 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2001-12-19 01:08
I have a huge problem. I have a solo, but a lot of the notes are throat tones. Even with the resonance fingering ( I think that's what its called) the notes are extremely sharp. I can barely get it in tune by lipping down, and then it sounds awful. Is that me, or my clarinet, or a combo of the two?
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-12-19 01:59
Cindy, how is your intonation in other ranges? I wonder if you are biting down to stabilize your clarinet when playing throat tones (the "hands-off" notes). How is your C above the staff? If you don't have an inexpensive electronic tuner, I would advise getting one. Warm up first, then start playing long tones one note at a time and record your intonation. It will help you to learn your clarinet's characteristics and your own tendencies as well.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-12-19 02:06
Cindy, as soon as I posted the above response, I had another idea which is probably more likely. Check your pad heights in the upper joint of your clarinet. If the pad cups are positioned too high above the tone holes, that would create the condition you describe. As you move higher or lower from the throat tones, the pads close and the problem seems to go away. You might compare your clarinet to one of your friends' clarinets to see if there is a difference. If you think they are too high, let a qualified repair technician make the adjustment. Good Luck.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-12-19 05:30
Fred, are you talking about the A and Ab pads? Shouldn't one be able to check that by opening the keys only half way? And if it's the reason, can the A cork be thickened for a quick fix? I'd be interested to know the reason too.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-12-19 05:31
You can do two things by yourself. (Simple)
1)Clean the register key hole 'down to register tube'. by a wooden toothpick, a coiled paper, or a small size cotton stick etc.
2)Make the register key cork elevation to about 1mm, very smaller than that already set at Manufacturers. This can be easily done by patching electric tape on the clarinet where key lever touches when the register key is opened.
>Even with the resonance fingering ( I think that's what its called) the notes are extremely sharp.
You mean all three or some of the right fingers on the keys?
What solo? There may be people who can tell you concretely (alternative fingerings etc.)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-12-19 07:04
Ditto on the above advice. A competent clarinet repairman or woman or tuner can usually fix the throat tones with little difficulty, assuming they need fixing. It takes some expert hands-on help by a competent person. Good luck!!
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-12-19 12:12
No, Rene, not the A and Ab key pads. They are in a "normally closed" position. The ones I'm speaking of are normally open unless something is depressed. I'm afraid my terminology bank doesn't include proper words for these pads. They are the ones underneath the A key and the one which is lowered when the middle LH finger tone hole ring is depressed.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-12-19 15:45
May I make a dumb suggestion? Either pull out the barrel or get a longer barrel. Since the intonation of the throat tones are more strongly affected by barrel length than the pitch of the notes farther down on the clarinet body, this may fix the problem of sharp throat tones. Remember that, in order to allow some margin for cold weather and different mouthpieces, clarinets are designed (or should be designed) to be slightly sharp, especially in the throat tones, with the barrel pushed all the way in. If you've already tried these suggestions, I apologize for stating the obvious. But sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.....
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2001-12-20 03:24
Thanks for the advice. I am almost perfectly in tune on higher and lower notes, so I will check out the pads and corks.
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2001-12-21 15:04
I see no mention of the instrument here. My student instrument (Selmer Signet Special) was sharp in the throat tones. It isn't uncommon in less than pro instruments, especially older ones.
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