Java if you can find it) would allow you to pinch as much as you want to in a higher strength. I don't have alot of confidence in the ZZ reed's ability to take the pressure - it feels thin behind the tip to me. On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...>wrote: > > > On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune and > handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to 50 > cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking of > getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at least > in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature. > > >
FROM: esteban_cadenza (Steve Keller)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
Hand firmly down. Of course, if a reed is too soft (i.e. worn out), it will be hard to support it with your embouchure, and it will tend to go flat. But that's just because "normal" pressure squeezes the reed shut. --- In MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com, "STEVE \"SAXGOURMET\" GOODSON" <saxgourmet@...> wrote: > > Could we get a show of hands here as to who actually believes reeds have > anything to do with intonation? > > > > > > From: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com] > On Behalf Of Paul C. > Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:11 PM > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > > > > > > > I do fine with a 2.5 reed. > > Paul > > Link to Paul's articles from Main page of "Saxgourmet": > http://www.saxgourmet.com > Listen to Paul's MP3's and view saxophone photos at: > http://briefcase.yahoo.com/tenorman1952 > > Paul Coats is the sole US importer of SAXRAX products from > http://www.saxrax.com > For SAXRAX products, email Paul at saxraxus@... > > --- On Thu, 4/23/09, Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> wrote: > > From: Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> > Subject: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:19 AM > On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune and > handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to 50 > cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking of > getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at least > in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature. >
FROM: pfdeley (pfdeley)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
Yes. When reeds get older the pitch tends to wander for me too in the high register. I think they are reeds that are "growing" some kind of bug. They start smelling rather funky and their performance varies from day to day. I think it was Tom Ridenour who had some old reeds cultured up in a friend's lab and found that they were growing some bug or other. Reeds must make a good culture medium. He reported this in The Clarinet about 15years ago. Maybe we just need to change our diet or floss more often! Peter --- In MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com, John Zangrando <sjohn@...> wrote: > > I play relatively soft reeds i.e. #3 on alto and tenor and bass, 31'2 > on sop but 4 on nino I used to play 1/2 step harder. One thing I have > noted consistently is that a fresh reed plays in tune but if I start > playing a "pet" reed too long it tends to play sharp on the top 5th of > the horn. I could learn to compensate but I am actually talking about > a reed that should be changed for fullness of sound and solid > articulation reasons. When I change it of course I always wonder why > I waited because all the above things come good. The intonation is > usually the reason I finally realize that the reed is gone however. > After 40 yrs you would have thought I would have learned already. JZ > On Apr 23, 2009, at 8:44 AM, STEVE SAXGOURMET GOODSON wrote: > > > > > > > > > Could we get a show of hands here as to who actually believes reeds > > have anything to do with intonation? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > > ] On Behalf Of Paul C. > > Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 1:11 PM > > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > > Subject: Re: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I do fine with a 2.5 reed. > > > > > > > > Paul > > > > Link to Paul's articles from Main page of "Saxgourmet": > > http://www.saxgourmet.com > > Listen to Paul's MP3's and view saxophone photos at: > > http://briefcase.yahoo.com/tenorman1952 > > > > Paul Coats is the sole US importer of SAXRAX products from > > http://www.saxrax.com > > For SAXRAX products, email Paul at saxraxus@... > > > > --- On Thu, 4/23/09, Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...>wrote: > > > > > > From: Bro. Luby D. Jackson <ldjackson@...> > > Subject: [MouthpieceWork] Harder Reeds > > To: MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com > > Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009, 10:19 AM > > > > On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in > > tune and handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then > > because I'm 40 to 50 cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone > > mouthpiece, I was thinking of getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a > > strength 4 to be able to play at least in tune. Would this remedy > > my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature. > > > > > > > > > > > > >
FROM: pfdeley (pfdeley)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
-On clarinet especially so much of the intonation depends on mouth cavity, especially tongue placement. There is always a tendency to pull the tongue back to get that fatter sound. Unfortunately this is done at the expense of focus and pitch. There is a happy medium that every player must find and after that compensate for with a shorter barrel or a different mouthpiece. I don't think a stiffer reed will make much difference besides causing a sore or tired lip. The other factor in pitch of course is air support. It is always amazing how pushing the air through the horn a little more can focus the pitch with no other adjustment at all. Peter -- In MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com, Jon Flodder <jon.flodder@...> wrote: > > It sounds to me like you're using lip pressure to compensate....try getting > a shorter barrel and pushing you sop mouthpiece on all the way to the end of > the bore. Don't take it out on your lip. Horns are built to play in tune > with a middle-of-the-road embochure playing a middle-of-the road reed about > halfway down the cork (about 1-1.5") > > However, yeah, a V16 reed (or Java if you can find it) would allow you to > pinch as much as you want to in a higher strength. I don't have alot of > confidence in the ZZ reed's ability to take the pressure - it feels thin > behind the tip to me. > > On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Bro. Luby D. Jackson > <ldjackson@...>wrote: > > > > > > > On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune and > > handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to 50 > > cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking of > > getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at least > > in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner ligature. > > > > > > >
FROM: bzalto (John Delia)
SUBJECT: Re: Harder Reeds
If a reed is too soft, the pitch is generally a bit lower I find, but there is less of a difference between a medium and a medium hard reed if any. Also, the higher one places the tip of the reed above the tip of the mouthpiece, the higher it plays. John On 4/23/09, pfdeley <pfdeley@...> wrote: > > > > -On clarinet especially so much of the intonation depends on mouth cavity, > especially tongue placement. There is always a tendency to pull the tongue > back to get that fatter sound. Unfortunately this is done at the expense of > focus and pitch. There is a happy medium that every player must find and > after that compensate for with a shorter barrel or a different mouthpiece. I > don't think a stiffer reed will make much difference besides causing a sore > or tired lip. > The other factor in pitch of course is air support. It is always amazing > how pushing the air through the horn a little more can focus the pitch with > no other adjustment at all. Peter > > -- In MouthpieceWork@yahoogroups.com <MouthpieceWork%40yahoogroups.com>, > Jon Flodder <jon.flodder@...> wrote: > > > > It sounds to me like you're using lip pressure to compensate....try > getting > > a shorter barrel and pushing you sop mouthpiece on all the way to the end > of > > the bore. Don't take it out on your lip. Horns are built to play in tune > > with a middle-of-the-road embochure playing a middle-of-the road reed > about > > halfway down the cork (about 1-1.5") > > > > However, yeah, a V16 reed (or Java if you can find it) would allow you to > > pinch as much as you want to in a higher strength. I don't have alot of > > confidence in the ZZ reed's ability to take the pressure - it feels thin > > behind the tip to me. > > > > On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Bro. Luby D. Jackson > > <ldjackson@...>wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > On my Eb Clarinet, I've had to get the Whitemaster to play it in tune > and > > > handle it. That is the strength 4 for those. So then because I'm 40 to > 50 > > > cents flat on my Rousseau soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I was thinking > of > > > getting the V16 or ZZ Vandoren in a strength 4 to be able to play at > least > > > in tune. Would this remedy my problem? I am also using a Rovner > ligature. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >