Klarinet Archive - Posting 000908.txt from 1997/05

From: fgarcia@-----.edu (Frank Garcia)
Subj: Re: Pitch of tuning notes
Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 16:03:45 -0400

Adam,

The problem you're describing is a difference tone.

When two pitches are sounded, there is a difference tone that occurs. If
you and your flutist are in tune, the difference tone will be in tune with
you as well. My guess is that you were slightly out of tune with each other
(despite the fact the tuner says you're in tune), causing the difference
tone to be out of tune. As you already know, it does not take much to make
that difference tone sound pretty wild.

Next time try this. Use the tuner to tune the lowest pitch. Keeping the
lower pitch stabile, use your ears to tune the second pitch and the
difference tone. Depending upon the interval, the second instrument may
have to play quite a bit sharp or flat. The difference tone will become
less raucous, and more in tune the closer the interval gets to being in
tune. It can be frustrating, but it is rewarding to finally get that
raucous, "unmusical", and uninvited sound in tune. :)
Frank Garcia

>Last year I posted a bit on this topic. The last note of one of the
>Muczynski flute and clarinet duos is long, soft and high. My flutist and I
>were careful to tune the fundamental and we double checked it with a tuner.
> There was however, a terrible high frequency buzz which we could not get
>rid of. It seems that one or more of the partials were terribly out of
>tune. I have since had a similar experience playing clarinet duos. I was
>playing an older Selmer, the other clarinetist a new Buffet. If clarinet
>partials tend to be flat, how about the other wind instruments? Is this
>tendency true of all clarinets? Is there any way for players to alter the
>pitch of their partials without altering the fundamental?
>
>Adam
>

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Frank Garcia fgarcia@-----.edu
Clarinet Instructor (715)394-8115
University of Wisconsin-Superior
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