 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ewqasd
Date: 2010-08-31 01:10
Hi,
I recently got my A clarinet.
I was just wondering if there are any differences I should be aware of between A and Bb clarinets. For example, does one of them have any tendency to go out of tune for some notes or anything.
By the way, I am kind of thinking of getting tuning rings.. any recommendations? Where can I buy and prices?
Thanks!
Post Edited (2010-08-31 01:11)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-08-31 01:28
Pretty much the same. One's a bit bigger. Other than a very slight difference in resistance, anyone who tells you that one is easier or harder to play or has significantly better or worse intonation probably has one that is of poorer quality and/or in greater need of a technician.
I futzed around with tuning rings very briefly. Did not see any benefit at all. Your mileage may vary.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2010-08-31 01:45
You've nothing to fear with A horns. It's when you tread the waters of Effer and C that you should be prepared for the culture shock.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-31 02:44
And don't let anyone tell you an A clarinet has a completely different sound to a Bb - if that was the case, then they wouldn't be used.
I had this grief from a pit player who objected to me playing some numbers on an A clarinet as it made things easy (and I laughed to myself when he mucked up one of his solos in written D Major!), and also from another player on the same show who moaned that I was cheating by playing my A - the pair of them ganged up on me, but I stood my ground on this and will still do should the same scenario arise.
The whole point of clarinets built in different keys is to make life easier for the player - so if you find you can get around some printed Bb parts transposed onto A much easier, then by all means use this to your advantage. It's not cheating, it's being resourceful. Recently I did the Hary Janos suite where the Intermezzo is much easier played on an A clarinet instead of the published Bb part - for both 1st and 2nd clarinets. The 1st player was glad I transposed his part for him.
Now - if only they still made Db oboes for playing in military band keys!
On A clarinets you may find some slight resistance on the B over the break - but you'll get used to it. Don't force it as it'll overblow to a G.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-08-31 02:50
Resistance on B over the break on an A clarinet will be due to your finger not fully covering the hole or a pad not sealing properly. It should play just as well as a B on a Bb.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: tdinap
Date: 2010-08-31 04:33
I've been told by a couple of people that the register tube is narrower on A clarinets (at least on Buffets), which contributes to slightly different resistance and pitch characteristics in the high clarion register and above. The differences are pretty minimal, though, and are usually just slightly more or less significant versions of problems generally found on Bb instruments. None of the issues should be severe enough that they require anything more than spending some time playing the instrument to figure them out.
As for tuning rings, I used them as a temporary fix for a couple of months last year before getting a new mouthpiece, as my old one was horribly blown out and playing 30+ cents sharp. I felt a slight improvement compared to just pulling out a lot and having nothing in there, but it's not something I would want to use permanently. Why are you planning to use them? Generally I would advise that you get a new mouthpiece and/or barrel if you're having pitch problems and have ruled out most player-related causes.
Tom
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-08-31 14:06
Some players have a problem with getting an undertone or grunt when playing the A - C above the staff. That's either caused by not voicing properly, the A clarinet has more resistant, or an improper register tube size in the clarinet, yes that happens. Also, with some A clarinets you don't need the use of the Eb-Ab pinky (speaker key) key for the high D as many players need to use on the Bb clarinet. It's a matter in intonation and or ease of the note coming out, so just check to see if you need it or if it makes the high D to sharp on your A clarinet. You may also need to use some different fingerings for some other notes in the Altissimo register.
ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2010-08-31 14:33
I'd also suggest playing your normal etudes, scales, and other exercises on your A clarinet to get used to it. I find myself going through the Rose book more on Eb and A just as much as I do my Bb to get better acquainted with them (Especially Eb).
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: William
Date: 2010-08-31 15:15
There should be little difference between you Bb & A clarinets, other than slightly increased resistance and "darker" tone quality due to the added length of the A. Also, its been my experiance that an A clarinet, especially my Buffets, have a greater tendancy to go sharp in the upper registers. I've never used tuning rings as the amount you need to "pull" will vary from season to season, room to room, etc. They just get in my way. A better investment would be in a good tuning meter to use in checking out the tuning characteristics of your clarinets and to check tuning before a gig. You always have to use your God-given tuner (ear) but a meter will show you which notes you need to be prepared to favor--either lipping up or down, etc.
FWIW--my Leblanc Concerto A is the best "in tune" clarinet that I own, but I use my Buffet A because I like my Buffet Bb better and it's a better match regarding "feel"--key work & tonal "presence" in the orchestra.
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Author: David
Date: 2010-09-05 16:11
Different? Yes and No
First time you pick it up. Yes.
Your hands appear to be waaaaaaaaaay over there for some reason, and it weighs a ton.
After a while. No.
If you're regularly swapping, they settle down to feeling the same, and you become unconciously adjusted to them.
If you have a long band stint, or raft of B-flat orchestral stuff, and then pick up the A again. Yes. Feels really odd...
Finally, there is the case where you're used to them, and they don't feel different, and you pick up the wrong one for a nice exposed entry, so to speak.
Feels the same. Sounds... Well...... you'll know when it happens.
And sudden insuperable bizarre tuning probs? Take them to bits and have a serial number matching spree......
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-05 16:22
"Take them to bits and have a serial number matching spree......"
HUH??? Being mostly in tune and not necessarily that "sharp", could you please explain....??
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-09-05 16:44
That happened to someone I know who got their 1010 joints all mixed up.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ian White
Date: 2010-09-06 08:17
I heard that once - lots of interesting quarter tones! Very funny for the rest of us if not for the player.
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2010-09-18 01:26
I've mixed up the joints between my Bb and A!
Sad part, I didn't notice at first. On one of my clarinets (A I think), the serial number is on both joints, whereas the other one (Bb I think) the serial number is only on the lower joint. If I'm not paying attention, I reach for the wrong one (especially since I use a triple case, although probably not for much longer as now both hinges are broken).
Rachel
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