Klarinet Archive - Posting 000052.txt from 2002/09

From: "CLARK FOBES " <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] bass clarinet intonation
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 11:22:00 -0400

The problem of the wide twelfth from low E to middle B on the bass clarinet
is fairly characteristic of most bass clarinets. I have noticed that most
of the newest Buffet bass clarinets (within the last year) have this
problem to a much lesser degree.

I addressed this particular problem in an extensive (2 part) article I
wrote for "The Clarinet" in 1986. The article is called "Fine Tuning the
Selmer Model 33 bass clarinet". Part one discusses the register mechanism
and part two pertains to correcting (as possible) the intonation.

I have written another article on "Tuning and Voicing the Clarinet" which
is available at my website. This link will take you directly to the article.

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

The principal problem is not so much the flat E as the sharp B. Very often
players will try to correct the sharpness of the B by pulling out the neck.
This can cause an inordinate lowering of the throat tones. Negotiating
passages such as the famous "pas de deux" from the Nutcracker can be
excruciating when the relationship of B to A is so skewed. The sharp B must
be tuned at the tone hole. (Usually the range from B-D must be lowered).
Yes, the E will be lower too, but in my opinion this is much the lesser of
two evils. The long B on a Low C bass clarinet will not be affected at all
by pulling the bell.

Clark W Fobes

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