Klarinet Archive - Posting 000245.txt from 1997/01

From: Nathaniel F Johnson <clarinat@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Tuning 440vs442
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 11:54:39 -0500

On Sun, 19 Jan 1997 05:26:41 -0500 Benedict Lockwood
<100543.2442@-----.COM> writes:
>Also in adjusting the tuning what is the consensus on which joints to
pull
>in or out? I use only the barrel joint but I have seen others also use
the
>middle joint.
>TIA, Benedict (Arlesheim, Switzerland)

The way that we change pitches on the clarinet is essentially by
changing the resonating length of our instrument. We do this by closing
holes. Everybody knows that, but it needs restatement in the current
discussion. We will assume for the moment that you are tuning to an A
and that you are on the B-flat instrument. When you tune, you are using
the ENTIRE length of the instrument, as the written B-natural has all of
the holes covered. Let us say, arbitrarily, that the length of that note
is 570 mm. If you pull out 2mm at the barrel you have increased the
length of that note by 0.35%. However, you have increased the length of
the throat F# (which we will arbitrarily set at 150 mm) by 1.3%. Since
pitch varies relative to the PROPORTIONAL change between the old length
and the new, the F# has been flattened considerably more than the
B-natural.

The best way to tune, on my opinion, is therefore to FIRST tune
the throat tones (probably pick a note that is a P4 below the tuning
note) at the barrel or mouthpiece, and then tune the longer-length notes
(the given tuning note) at the middle joint. Some clarintettists even
tune certain notes at the bell. This process keeps you from adding
length to parts of the instrument that don't need it, and consequently
lowering short-pipe notes more than long-pipe notes.

Hope this helps,

Nathaniel Johnson
Conductor / Clarinettist
All-Around Good Guy
University of Northern Colorado