Beginner Mouthpiece vibrates with firmer reeds!

[drien]

Hi Guys,
I have Yamaha 275 and the original mouthpiece 4C. I am currently playing Vandoren Jazz reeds 21/2 and it is all good. When I put 3s the mouthpiece vibrates as hell and I can't even tough it with my upper teeth properly🙂 I don't know if that is because of opening size in the mouthpiece or something. I don't use that rubber piece for your teeth and I don't want to start with that.
Maybe the reeds are not suitable for the mouthpiece?
Begginer so no clue!🙂
Thanks very much for your help and ideas!

 

[Colin the Bear]

If you're currently playing a 2.5 and all is well, why change?

If the 3 is better but comes at the price of using a patch then you have to decide which to use.

Patches come in different material and thicknesses so maybe a little experimentation is called for.

 

[Pete Thomas]

If you're currently playing a 2.5 and all is well, why change?

I agree with this. If it is all good with 2.5 then there is no problem, however i have never heard of this issue with 3s - it is a bit odd.

 

[drien]

I feel that I need firmer reed to get even better controll more precise effects etc. 21/2 are now gettig too soft as my mouth is getting stronger. Or maybe I am wrong about what will firmer reed bring to the table...

 

[Pete Thomas]

I feel that I need firmer reed to get even better controll more precise effects etc.

We'd all be using 5s if that was the case.

In my experience a harder reed makes some things easier (altissimo and playing very loud) but as I feel these are things that I should use improved embouchure and breath support for, I don't see any point in using harder reeds, especailly as I find they make other aspects much more difficult (such as being able to play very quietly)

 

[daveysaxboy]

As for mouthpiece patch I cant play without 1,

 

[Koen88]

my Dad plays the Bass clarinet at our local community wind band and if he has to play the low notes his glasses vibrate on his nose!

 

[Colin the Bear]

my Dad plays the Bass clarinet at our local community wind band and if he has to play the low notes his glasses vibrate on his nose!

Tickets....we need tickets. This is a must see lol

 

[drien]

That seems kind of advise I was looking for. Thanks

 

[jbtsax]

The mouthpiece vibrates with any strength of reed attached. You may have become more aware of the vibrations because with the stiffer reed you reflexively pressed down with your top teeth a bit more as you firmed the embouchure.

One of two things will happen:

1) Your teeth will become accustomed to the vibrations and you won't even notice them.
2) The sensation does not go away and you will need a mouthpiece patch.

There are benefits to using a mouthpiece patch beyond insulating the top teeth to vibrations.

- They help to open the teeth a bit thereby opening the inside of the mouth.
- They help with consistency in tone production by guiding the top teeth to the same location when a groove is made.

 

[aldevis]

As for mouthpiece patch I cant play without 1,

Me neither, and when I used to play a Selmer bari with a metal Berg, low Bb affected my vision and had to rely on double embouchure.

 

[jbtsax]

I used to see double sometimes when I played tenor with a metal Berg resting my top teeth on the mouthpiece. I also happened to be quite drunk at the time. I always thought our band got better as the night went on and we drank a lot in the breaks until I recorded an entire gig and listened to it the next day. We didn't get better---the playing just got louder and sloppier as we got more drunk.

 

[Koen88]

I used to see double sometimes when I played tenor with a metal Berg resting my top teeth on the mouthpiece. I also happened to be quite drunk at the time. I always thought our band got better as the night went on and we drank a lot in the breaks until I recorded an entire gig and listened to it the next day. We didn't get better---the playing just got louder and sloppier as we got more drunk.

lol, now i know for sure we wont be recording gigs with our band ;-)

 

[Justin Chune]

We used to tell the audience "The more you drink, the better we sound." That one, and many more of the corny old gags.

Jim.

 

[drien]

Was playing during weekend again🙂 I realised that the mouthpiece vibrates as hell because I had new reeds and was trying them withou wetting them properly. Once soaked for some 30 minutes in the water the vibration disappeared. Also realised that after some 30 minutes of playing 2 1/2 it becomes too soft. The 3 feels great now. It is Vandoren Java red and the tone is so much sharper. It is great trying different things and be able to see the effect even after just 3 weeks of practicing😉 I might try the patch now to see if that make any difference...Thanks for all the advice.