Clarion Reqister Quacking

[delb0y]

Hi One and All

I've now been playing 14 months and I think it's going ok. I reasonably happy with progress. That said, the last few months I've been focussing on the clarion register because I'm not happy with my tone there. But what's the secret? I always sound strained and force and "quacky". The link is a brief improv over Minor Swing but I think it demonstrates my frustrations. I'd like a nice round jazzy tone, instead I've got this. I mean, I'm not unhappy - I couldn't have done this a few months back - but all my long notes and scales and so on don't seem to be making much difference.

https://youtu.be/vYvgjdrpqvg

Regards
Derek

[DaveLeBlanc]

Could be a reed, or mouthpiece problem. What's your setup?

[delb0y]

Hi Dave

That was on a Buffet B12, Hite Premiere mpc, and Vandoren 2.5 reed.

I did a second take (attached) using my Noblet 45 - which sounds more in tune, but still suffers from the same issues tonewise. I think I might be trying to- hard!

Cheers
Derek

[DaveLeBlanc]

Hm, the reed and mouthpiece combo sounds decent enough. You might try a 3.5 for clarion, if your embouchure is strong enough. Its often harder to go clarion on softer reeds than it is on harder ones; the opposite is true for lower notes - the softer the lower.