Have you ever wondered if your clarinet has any leaks. Many times a player starts to compromise their playing over time as an instrument gets out of adjustment and they never really see how much extra effort they are putting into playing.
The following is a very basic leak test for the home player. You may not get it correct the first time so practice doing it several times. Also play close attention to how much key/finger pressure you have to apply to "seal" the instrument
taken with permission from
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/questionscl.htm#Test
Test your Clarinet for Leaks (a simple test)
[1] first a test:
take the barrel. put one end on your mouth and cover the bottom end. Provide some suction. If done properly you should be able to feel the suction and you should not be able to pull out any more air. This is what we are going to do to each piece.
[2] top piece
mouth over top. cover bottom. use LH (Left Hand) to cover holes.
provide some suction. If you cannot create a vaccuum or it's to light then there is a leak somewhere.
- lightly blow into the clarinet. find the air leak - a little breeze coming out of something.
[3] repeat it for the bottom section
[4] is the tenon cork a tight fit between the two. This is a possible leak area too which can be tested. I use those rubber plugs to put into the toneholes and end for this test. If you don't have any then if it is a tight fit then it should be able to hold a vacuum.
[5] Other areas of problems
use of Left hand pinky spatula key for E/B - it has to close the right side 2 pads.
then try the Right Hand E- B - notice how it interacts with the "crows foot" to close another pad.
and the RH E-B key and how it interacts with the Crows foot.
the above is the most complex of a clarinet.
[6] the link between the upper and lower stack. closing any ring on the lower stack also closes the upper stack Bb ring pad. If you close the RH key then push on the Bb, if it gives a bit then you will have to slightly bend (or if it has an adjuster - adjust it) the bridge connector down so that it contacts the lower body bridge faster.
----
I plan on updating this with pics and easier to read so stay tuned
The following is a very basic leak test for the home player. You may not get it correct the first time so practice doing it several times. Also play close attention to how much key/finger pressure you have to apply to "seal" the instrument
taken with permission from
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/questionscl.htm#Test
Test your Clarinet for Leaks (a simple test)
[1] first a test:
take the barrel. put one end on your mouth and cover the bottom end. Provide some suction. If done properly you should be able to feel the suction and you should not be able to pull out any more air. This is what we are going to do to each piece.
[2] top piece
mouth over top. cover bottom. use LH (Left Hand) to cover holes.
provide some suction. If you cannot create a vaccuum or it's to light then there is a leak somewhere.
- lightly blow into the clarinet. find the air leak - a little breeze coming out of something.
[3] repeat it for the bottom section
[4] is the tenon cork a tight fit between the two. This is a possible leak area too which can be tested. I use those rubber plugs to put into the toneholes and end for this test. If you don't have any then if it is a tight fit then it should be able to hold a vacuum.
[5] Other areas of problems
use of Left hand pinky spatula key for E/B - it has to close the right side 2 pads.
then try the Right Hand E- B - notice how it interacts with the "crows foot" to close another pad.
and the RH E-B key and how it interacts with the Crows foot.
the above is the most complex of a clarinet.
[6] the link between the upper and lower stack. closing any ring on the lower stack also closes the upper stack Bb ring pad. If you close the RH key then push on the Bb, if it gives a bit then you will have to slightly bend (or if it has an adjuster - adjust it) the bridge connector down so that it contacts the lower body bridge faster.
----
I plan on updating this with pics and easier to read so stay tuned
