Klarinet Archive - Posting 000832.txt from 1999/10

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] flat pitch!!
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 14:03:56 -0400

IF the barrel is stock, probably a 66.5 mm on a Selmer product, and the
instrument is considered to be in the mainstream of the marketplace, which a
Selmer product is, I would not recommend a shorter barrel.

Realizing that rwilliams@-----.net, already found the problem to be too soft of
reeds (or at least, thinks that was the problem and found improvement by using a
harder reed), I can also add that pitch problems can often be resolved before
"carving" on an instrument.

Shorter than normal barrels, or barrels that were not a part of the original
design of the instrument, will only give the illusion of gaining a higher pitch
level. Actually, the short tube length notes are those most effected. (See and
read Gibson's book on acoustics. He deals with this in very easy to understand
terms.) Longer tube length notes will be raised less and less as more fingers
are closed.

Mouthpieces can have a great influence over tuning. Some mouthpiece play sharp,
others flat. Some play both sharp and flat in different places.

Players who play flat, or those educators who are trying to help players who
play flat, should consider the following:

Have someone else play the instrument.
Have them play the flat players setup (after proper cleaning).
Have the player who's playing flat play someone's instrument (and setup). That
would be someone's equipment that doesn't play flat.

Another possibility, and I inject a fair amount of sarcasm, would be for the
band director or teacher to become qualified on the instrument so that accurate
appraisals can be made.

A lot of comparing will help narrow it down.

GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote:

> In a message dated 10/27/99 10:40:51 AM Central Daylight Time,
> rwilliams@-----.net writes:
>
> << I have a 8th grade clarinet player with good tone, average technique,
> and horrible pitch. She is constantly flat. She plays on a Selmer 100
> woooden clarinet with a stock mouthpiece. New equipment is not an
> option right now. Any suggestions on how to fix her pitch. I know the
> whole "raise the tongue" thing, anything else that has worked for some
> of you in the past?
> >>
>
> Find a used shorter barrel. Maybe a repair shop will have one laying around.
> Or, have her barrel shortened, at least 1 mm. Shouldn't cost more than $20.
>
> Walter Grabner
> who is...........glad to help
> ClarinetXpress
> Mouthpieces & More!!!!
> 991 Wildwood Lane
> Highland Park, IL 60035
> 847.433.3309
> http://www.clarinetxpress.com
>
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