 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: PatB
Date: 2003-04-03 14:06
I just recently bought a beautiful clarinet at a nice price through a certain online auction site. Now I find out that it is pitched at 442 instead of 440. Do you think this is going to cause me big problems down the road? I am just relearning the clarinet after 30 years, so currently I am not playing with any groups. I have already learned the "buyer beware" lesson, so, if you could, please comment on the pitch issue. Thanks - Pat
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-04-03 14:20
For most of us thats not enough diff. to cause you any problems, it may be helpful for a while. When your embouchure "re-develops" you may have to "pull the barrel" about a millimeter or so. You can later consider if you want to get and use a slightly longer barrel, see your local repairer's "junk boxes" for an inexpensive one or buy a pro-type one. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: PJ
Date: 2003-04-04 02:38
My primary mouthpiece tunes at 442. I got a longer barrel and it solved the problem.
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Author: Avie
Date: 2003-04-05 12:45
I purchased a 1966 Buffet R13 that is supposed to be tuned to 442 also. Can anyone be more specific as to the problem or differance with 442 versus 440 tuning? I cant detect the differance. Thanks. Art
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-04-05 22:32
To get 'A' in tune the barrel will need to be pulled out very slightly, depending on your mouthpiece, reed, and the way you play.
Theoretically the end result of this will make the entire scale out of tune, with few-fingers-on notes being slightly flat relative to the many-fingers-on notes.
In practice the intonation will be well within what most players achieve anyway.
It seems silly to deviate from an internationally agreed pitch, but many instruments are now designed at A442. The Yamaha catalogue I get from Japan (in English) has had all their flutes listed as A442 for many years.
Models YFL-**1 and YFL-**3 are pitched at 442, and this has not worried people. Other models may be too.
If the player is to tune to A440 in a cold environment he has the following choices.
- 'Lip' the notes up to pitch.
- Play using a shorter barrel (theoretically putting the scale out of tune).
- Play on a A440 instrument that is designed to be in tune with the barrel pulled out a little, and push it in (theoretically putting the scale out of tune).
- Play on an instrument designed at a higher pitch, say A442, in which case the scale will be theoretically accurate.
Life is full of compromises!
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2003-04-05 23:31
H.N. white used to ship Silver Kings with two barrels, one marked A=440 and a shorter one marked A=442. I think I have read that many French instruments really were pitched to 442 and then sold with slightly longer barrels or mouthpieces (or just shipped slightly sharp.)
These days, many guitar players use electronic tuners. But not always. Uusually they just tune to each other. Maybe it is easier to hear that you are flat than to hear that you are sharp. Anway, it seems much more common for guitars to tune sharp rather than flat. This happened so much that I sanded down the barrel on my Silva Bet in A so that it probably tunes to a=442 when in all the way. Not a problem, except when I am still too flat.
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