 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Dave Ruger
Date: 2000-02-24 20:00
I am using a plastic body Buescher Aristocrat with a Selmer Goldentone 3 MP. It starts out about 10 cents flat with the MP and barrel all the way in. It gradually comes into tune with no spare after it warms up. Even then I feel like I am "lipping" the high notes into tune. Is it worth the money for a custom barrel on an inexpensive horn? If I try other MPs can I expect to find tuning variations?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-24 20:18
Are you playing in slightly cool rooms? Wind instruments will play flat under those circumstances. You might just want a slightly shorter but non-custom barrel to use until summer comes. Often a local repair shop will have extras that they will sell inexpensively.
Also high notes have a tendency to be flat even when the rest of the instrument is in tune. If you are using soft reeds, this tendency is exaggerated. What brand, model and strength reeds are you using?
Beginners in general have a tendency to be flat on the higher notes. How long have you been playing? It may just be a matter of time and practice.
Different mouthpieces will affect the tuning but the exact results will vary depending on the instrument/mouthpiece combination.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 2000-02-24 22:47
Everything Dee had to say is great, but I've got one addition to make: the saying "you play what you hear" holds true for tuning as well as for tone etc. If you play with a group that tends to play flat, or listen to a lot of recordings where the tuning standard is flatter than the one you're trying to tune to, you'll end up unconsciously matching that pitch. That's why so many university groups play very high--it's even possible for people with perfect pitch to end up having their "in tune" get pulled up or down. If this is the case, try working with a pitch-generating tuner for a while, and you'll probably find your pitch concept changing. Hope this helps!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Ruger
Date: 2000-02-24 23:40
Katherine, I checked my clarinet cold and warm against a Seiko tuner -- but it does not have a pitch generator! I've also written down the +/- I tend to play across most notes of the range. I certainly agree with "listening," but I need to get the basic physics working first! Thanks for your comments!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave Ruger
Date: 2000-02-24 23:47
Dee, I've been playing just since Dec., and also bass clarinet (whole other set of topics!) for the musical Mame at the local community college. However, I've played alto sax since 5th grade -- that's a LONG time ago.
On the Goldentone, I'm using straight Vandoren 2.5 reeds. I go through same routine as for the sax -- break-in soaks, polishing the bottoms, etc. I can't blow the instrument clearly on the a Vandoren 3. Even the 2.5s play easier/harder and need tweaking.
Thanks for the suggestion on the barrel. I measured mine at 66mm. I'm sure the local shop wants to sell me this horn, so can help with a shorter barrel.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-25 03:44
Ah ha, a converted sax player. Try to get some embouchure pointers from some one who plays clarinet regularly. The sax embouchure is not quite the right configuration for a clarinet and is also not firm enough for a clarinet. This is probably a significant part of the reason why you tend to run flat.
Also the angle that you hold the clarinet away from your body will affect flatness and sharpness to some degree. The angle between your body and clarinet should be about 30 degrees. Farther out will make the pitch flatter and closer in will make the pitch sharper.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Drew
Date: 2000-02-25 04:24
You can get a very nice barrel in any length by Robert Scott via the mail order houses for about $35.00.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
