Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 2004/09

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Flat E
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 13:50:33 -0400

Ton,

The "throat" B-flat (middle line) is notorious for its poor sound - caused
by the use of the same vent both to produce the Bb and to act as a register
key. It is possible to clear the sound up by closing carefully selected
holes lower down on the instrument - which ones depends on your instrument,
the context of the note, what covering does to the pitch and even the
vibrancy of the reed you're using on a given day. More than can be described
accurately in an email. It's also possible that the register key doesn't
open enough or that there's a small amount of dirt in the register tube
(that's covered by the register key when it's closed).

The flatness and noise in the E you asked about (1st line - L.H. 1st finger
and thumb) could be caused by the small padded key below the E hole (the one
that opens and closes with the 2nd finger ring) not opening enough, or if
the hole itself is too small either because of dirt or design.

Both the register tube and the hole between l.h. E and D can be easily
checked for dirt. Removing the necessary keys is easy and running a pipe
cleaner through several times should catch anything that's in there. Try to
be careful not to scratch the surface of the hole with anything metal.

If key opening distances or the hole diameter is at fault, you're better off
(as a beginner) leaving it to a technician's skill and judgment. Changes in
the chalumeau notes will also affect pitches in the registers above. If high
B (E plus the register key) is in tune or already slightly sharp and you
sharpen the E, you may not like the high B that results. Likewise, changing
the register key opening distance for throat Bb can have unwanted
consequences once the register key is open to produce harmonics. Sometimes
you have to decide among evils and live with the least of them.

By the way, reeds and mouthpieces can also introduce or aggravate "hissing"
or unresponsive notes. A competent teacher would be the most direct source
of help with this kind of problem. He or she could help sort out much more
reliably than you can by yourself which problems are "you," which are caused
by the equipment and what the best solutions are for either kind of problem.

Good luck!

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: TON NGUYEN [mailto:tonn_07@-----.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 11:25 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Flat E
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I have a problem that is similar to Andy's. I have a LeBlanc
> Galaxy plastic
> clarinet, and for some reason, my E on the bottom line of the
> staff is flat.
> It also makes a hissing sound when I play it. Is that also a technical
> problem? Also, my B flat on the middle line makes a hissing sound and it
> sounds very weak compare to the other notes. As a beginner, I think the
> second problem could be me and not the clarinet, but I don't know.
>
> Ton
>
> Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!
> http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/
>
>
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