Klarinet Archive - Posting 000859.txt from 2000/02

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Newbie Question on Intonation
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 12:04:24 -0500

On Wed, 23 Feb 2000, Gil Guerrero wrote:

> The setup: using an older Evette Schaeffer what seems to be a standard
> barrel, a Gennusa GE* mouthpiece, Vandoren V12 #3 (although transitioning
> to 3.5s).

I know several people who play on Iggy GE*'s. All of them have played V12
4's...thought I'd mention that right off the bat...

>
> The issue: when I play mezzo-forte, I'm pretty much in tune with the
> tuner that I'm using (have one on my computer that uses a computer mic)
> except for low E and F, which are pretty flat. When I play forte, I seem
> to be pretty flat all the way across the board, although again low E/F
> are much flatter. Does anybody have any thought on why this might be?

Because aucoustically, if E and F are built in tune, then B and C will be
horribly sharp. So the makers tend to mildly compromise by making E/F as
flat as B/C will be sharp. I'm sort of lucky on this - my instrument has
an F and C perfectly in tune, but the E is exactly 10 cents flat, while
the B is exactly 10 cents sharp.

> I've tried to "lip it up" a bit, but I guess because I'm so new, I don't
> have enough fine control over my embouchure to do this without squeaking.

Give yourself some more time - you'll get a natural feel for it
eventually. Just don't bite down.

> If the issue is really that I'm new and need to work through it, that's
> fine.

I think this is more or less the case, rather than the need for new
equipment. The only equipment that would make a significant difference in
such a problem might be a new bell, I think.

I also believe that once you get worked up to 4's, you'll play better in
tune with that mouthpiece. When reeds are soft, its much easier to play
flat, especially when playing loud. When reeds are hard, the tendency is
for the pitch to go sharp, and it is more difficult for playing loud.

J. Shouryu Nohe
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
"If I wanted a 'job,' I'd have gone music ED, thank you very much!"

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