Klarinet Archive - Posting 000206.txt from 2001/11

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Intonation issue with bass clarinet
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 14:21:44 -0500

The most serious problem is
Donna says.......

<<that the long B natural (one step above throat A) is *extremely* sharp (corresponding low E seems fine). I have two performances in the next month, so I doubt I'll be able to get it to my repair person until after
they're over. Is there anything I can do as a temporary fix in the meantime?>>

Donna, there is the old trick of putting sections of tape on the surface of the wall of the tone hole. Cut little sections of tape, any cloth backed tape will work, along the side of the tone hole toward the top of the instrument Make sure none of the tape sticks up above the surface of the tone hole, where it would interfere with the closing of the pad, or down into the bore of the instrument.

Putting the tape in the upper wall of the tone hole will effectively lower the tone hole as well as make it smaller.

Both of these actions will lower the pitch of any note that issues from that tone hole. Maybe you can work out a compromise where the low E is a little flat and the 12th above is only a little sharp.

This "trick" has been done for generations. The nice thing is that nothing permanent is done to the horn.

I have tuning tape in my "A" clarinet that has been in there for 20 years.

Try it, every clarinetist should know this technique. You can do a better job tuning this note than 90% of the technicians out there.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Mouthpieces, barrels, repairs, tuning

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