Klarinet Archive - Posting 000144.txt from 1995/06

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <lgbuick@-----.CA>
Subj: questionable buying/ tuning advice
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 1995 19:23:40 -0400

[from <thehat@-----.ORG>]

> A tuner is also
>helpful. Incidentally, is is better to get a new clarinet with flat throat
>tones as opposed to sharp. Flatness is more easily fixed.

I disagree, and I'm curious to know how you think the flatness should be
fixed. Here's why I think it's better to get an instrument slightly sharp
in the throat (other things being equal):

- There are a number of "resonance fingerings" for the throat tones which
lower the pitch as well as improving the tone quality.

- It's much easier and less tiring to lip sharp notes down, than to lip
flat ones up.

- When you pull the barrel out, it lowers the throat notes more than the
rest of the instrument- thus if they are sharp to begin with, they will end
up more in tune with the rest of the horn.

- If you want to modify the holes to change the pitch permanently, it's
much easier and safer to close down a hole (lowering the pitch) using tape,
wax, or nail polish (all of which are easily removable) than to open it up
by filing, undercutting or drilling (all of which require specialised tools
and skills and are not undoable).

Have I overlooked some key point?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGB Lorne G Buick Draft III Music
lgbuick@-----.ca Wind Music
Arranging, Copying, Publishing
Have basset horn, will travel