Klarinet Archive - Posting 000119.txt from 1995/09

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: John's question about A clarinet length
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 16:29:29 -0400

John, in order to achieve the pitch difference required by an A clarinet,
the entire instrument is proportionally lengthened. Alternatively, one
can consider it as beginning life as a piece of wood long enough to become
either a B-flat or an A clarinet, but where the holes are punched in the
piece of wood determines if it is going to be an A or B-flat instrument.

I have never measured to see if the finger spread on an A is larger (even
in just a few millimeters) than an B-flat, but I suspect that it is and
that failure to accomodate proportionality thoughout the manufacturing
process would eventually give problems. But I am not sure of this at
such a level of detail.

You asked a very good question.

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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