Klarinet Archive - Posting 000454.txt from 2002/12

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Intonation and allergies
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 08:39:13 -0500

Natalie,

You can't really fix specific intonation problems by changing reed strength.
A stiffer reed *may* cause the whole clarinet to play a little higher, but
the effect won't be on just one note. You say that thumb F is flat. If
that's the only flat note (not the other "throat" notes - F#, G, G#, A and
Bb) then the problem can be helped by "undercutting" the opening of the
first finger (E) hole. This is tricky on a plastic clarinet and in any case
is not do-it-yourself work. It will make the F higher and less resistant. It
will also make high C (a twelfth above) sharper, which on a Buffet may not
be a good idea. It's definitely a technician's job. If the high C is already
sharp, the flat F may be the best compromise Buffet could manage with that
instrument design between the two registers. In that case it's probably best
to leave it alone and learn fingering strategies to bring the F up when its
intonation is critical.

>From your description, I'm assuming by middle C you mean the one in third
space of the staff (middle of the clarinet as opposed to middle of the
"grand staff") - all fingers down and the register key open. Pulling the
bell that far out also has an effect on B, some effect on the C# and even
the D above, plus all the notes a twelfth below these. Again, if the lower
register notes are already flat, bringing the upper register down may make
the bottom of the Chalumeau register almost unusable. But needing to pull
the bell out that far sounds like it's a more unusual problem than just a
normal design compromise. Of course, the pads must seal well when you play
the C - leaking pads in the area may all by themselves cause sharpness. Then
the pad height over the B hole should be checked - you might bring the C
down by simply bringing the pad closer to the B hole. The C pad will then
need to be adjusted so the two pads close together when you play B (which
could, of course, affect D - some experimentation might be needed). The
other way to make individual notes flatter is to put either nail polish or
tape around the upper portion of the circumference of the hole directly
under the sharp one. The wall on the B hole may be too thin for tape to
work - nail polish (lacquer) painted in careful layers may be able to move
the effective opening low enough and reduce the hole size enough to bring
the pitch down to where it is manageable with embouchure adjustment when it
has to be in tune. Again, if the C seals well, the sharpness may be Buffet's
best attempt at a compromise between these notes and the bottom Chalumeau
notes. You need to be a little careful that you aren't solving one problem
by making another much worse. A good technician can advise you about all of
this.

Does your friend actually "break out" or just show signs of irritation where
the reed contacts her lip? Some cane reeds come with rough enough surfaces
to cause some real irritation, and lightly smoothing the surface can solve
the problem. If she's truly allergic, then the only solution would be to
find a reed that's all plastic or plastic coated that plays comfortably.

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Natilius Theresius Visagius
> [mailto:brazilian_penguins@-----.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 10:53 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Intonation and allergies
>
>
> I have two questions. First of all, my clarinet seems to have odd
> intonation
> problems. My thumb F is almost always flat by about 20-25 cents
> (though it
> is pushed in all the way at the barrel), My middle C is extremely
> sharp (so
> much so that I have to pull the bell out about to the cork), and
> every other
> note seems to have it's own interpretation of "in tune." I'm on
> Vandoren 3
> 1/2s with a Vandoren 5RV 13 mouthpiece on a Buffet E-12. I was
> thinking that
> maybe I need a little bit harder reed. It might raise the F a bit
> (right?),
> and I would just have to tolerate having a bell about to fall off
> the end.
> Any suggestions? Is my horn screwed up, maybe?
>
> Secondly, I'm helping out one of my fellow clarinets with her
> chair audition
> tape that we have to make over the holiday break. I noticed today
> that she
> was on a plastic-coated reed (which neither I nor my band director care
> for). I told her she should probably play on regualar reeds, but she
> explained to me that her skin becomes highly agitated and breaks
> out, which
> causes her great pain (there's even a scar right where the
> mouthpiece rests
> on her lip). Does anyone know if there is a cure (or even what
> the problem
> is)? My band director suggested vasaline, but apparently she's tried it
> already with no improvement. Or maybe there is some kind of tape
> or cover of
> some sort that she could place on her lip?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Natalie
>
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