Klarinet Archive - Posting 000427.txt from 1997/10

From: Janet McNaught <mcnaught@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Intonation (I think)
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 01:51:25 -0400

>
>The throat Bb uses a very short amount of the clarinet tube. This alone will
>affect its tonal "color". Then there are the compromises that are necessary in
>making a clarinet. The optimum size and location of the hole for the register
>key hole is actually different than the optimum size and location of the hole
>for playing Bb. If you select for the Bb, it will throw the tuning off on the
>registers. If you select it for correct register intonation, it makes the Bb
>sound poor (generally a stuffy sound in addition to being out of tune). So
>every maker compromises. I believe experimental clarinets have been built with
>separate keys for the Bb and register key but they never caught on.
>

>
>Dee Hays
>deerich@-----.net
>Canton, SD

Dee;
Thanks for the detailed answer - I was aware of the weaknesses in the Bb - I
have been playing around with alternate fingerings to tune it, and I'll try
the onew you suggest. I was not aware of the problem / compromise with the
register key.

I am still wondering about the next semi-tone up. I hear a difference from
the Bb to B - natural, and again to the C. - Then fairly good consistency in
the rest of the scale. Why is the "tonal colour" different in this range,
that uses the whole length of the instrument?

I can't tell if I am hearing poor intonation, or just tonal variation. It
sounds flat to me, but my teacher assures me that I'm in tune.
>
>
>

   
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