How To Find a Leaky Clarinet Pad

When you play your clarinet and find that some notes just won’t play, or the overall sound is airy, leaky, stuffy or squeaky…chances are you have one or more pads that aren’t sealing well and air is leaking. Here are some steps that will help you find the leak.

First inspect every pad (there are 17 of them on the clarinet) for any wear, splits, looseness, or a lopsided fit in the cup. Some problems may be very obvious and the pad may need replacing.
But if after inspection, you still can’t find the source, you can check for leaks by using the following very simple tool.

• First you’ll need a supply of a very thin material like cigarette papers or old cassette tape.
• Cut the paper or tape into 1.5 inches length and about ¼ inch wide.
• Then you will need a handle to hold the paper or tape.
• You can make one or buy one on-line at places like Music Medic or Ferree’s.
• Start on either the upper or lower joint and place the paper under every pad at various angles: 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock (on the larger pads on the lower joint you may have to check even smaller intervals).
• Wherever the paper or tape isn’t ‘grabbed’ by the pad when you close the key, and you can pull it out with slight pressure, that’s where a leak is.
• Sometimes just heating up the glue and reseating the pad will take care of it.
• If that doesn’t work, then you may need to replace the pad.
  
  Stay tuned for our upcoming blog on how to replace and reseat pads.
  
  We welcome any comments or suggestion.
  
  Thanks so much, FrannyToo! The Clarinet People