Klarinet Archive - Posting 000138.txt from 1996/10

From: Luuk van Buul <vanbuul@-----.com>
Subj: CO2 influencing pitch.
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 06:16:44 -0400

>
> Does anybody know offhand how the varying CO2 content affects pitch? If the
> speed of sound in CO2 is markedly different than in whatever the rest of
> what we exhale (mainly N2???), than the pitch should change as we play a
> long note/phrase.
>
> I'm probably at A@-----.
>
> Jordan
> and glad to be back on the list

I have some experience on this subject. Once a year I play at the Carnival
festivity here in the south of Holland with a small band. We drink lots of beer
during those days and we play a lot of music, very loud and for the clarinet
very high also (just remove the register key :) ).
The beer in my stomach contains lots of CO2 and this is pressed out during
playing by applying the firm pressure needed to blow. So, sometimes, I belch
while playing. This brings lots of CO2 in my breath and in the clarinet. The
pitch is immediately affected and lowers for about a quarter of a tone, and then
climbs slowly back, up to the old pitch.

Luuk van Buul

--
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L.J.M. van Buul vanbuul@-----.com
Philips Research Waalre Philips Optoelectronics Centre
Prof.Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven Tel. +31 40 2744649
The Netherlands Fax. +31 40 2744335
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