Klarinet Archive - Posting 000029.txt from 2001/12

From: "CLARK FOBES " <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Tone hole shape
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 12:40:58 -0500

Joshua wrote:

"Does anyone know how opening the back side of a tone hole affects the
tuning, response, and tone of the individual tone and its partials?"

I have a discussion regarding some aspects of tone hole shape in my
article
"Tuning and Voicing the Clarinet".

http://clarkwfobes.com/Tuning%20article/Tuning%20the%20Clarinet%20for%20PS.h
tm

Tone hole shape is very important to intonation as well as tone color,
clarity and stability. The question regarding the "backside of the tone
hole" must refer to what I would term the bell side of the hole as opposed
to the mouthpiece side.

Enlarging a hole towards the bell only will have a very slight affect on
the pitch of the tone that is emitted from that hole. A common
misunderstanding is that undercutting or lengthening a tone hole toward the
bell will make the pitch lower. It will not. A significant enlargement may
flatten the pitch of the subsequent tone if the hole is close enough. A bit
of elongation can open up the sound, but there is also often a trade off in
focus.Generally, enlarging tone holes should be done with a lot of care and
by some one who has some experience.

Smaller tone holes near the mouthpiece end can feel unstable if the hole
becomes egg shaped or if the hole is too large.

I am interested to know which tone you want to enlarge and particularly
what the problem is that you are trying to correct.

Clark W Fobes

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