hey peoples. i just switched from using vandoren size 4 to 3.5 mitchell lurie reeds. i can play louder and my low notes sound really good, but now i'm finding it hard to play my high notes (anything above B above the staff, and sometimes, i have a hard time playing that note. is there something i'm doing wrong here?

What mouthpiece are you playing?

i use a vandoren b45

I've found it difficult to use this mouthpiece. I'm a band director, and all my students play a 5RV Lyre with Vandoren V12 (best on the 5RV) #3's. I played clarinet in college, and while my mpc/reed set-up was different then, now I play a vandoren 3 on a simple 5RV and I have no problems in any register. I played a harder reed in college, but now I dont play often enough. 3's work great for me.

I suggest trying a couple different mpc's. I've never liked the B45

BH

thanks! i'll try it.

this topic is kinda old, but...

3.5 Mitchell Luries are about a size softer than 4 Vandorens, which is why you sound louder and why you can't play the high notes well. As a rule, Vandorens are about a size hard than other brands of the same size. If I were you, I would use a 3.5 Vandoren or 4.5 Mitchell Luries.