 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Fred R
Date: 2002-06-18 06:36
I play on a Leblanc L300 which is wonderfully in tune across the column with 2 glaring exceptions. The throat A and Bb drop about 20 cts in comparison with the rest of the instrument. The holes are clean and the pads are seated and in good shape. I can put my lh 2cd and 3rd fingers down and lip up (which is 2cd nature to me now) and get them in tune, and I mean dead center A= 440 in tune, but the rest of my section plays these notes rather high. The other issue is that my high F is 20cts sharp I can half hole that and lip down but the tiniest miscalculation or slip is a disaster. Is there anything else I can try or is this a tech issue(is there even anyting a technician can do)? As Ive said the situation is workable I'm just looking to work less. (Laziness is the mother of invention)
Fred
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-18 12:46
Flat problem: How far the pad opens (venting) affects the pitch. Try increasing the venting. This could involve bending the keys slightly, which, depending on how it is done, could upset pad seating and linkage.
Sharp problem. Try putting dabs of fingernail polish or PVA on the upper side of the tone hole chimney (under the E ring) in order to reduce the diameter. Several applications may be required. If it does not work, or mucks up other things, then just push the (set) glue or polish down the tone hole, and shake it out of the bore.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-06-18 14:37
If the notes still remain flat after raising the hieghts of the pads, a good repair tech can reem out the Ab and A tone holes themselves to raise their pitch even farther. Such reeming will not affect any other register on your instrument. Curious problem, however, usually these notes (Ab and A) are already too sharp and need to be lowered via venting, lowered pads or embouchure.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: reece
Date: 2002-06-19 22:24
I can definitely see where these replies are coming from. These will definitely help the problem. However, there might be a much different problem with your playing. It sounds like you are at an advanced level if not a professional by the words you write with, but I wonder if you might want to step back a while and examine your air support. Have you ever read the Ridenour Clarinet teaching manual?
I recently read it and it changed my life. I had always been very successful in my playing, but I could never get to that next level. The book helped me to realize that I was biting the mouthpiece, as several of us do. After realizing this (and you understand that even the slightest extra pressure can be detrimental) it opened up a whole new wold.
I couldn't figure it out at first. How was I supposed to even get a sound out without that pressure? Well, the key lies in the concept of compressed air. Now, after several months of playing long tones for hours a day, I am beginning to understand just how important this "compressed" air can be. And, as Ridenour suggests in the book, this kind of blowing is definitely not what comes natural to a clarinetist...it has to be learned. Anyway, to make a short story long, I notice that on my own clarinet, the throat tones are low and the f is sharp, and the rest in well in tune, that is, when I play without compressed air. I might be way off the mark with you in particular, but I am absolutely convinced that most of our clarinets play amazingly well in tune when we use the right air.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-20 14:11
Maybe not so curious, William, if a technician has installed pads that are too thick. I see it often.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DLE
Date: 2002-06-25 22:46
Yes, I play a Leblanc opus clarinet - a beautiful and expensive instrument which has tuning problems aplenty. Yes, the throat notes are incredibally flat - so I adjust my embouchure or the amount of air going in. Actually, I'm not entirely sure what I do, but it has worked for a year now, so....
I didn't know that bending the keys would change the tuning - maybe this explains why my c#/g# key is incredibally weak compared with the rest of the instrument (The tone is very poor, and it is too flat). I had the key position 'bent' to suit my rather large fingers. (That's why I prefer Bass Clarinet, and have major problems with the little E-Flat!)
The point is, I was wondering if all Leblancs were like this. I know (According to Jack Brymer's 'Clarinet') that all clarinet pitches are not entirely accurate and are slightly flat or sharp depending on the note, I was just wondering if it is more noticeable with Leblancs.
DLE.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
