Klarinet Archive - Posting 001158.txt from 1998/12

From: DHmorgan@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Sharp or Flat Troubles!
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 01:06:36 -0500

In a message dated 12/29/98 8:36:45 PM Pacific Standard Time,
Klarinet94@-----.com writes:

<< > I was always taught to listen for the waves between pitches.. if you
> hear waves, then there is an intonation problem.. try to adjust
> different ways until the waves go away..

Waves??

SaRa
>>
Although others on the list could explain in better detail, two waveforms of
different pitches have slightly different peaks and troughs and, sounded
simultaneously, will emit a sound that can be described as a rapid
ocillation--as compared to two 'in tune' wave forms which sound like a 'steady
tone' (which is, of course, full of all sorts of ocillations not so apparent
to the ear).

Tuning up a guitar is the best practice I know for anyone who wants to get
started hearing this effect who doesn't have access to fellow insturmentalists
for practice. Especially when the 'harmonic' tuning method is used (more on
this upon request if anyone's curious and does not happen to know).

Sara, as a point of clarification for myself and anyone interested in this
thread, when you say that you 'can't tell' if your clarinet is in tune with
other instruments, are you saying, that it's HARD to tell--given that there
are so many sounds going on--or are you saying that you haven't yet LEARNED to
tell (hearing if notes are in tune is something one has to practice like
anything else) or are you saying that you CAN'T tell, as in you know yourself
to be--well, the unpleasant term is 'tone deaf'. But perhaps others on the
list will have more to say about 'tone deafness'. Clarifying this will,
perhaps, help the discussion.

Cheers!
Don

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