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View Full Version : chop building



Jazzophone
04-19-2003, 04:41 AM
I've got weak chops: yeah, I'll admit it. I realised that after I started playing clarinet around two months ago. Less forgiving, let me tell you!

Now, my teacher was cleaning out or something and he had this old box of Hemke 3.5 reeds, which he gave to the two tenor players in our band to split between ourselves. My share was two, and they've been sitting in my reed case ever since -- I tried one, and they're way hard for me, but I played a chromatic scale to both extreme ends of the range and noticed the high notes come out a lot cleaner and less pinched.

I was just wondering, if you practise regularly with a harder reed (like a few times a week for a while, just some exercises and stuff), will it strengthen your chops, or will it just screw you over from where you stand? Beneficial or stupid?

Just a thought.

Mike Cesati
04-19-2003, 12:37 PM
Chops doesn't have anything to do with what size reed. You can have killer chops on a 2 reed. Just practice long tones alot. Play outside and try to fill the whole universe with sound. It might appear crazy but playing strong outside and letting your horn resonate will build your chops. It worked for Sonny Rollins.

Jazzophone
04-19-2003, 11:47 PM
heh heh. yeah, there's a great field somewhere in the north of the city that is inviting me to come out and noodle around on my horn, but I don't think the condo dwellers across the street would really appreciate that. :)

Rev. D
04-20-2003, 09:18 PM
Hey Jazzophone, just get out on the edge of Nose Hill and give all those dorks down in the oil patch all you've got. It would be good for you, good for them, and good for the world!

sax_appeal
05-29-2004, 05:29 AM
Must-
Not-
Mention-
Long tone-
exercises

soulsax
05-31-2004, 07:49 AM
Listen to the Rev's advice sweetheart he,s right. Want chops? Go get um. Confidence is what you need. Go out to that inviting field an show off a little. Don,t sterio type the people living there, ud be suprised what could happen. :wink: Work up ur best stuff, keep it simple, and go build ur chops. Go home with a mental report card and work out the weak spots. It works. Then do it again...