Klarinet Archive - Posting 000285.txt from 1996/09
From: Ian Dilley <imd@-----.UK> Subj: Re: The Real Deal on Clarinet Tone ("Dark", Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 23:37:19 -0400
>Because of the closed-end
>nature of the clarinet, the harmonics are odd multiples of the fundamental
>frequency.
This isn't quite true. The closed end nature of the clarinet makes the
fundamental one octave lower than a flute but I believe that the odd
multiple effect is due to the (near) cylindrical bore. This is why
clarinets overblow at a 12th (3 times the fundamental) then a major 6th on
top of that (5 times the fundamental). Saxophones, oboes, bassoons and
tarogatos have a closed-end just like a clarinet but have a conical bore.
Their frequency spectrum contains all the harmonics hence their first
overblow is at an octave.
There was some discussion about why a clarinet overblows at a 12th some
time ago on this list. The consensus was that it's down to the cylindrical
bore but I for one never understood why this makes the difference, only
that it does. If someone can explain it in a way I can understand I would
be very grateful. BTW I have read Benade's book (which I think is
essentail reading for anyone interested in how instruments work) but still
can't grasp why this effect occurs.
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