My first band instructor told me, " You play the instrument, don't let the instrument play you." If you're having to fight to play, you're either doing it wrong or you have bad equipment.

@john.kurokawa

6 ай бұрын

Agreed. Good advice! Thanks for watching!

I will be following the ligature journey with the intensity the my mom watches dancing with the stars:) So many great memories of my Harrison ligatures! All broken. I tried quite a few times before I gave up on them.

@john.kurokawa

7 ай бұрын

Seriously! I love it, but just can’t get myself to let my heart be broken again!

I also used a bootlace hand tied string ligature in my 23 years in the USAF band.

I love those 30's, 40, German Silver ligatures

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

Agreed! There’s something special about them.

That was really interesting! Nice demo and method. I'll test all my ligatures again now. 🎶

Nice (and very fair) dig at Silverstein! Eagerly awaiting the reed balancing video. Cheers!

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

It’s a shame really, because they can be quite good. Thanks for tuning in!

This was useful, and surprising! I never thought a ligature could make such a big difference. Thank you so much!

@john.kurokawa

6 ай бұрын

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

I keep a couple of thick elastic band in the case, in case the lig has an accident. I honestly think they're as good as a thumb - but once they're on its a real pain to make those micron-sized positional adjustments to the reed that are sometimes needed.

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

Always good to have a backup plan! Thanks for watching!

Wow I had no idea how important the ligature is Thanks so much excellent presentation.

@john.kurokawa

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the video: I like your playing, your script and your mic setup. I'm an orchestral player who has played a lot of different ligatures over the years. For orchestral playing I keep coming back to metal ligatures for vibrancy and size of sound, but many colleagues prefer the relative lack of responsiveness of things like Rovners: this is of course a whole other topic to consider. I like your point about avoiding ligatures which make you bite. A couple of observations I've made, which you might expand on: (1) different platings on metal ligatures effect the tone a lot, and companies like Ishimori offer choices so you can find a good match for your mouthpiece, horn and working conditions, (2) a more responsive ligature demands a different tonguing style and often tongue placement, especially in the upper registers -- Tchaikovsky 6 1st movt staccato passage being a great test for this, (3) ligatures effect the resistance of a reed, so a more free-blowing ligature will make the same reed sound brighter than a more resistant ligature.

@matswessling6600

8 ай бұрын

hm. No. plating does not effect the reed, its physically impossible. How could it? the only thing that differes is the color. The plating is way to thin to change the physical properties of the ligature/reed system. even if the entire ligature was made in different metsls it would be extremely unlikely.

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words! I agree with a lot of your points, and the ligature saga is far from over. Thanks for watching!

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

Plating doesn’t physically affect the reed, but in my opinion, ANYTHING that comes into contact with the reed has a potential impact on how the reed responds and vibrates. Given the same design and material, different platings can offer different shades of response and color. It all depends on how persnickety you want to get!

@matswessling6600

8 ай бұрын

@@john.kurokawa i se it like this: wind instrument makers have a tendency to increase their sales with whatever they can make players buy and players are suckers for anything they might think give a better tone. I strongly believe we must counter the most snake-oil tendencies and critically scrutinize these things and inform players of what really matters. There are good scientific models of how sound is created in wind instruments and what can really change the tone and the psychological mechanism that makes us believe hearing changes to tone where there are none. mabe it is most common among saxophone makers but it via ligatures it spread to clarinets. examples of snake-oil products are other sorts weights to be mounted on the instrument, klang-bogen, heavy screws etc. There is also a lot of nonsen going around about how the material of the instrument body affects the sound (it doesnt). the only things that actually affects the sound is the reed and the shape of the resonating chamber of the instrument, the form and egdes of the holes, the tightness of pads, resonators on larger pads and finally the reed. ligatures only affect the sound by being able to hold the right better or worse. thus on clarinets and saxophones its important that it makes shure the reed is flush against the mouthpiece. what material us used in ligature doesnt really matter: the vibration of the reed is totally forced by the air resonances in instrument bore and mouth cavity. there is no musical reasonance in the reed itself: it vibrates by the forced motion to open and close driven by resonances in the air volumes. if the bulk material ligature doesnt matter then the ligature surface material (plating is only micrometers thick) really have no chance to affect the sound. due to youtubes spam filter i cannot provide links here but google on: mcGurk effect Benade Coltman 228488924_Silver_gold_platinum-and_the_sound_of_the_flute does-material-affect-tone-quality-in-woodwind-instruments-why-scientists-and-musicians-just-cant-seem-to-agree

AK ligature is supposed to mimic how thumb would work as ligature.. I generally have a preference on Bonades but I may try the AK soon. I love this video!

@john.kurokawa

9 күн бұрын

I'll add it to the list- thanks for the information!

@jimis3167

9 күн бұрын

@@john.kurokawa I'm very interested on your impressions about AK ligature!

Hey! Love this video, especially since I'm planning on upgrading my ligature for both my clarinet and saxophone (sax is my primary and clarinet is my secondary btw :)). I was also wondering if you could do a video about picking the right barrel/bell?

@john.kurokawa

5 ай бұрын

I’ll put it in the pipeline. Thanks for watching!

Thank you John for the video on ligatures. I'm presently trying a few out. What are your thoughts on the traditional inverted Bonade and the newer Vandoren optimum? I have the other vandoren as well that you discussed, but believe it or not, a screw stripped 2nd day out of the box. It was a gift and the screws are so thin compared to others so I haven't found a replacement one. Anyway, I enjoy your channel. Love to see more ligature reviews. Thanks

@john.kurokawa

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words! I really like a good inverted Bonade, but they're so poorly made these days- you have to try a bunch to get a good one. Consider RDG Woodwinds or Tapelin Weir, as they reshape them and your odds will increase if you buy from one of them. More ligature videos are on the way!

I play on a regular nickel plated Bonade ligature. I think it plays pretty well, I just noticed I had to try a few before I found a good one, there was a little inconsistency. Maybe my standards are low though, I’ve always wanted to try an Ishmori ligature.

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

Yes, Bonades can be great if you can find a good one. Thanks for watching!

I'm amazed I could tell a difference between ligatures. . . I'm no professional and often times I don't hear differences! 😂

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

Any part of the ‘system’ can impact your playing experience for sure. Thanks for watching!

I’ve come to the conclusion that the ligature does not directly affect the sound of a player, but that as you point out, it is the density of hold a ligature provides that affects a player’s technique. Lighter hold / lighter material ligatures may reveal a more delicate technique, with the downside of not actually sealing the reed, leading to biting as compensation. Tighter hold / heavier material ligatures may reveal a more aggressive technique that prefers the higher resistance offered by a dampened reed, with the downsides of obscuring biting habits that are present. I’ve always preferred strong-hold ligatures with minimal contact - my choice at the moment being FL’s lineup of ligatures. I have a tendency to over-tighten my screws. I always broke or stretched out my M/O, Ishimori, Oleg, and sundry other 2 screw designs. Rovners and other leather ligs feel too dense for me. Another point of consideration is how a ligature holds plastic vs cane reeds, since cane conforms to a mouthpiece table as it gets broken in and balanced. This can compensate for lighter-hold ligatures, whereas I’ve found that such ligs (or broad surface area ligs like Rovner or Oleg) don’t provide enough focused point contact on a Legere reed to give it a proper seal. Plastic reeds also don’t have the same kind of grip on rubber mouthpiece tables, so sometimes tight-hold ligatures have more of a tendency to slip depending on the individual plastic reed.

@john.kurokawa

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experiences! I have not tried the Francois Louis ligatures. I’ve not found a synthetic reed I like yet, so I can’t comment on that, but appreciate your perspective. Thanks for watching!

hey just discovered your videos today! It's really helpful, thank you for this. Quick question though, should the ligature be placed screw towards you or away from you? Or is this just a preference? I've seen both variations all over the internet. Is there a right or wrong way to place it? Hope you see this comment haha

@john.kurokawa

9 күн бұрын

It depends on the style of ligature. Inverted ligatures have the screws on top of the mouthpiece and 'regular' ligatures have their screws on the reed. I'd recommend trying both styles and see what works for you. There's not right or wrong when it comes to this. Thanks for watching!

@john.kurokawa

9 күн бұрын

Inverted ligatures have their screws on top of the mouthpiece, and 'regular' ligatures have their screws on the reed. The screw heads are usually on the right. There's no preferred style- I'd try both and see what works for you. Thanks for watching!

Hi John! Do you think you can review the Rovner mark III clarinet ligature?

@john.kurokawa

4 ай бұрын

I’ll consider adding it to the list. Thanks!

I think a ligatureshould help you play comfortably. I play an AK ligature on Bb, still searching for a comfortable ligature on Eb, I have one of the cheaper silversteins, but my BG ligature is much better for a quarter of the price.

@john.kurokawa

7 ай бұрын

I have not tried the AK- I’ll add it to the list. Silversteins can be very good, but they are pricey. I use a gold plated Tapelin Weir or a Ted Johnson ligature on clarinet and am very happy with it!

@Shaun_Oh

7 ай бұрын

@@john.kurokawaI think the AK is excellent, looking forward to your views on it!

I'm curious if your thoughts about the Carbon M|O Ligature. Your thoughts are refreshing, so nice to hear a principal clarinetist not obsess over "darkness" or "overtones", but instead talk about ease, flexibility, and how pretty you can make your sound!

@john.kurokawa

7 ай бұрын

Thank you! I think the clarinet should sound 'pretty'. A 'pretty' sound can indeed be easy to produce! I tried the M|O carbon ligature at ICA two summers ago- it cost an eye-watering $500 back then- I just saw it at a well known retailer for $700. At that price, it's honestly a no-go for me, and I would say most of the clarinet community. However, leaving price out, I was not impressed when I tried it. To be fair, it was on the conference room floor, and I don't think that is the best place to evaluate equipment. But at $500 ($700 now), I expect a lot out of a ligature, and to be honest, I just don't think it's worth the money. There are several of sub $100 ligatures on the market that are excellent that I would rather spend my money on. I did end up purchasing another Momo, and that ligature is NOT cheap. However, it is also hand-hammered, hand crafted and adds a lot to my playing experience (in my opinion). For $700, I expect that same level of attention to detail, not a mass manufactured product, especially considering a sheet of carbon fiber is no where near that expensive. I don't honestly know what warrants such a high price, but have yet to hear Vandoren elaborate on why this is so.

@tabbywarrior

7 ай бұрын

​@@john.kurokawa Thank you for the thoughtful response! I do agree that the price is quite too much! I've noticed some players who use heavier reeds find some comfort in it, the few I've talked to say that it makes their reeds "feel lighter" while "sounding heavier". I think they may be referring to size of the sound? I'm not quite sure though; I've always used a Bonade. Do you like Bonades, and have you used the new Momo in any recent videos? I'm not sure what it looks like, sorry! You've always presented an intentional and pretty sound, so I haven't thought much about gear when listening to you, other than when you mention it.

@john.kurokawa

7 ай бұрын

@@tabbywarrior Yes! Check out my last few shorts. It’s in there. A good Bonade is great. It’s just unfortunate they’re so inconsistent and not well made. You definitely have to try a lot to find a good one.

@tabbywarrior

6 ай бұрын

@@john.kurokawa Yes they are! I really wish there weren't so inconsistent; I had to search through many stores before I found mine, but the effort was worth it, I think. Would you say the Momos are more consistent/well made?

@john.kurokawa

6 ай бұрын

@@tabbywarriorHmmmm. I havne't tried a lot of them (just three). But I would say that the three I've used are all excellent. You're dealing with a handmade product, so there will be some variance.

Hello mr Kurokawa. What is the difference between Vandoren B45 dot traditional and vandoren B45 dot profile 88? I am a beginner and I heard the best mouthpiece is vandoren B45 dot but which one? and also can you recommend me a mount for yamaha ycl 650?

@john.kurokawa

9 күн бұрын

Honestly, I’m not a fan of either, but the traditional and profile 88 are different beak shapes, with the profile 88 being at a sharper angle. You can find descriptions on Vandoren’s website. Thanks for watching!

Hello Josh,i need your advice for choosing my new clarinet,can you tell me what you think about Yamaha ycl 650

@john.kurokawa

4 ай бұрын

The YCL 650 II is a great clarinet for the price. It's an entry level professional level instrument. I'd highly recommend it, but you should always try it before you buy. Best of luck! Thanks for watching!

shades of dale fedelle, i have discovered a hiden gem for clarinet ligatures, the david hite ligature. esp on bass clarinet or alto . has rings which suspend the body of the lig away from the mpc. the result is improved low register responce and a vibrant sound all over. sadly the newer ones since babbit took over after davids death are made of cheaper grade of brass and plated now . the old ones i have really sing

@john.kurokawa

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! Dale is a good guy! I agree- it’s sad that David Hite’s products have declined since his passing. At least we still have his wonderful educational material to remember him. Thank you for watching!

Will thicker material always dull the sound? For example lets say you have a vandoren optimum and a rovener versa, would the rovner dull your sound by virtue of being made by a thicker material?

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

No. Rovner Versa is coming up soon! The German silver ligature in the first example is thicker, and it has a much richer and deeper sound. It's a combination of the design and the material. Ultimately, the ligature has to fit in with your total system of playing- mouthpiece, reed, ligature, embouchure, voicing, etc... Thanks for watching!

@Smol_Hamster

8 ай бұрын

@@john.kurokawa ic, thanks for the response 👍👍👍

@dansots

8 ай бұрын

These are the exact two that I have after years of owning about 10 ligatures. I don't find that the versa "dulls" the sound but it takes away the ping that the optimum has.

@Smol_Hamster

8 ай бұрын

@@dansots lmao I have these exact two ligatures too. I hear so many conflicting opinions online sometimes that I feel like I start doubting my own experiences sometimes

I’ve noticed that quite a few of the vandoren ligatures that I’ve tried you need to bite more.

@john.kurokawa

4 ай бұрын

It's sad but true. They do work well for some players, but unfortunately I'm not one of them. Thanks for watching!

Please put the list of ligatures discussed in the video's discription. 😊

@john.kurokawa

7 ай бұрын

Done!

@stephen.jenkins

7 ай бұрын

Thank you.

Do you know where I could find the Vandoren Masters ligature like you played in this video? I've been playing a gold m/o for some time and am starting to question it based on your comments.

@john.kurokawa

4 ай бұрын

If the M/O works for you, great. It does not however, work for me. The Masters ligature is discontinued, but you can find them floating around on eBay every now and then… good luck!

@finnsclarinet

4 ай бұрын

@@john.kurokawa thanks! I’m gonna stick with the M/O for now but if I get the chance I’ll definitely try the masters!

Any feedback on Gigliotti ligatures?

@john.kurokawa

8 күн бұрын

I studied with a student of Anthony Gigliotti and used both the mouthpieces and ligatures. I loved the ligatures, but sadly, they can be hard to find these days. Thanks for watching!

not fair comparison , compression split was used on the reed side

@john.kurokawa

8 күн бұрын

Sorry, what do you mean by compression split?

No mention of Rovner ligatures

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

The ligature saga is far from over, and I’ll address those in a future video. Thanks for watching!

next time when making comparisons like this: make them double blind. neither the listener nor the player should know which ligarute is mounted. now you know and that affects your playing. we know and that affects what our ears/brsin lets us hear.

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

I had not considered that, but thanks for the suggestion and for watching!

The lower harmonics keep sounding in your staccato playing. use a string !

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

I definitely plan on doing a follow up video with some fabric (and yes string) ligatures.

@heinvanmaarschalkerwaart9799

8 ай бұрын

A string costs 5 cents Euro and German clarinets use them. I did for my whole professional life on clarinet and bass clarinet. . Mind your staccato playing in the clarion register

@emjay2045

8 ай бұрын

@@heinvanmaarschalkerwaart9799🤔😳🙄

@emjay2045

8 ай бұрын

😬😑

What about that barrel ? Oops. That’s the other vid … not this one

@john.kurokawa

8 ай бұрын

The ringless barrel is a Yamaha barrel by Tomoji Hirakata- good eyes!

Breath from your diaphram not your shoulders! 😍

@john.kurokawa

5 ай бұрын

So true!

Any feedback on Gigliotti ligatures?

@john.kurokawa

8 күн бұрын

I used to use them as I studied with a Gigliotti student! I wish they were still widely available. Thanks for watching!