[Saxplayer67]

Hey Guys, top o' the mornin' to you!

I have two unrelated, non-sax queries please, that you may know the answers to:-

• My fiance's niece has started violin lessons and we picked her hired violin up for her at the music school and as you know, us musicians, we have to check these things out. I haven't played violin since 1983 but I gave it a go and I was immediately better than I used to sound back in the day! Anyway, my question is, this is a half size fiddle and it's steel strung! My strings were gut and I'd have thought they'd have been nylon now if anything, not steel - is this the norm now or only on student violins?
• One clarinettist in our concert band, who has actually been playing I think for a long time, says he can't play very loud with out squeaking all over the place, when I was trying to get him to play louder in his solo. I'm not a clarinettist but can knock a tune out on one, being aware of using a difference in embouchure to sax but what can he do to play louder but squeak free? More bottom lip, maybe?

Cheers, guys!

 

[monzamess]

A clarinet expert can give a better answer, but in my case, I would get squeaks when trying to play loud because my reed was too soft, or, my mouthpiece was too closed. In either case, the reed would basically "close off" under the higher pressure of trying to play louder resulting in squeaks or no vibration at all. I've read discussions here and elsewhere that say on a clarinet, a larger tip opening does not automatically mean louder (like it usually does for a sax) but in my case it helped "open things up" and I can play louder with the more open piece.
It could also simply be a poorly-placed reed or ligature.
I know it's more prudent to look at the player first, not the equipment, but if this guy really has been playing a while, maybe it's time to consider different equipment.

 

[RootyTootoot]

[One clarinettist in our concert band, who has actually been playing I think for a long time, says he can't play very loud with out squeaking all over the place, when I was trying to get him to play louder in his solo. I'm not a clarinettist but can knock a tune out on one, being aware of using a difference in embouchure to sax but what can he do to play louder but squeak free? More bottom lip, maybe?[/SIZE][/FONT][/LIST]Cheers, guys!

Gosh, Saxplayer, you are a dafty sometimes!! Leave the poor bugger alone. Of course clarinets are quieter than saxes + it may be to do with his setup etc. Don't start lecturing him about what he can and can't do with an instrument you can't play. Clarinets are prone to squeaking if you force the tone. If the band is overwhelming his solo when he's playing at his full volume then the band needs to learn to play a little quieter.

 

[Saxplayer67]

Gosh, Saxplayer, you are a dafty sometimes!! Leave the poor bugger alone. Of course clarinets are quieter than saxes + it may be to do with his setup etc. Don't start lecturing him about what he can and can't do with an instrument you can't play. Clarinets are prone to squeaking if you force the tone. If the band is overwhelming his solo when he's playing at his full volume then the band needs to learn to play a little quieter.

Well thanks a bunch, matey! Of course clarinets can play loud too, even flutes and oboes can. This bloke was lamenting the fact he couldn't play louder in general without squeaking all over the place.

Dafty indeed - with friends like you, who needs enemies!

 

[RootyTootoot]

Well thanks a bunch, matey! Of course clarinets can play loud too, even flutes and oboes can. This bloke was lamenting the fact he couldn't play louder in general without squeaking all over the place.

Dafty indeed - with friends like you, who needs enemies!

Again. Dafty!! All instruments have a dynamic range in which they sound good and are comfotable to play. If you don't believe me try competing with a trumpet for loudness and projection. Like I said before, clarinets are prone to squeaking when the tone is forced and the guy's setup may be such that he can't play much louder without squeaking or making the instrument sound like crap. IMHO.

 

[Saxplayer67]

Of course instruments have a dynamic range and so on. So you think trumpets are louder than saxes - so out the window goes John Dankworth's 'a saxophone can sound louder than any trumpet', from the radio programme 'The Story of the Saxophone'. Well, one can hardly hear our trumpet section, we can hear the flutes etc. more!

But I know clarinets can project more - trying to help this mush out, he WANTS to be able to use more dynamics, rather than playing pp all the time.

 

[Carl H.]

Steel is the norm for dirty rotten bottom of the barrel discount strings bought by cheap buggers who don't have to play them. There are plenty of good synthetic core strings out there. Hit the local music store and replace those things now before the pain puts your future niece off the instrument for good. A set of decent 1/2 size shouldn't be more than dinner for 2 at a fast food joint.

 

[ianhart]

Regarding your violin question-

I am only learning how to play in a tech class, but all of our strings are steel, also. We also have our concertmaster in the class, fulfilling the requirements for her music ed degree, and she uses steel strings (with a synthetic core) as well, although they are definitely better strings than ours. Same with the professor, steel strings all around. Hope that helped!

 

[Carl H.]

The windings around the core of the string are metal, but not "steel". The cheap strings are solid steel and better used as a soft cheese slicer. (Excepting E strings which are a special case)
Pure gut strings are very rarely used as they have a soft tonal character which gets lost in a modern environment. Performers of period instruments will use gut and occasionally jazz bass players will use gut, but symphonic players use modern strings with Thomastic Dominant being probably the most used string out there.

 

[RootyTootoot]

[*]One clarinettist in our concert band, who has actually been playing I think for a long time, says he can't play very loud with out squeaking all over the place, when I was trying to get him to play louder in his solo. I'm not a clarinettist but can knock a tune out on one, being aware of using a difference in embouchure to sax but what can he do to play louder but squeak free? More bottom lip, maybe?[/LIST]Cheers, guys!

Ok. A bit more seriously but i still can't give you what you want . If the wants more volume and fewer squeaks then the relevant factors are breath support/embouchure/reed/mouthpiece. All these things need to be considered in conjunction. As a very quick fix he could possibly try a softer reed and that might work for a freer sound - it's possible he's struggling to control a too hard reed. That might help as long as his solo part doesn't go very high. If the part does go high then the soft reed might be quite difficult for him to play in tune on the higher notes. But I still think it's a little nutty for you to get into advising a clarinetist. How would you feel if one of the flutes approaches you with: "Saxplayer, I think your quiet playing needs attention. May I offer a few suggestions on saxophone technique?" Do you see what i'm on about? Really the guy should be seeking help from a clarinet player if he feels he needs help.

 

[Saxplayer67]

But I still think it's a little nutty for you to get into advising a clarinetist. How would you feel if one of the flutes approaches you with: "Saxplayer, I think your quiet playing needs attention. May I offer a few suggestions on saxophone technique?" Do you see what i'm on about? Really the guy should be seeking help from a clarinet player if he feels he needs help.

I would feel fine about it thank you very much. There are too many musical snobs in the world, they don't like this musical genre or that musical genre, don't speak to anyone in a band other than the saxes, flutes stay huddled together, oboes gather in secret, saxes aren't thought of highly in symphony orchestras - all this other garbage.

I'm out to change the preconceived notions that exist in the musical establishment. If I can help the clarinettist, fine, if he can help me, equally fine. I'm open to suggestions from anyone. No matter how long someone has been playing, there's always something new to consider and maybe learn, whether I've been playing 12 years (as I have) or 112 years.

But I understand your points, Root.

 

[RootyTootoot]

1. There are too many musical snobs in the world,

2. I'm out to change the preconceived notions that exist in the musical establishment.

I think i can agree with 1.

I'm working on a comic book based on 2. Would you like to hear an extract? Working title: "Sax Man Marvel: Scourge of the Musical Establishment".

 

[Saxplayer67]

I think i can agree with 1.

I'm working on a comic book based on 2. Would you like to hear an extract? Working title: "Sax Man Marvel: Scourge of the Musical Establishment".

Sounds great - Please get either Curt Swan, John Romita Sr. or Brian Bolland to do the artwork. Even better, how about Alan Moore for the story and Dave Gibbons for the art (met both before).

 

[RootyTootoot]

Sounds great - Please get either Curt Swan, John Romita Sr. or Brian Bolland to do the artwork. Even better, how about Alan Moore for the story and Dave Gibbons for the art (met both before).

Forget it. It's my idea. I'll do all that. How hard can it be?

Sample Dialogue:

Clarinet Wimp: Oh, lordy, Saxplayer, I just don't have the puff!!

Saxplayer: Pull yourself together you liquorice stick toting wimp!! What would Johnny Dankworth say!! Put the thing in your gob and BLOW!!!

 

[Saxplayer67]

I dunno, I ask a serious question at the start of the thread and all I get is this bollocks.

 

[RootyTootoot]

I dunno, I ask a serious question at the start of the thread and all I get is this bollocks.

I do hope your bollocks are properly in quotation marks, Saxplayer. If not, that's a faux pas.

 

[Saxplayer67]

Listen up Toot Sweet, there are only three people in this thread who have said anything useful, in addition to me. I'm gonna say something I'll regret soon so I'm adding you to ignore list for a while mate, til I feel like dealing with your own particular brand of manure.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Silly, silly Saxplayer. I answer your question in good faith to the extent that i can and yet you don't appreciate it. I engage your sense of humour to the extent that i can and then you prove quite conclusively that you really don;t have one. Please do ignore me. Make it permanent, please. I shall do the same. :|

 

[kavala]

Dedicated to Rooty...

Go on. Flog me. I know it's off topic, but I couldn't resist.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Go on. Flog me. I know it's off topic, but I couldn't resist.

Thank you, kavala. What a lovely clip. I shall resist the temptation to make any further comment.