Hard to blow

[chadders]

Have been playing the alto sax for a couple of years now and have recently started to play the clarinet. I have been really suprised at how easy it is to blow the clarinet compared to the sax. Have others in a similar situation found this?

I am using a TJ revolution horn with a graphtonite mouthpiece and the reeds are around 2 -2.5.
I mainly use a graphtonite A5 but have also got a B3 but dont like the tone on that as much. My favoured reeds at the mo are rico royal but I am very fickle with this, and change makes regularly

I have seen somewhere on here that the tj has a narrow bore compared to other saxes, so would a particular make/ size mouthpiece be more appropriate than the Graphtonite.

Cheers
Puffed out Chad

 

[ArtyLady]

I struggled with my TJ Classic Horn Alto, but not with my TJ Rev II Tenor - sorry that doesn't help much does it!

 

[Justin Chune]

I play the clarinet as well, and find that saxophones are much more free blowing. Have you tried your sax with a Yamaha 4C or had it checked for leaks? If I've been playing sax prior to playing the clarinet my clarinet feels as if there's a duster stuffed in the bell. I use the same reeds as you.

Jim.

 

[jonf]

I have seen somewhere on here that the tj has a narrow bore compared to other saxes,

All altos have a pretty similar bore, and any minor differences are unlikely to make your sax any more difficult to blow than any other, assuming it's in good fettle. Graftonite mouthpieces are a bit resitant to the blow, but not much. You could try a free blowing mouthpiece such as a Yamaha, but I wouldn't go for a 4c, as it has a tiny tip opening. Even the 6c is pretty closed.

I always find the clarinet much more resistant than any sax. You might just have a minor problem with your sax, but my guess is that the mouthpiece is making things a bit hard work for you.

 

[kevgermany]

A stiffer reed may help - you may be tightening your embouchure too much - or blowing too hard, closing the softer reeds down.

 

[chadders]

I think a trip to Curly music in Liverppol is called for to try a few potential birhtday presents
Thanks
Chad

 

[MartinL]

I dont know if I really have enough experience to answer this but recently I've been swapping and changing reeds a lot, I finally bought some Vandoren Java and WOW, they are so easy to play and really free blowing after all my rico experiments, (various strengths and plasticovers too). I have noticed so much difference i would never of believed it, but as i said, maybe thats just me.


I'm using a 5C