 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Susan
Date: 2000-10-09 21:04
I have been playing clarinet for two years, but am having a difficult time playing in tune. I seem to always be flat. If anyone has any tips or excercises that they would like to share, that would be very helpful. Any other suggestions or tips are also welcome.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-10-09 22:17
I would suggest getting a teacher if you don't have one. There are lot's of things that could be causing a problem.
1. Insufficient or incorrect air support
2. Underdeveloped or incorrect embouchure
3. Incorrect configuration of oral cavity caused by tongue position and throat opening.
4. Mouthpiece not a good match to the clarinet.
5. Reed not a good match to the mouthpiece.
6. If you got a used clarinet, sometimes barrels get lost and then some one replaces it with one that is not a good match.
It could be any one or any combination of these items and perhaps others that I haven't even thought of. That is why it is important to get help from someone like a teacher in person.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-10-09 22:20
I would suggest getting a teacher if you don't have one. There are lot's of things that could be causing a problem.
1. Insufficient or incorrect air support
2. Underdeveloped or incorrect embouchure
3. Incorrect configuration of oral cavity caused by tongue position and throat opening.
4. Mouthpiece not a good match to the clarinet.
5. Reed not a good match to the mouthpiece.
6. If you got a used clarinet, sometimes barrels get lost and then some one replaces it with one that is not a good match.
It could be any one or any combination of these items and perhaps others that I haven't even thought of. That is why it is important to get help from someone like a teacher in person.
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-10-10 01:26
Getting a tuner is a good idea. It gives an empirical measurement of pitch that you can rely on when experimenting.
I finally decided that I tend to play a bit flat, and got a slightly shorter barrel so I don't have to strain to bend the notes up all the time. The barrel I got was a Moenig barrel for a Buffet R13 clarinet. It gives more resistance which I think is helpful in achieving a more focused sound, and gives something to "push against" when directing notes up in pitch.
Overly soft reeds tend to play flat.
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Author: Jim
Date: 2000-10-11 04:06
Dee's suggestions are excellent and should be tried before Ken's suggestion of a short(er) barrel, but... though it is "cheating" and you might later regret not getting in tune through technique, the short barel is an "instant" cure.
My teacher 35 years ago started me on a shorter barrel. Today, I have finially come up to the point where the short barrel is so far out my horn may fall apart, I guess I'll have to find the origional barrel!
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