 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: soccer_cat
Date: 2013-11-03 15:28
Hello everyone,
I am fairly new to the clarinet, a saxophonist doubling. My r13 is quite sharp with my hawkins B mouthpiece. Which joints are the ones to pull out? The barrel and the main joint? Some band members are pulling out the bell. I feel this doesn't do much but they are insisting that it's correct.
Thanks!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-11-03 16:45
The Hawking does play sharper, although for those who are primarily clarinet players this is a good thing because it allows for better internal tuning of most clarinets (that is, note to note......which in the scheme of things is THE most important thing).
As a novice or one who develops a biting type embouchure riding "high" on a mouthpiece like this is commonplace and may have led to the plethora of "lower" pitched mouthpieces.
First off I'd recommend being less jaw oriented in the embouchure (that is, if you are). The key is to set the orifice FIRST and then put your mouthpiece into it (that is, the muscles all around the orifice are FIRM but you're not using them to clamp down, only to support).
As for pulling out, the majority is at the barrel and you can move that out almost a quarter inch (in extreme cases). The middle joint can be pulled out to an eighth to match a really pulled out barrel. The bell is less an issue because the lowest chalemeau notes are usually low to begin with but some players do pull out there slightly as well.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-11-03 21:15
Could you possibly find an A440 mouthpiece? Pulling out at any place but the lower end of the barrel should only be done as a desperate measure.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-11-04 01:34
One of the more effective ways to tune a clarinet comes from Tonm Ridenour.
He suggests (after warming up) that you play an open G and adjust the tuning barrel as necessary. ![[G4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/g4.gif)
Following this, jump up an octave to the next G ![[G5]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/g5.gif) . If you still need adjustments at this point, it should be through the middle joint of the instrument.
He also says that many clarinets play better when the bell is pulled out about 1 mm.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-11-04 02:36
JJAlbrecht wrote:
> One of the more effective ways to tune a clarinet comes from
> Tonm Ridenour.
>
YMMV
My biggest reservation about pulling the middle joint is the possibility on some clarinets of disturbing the fit of the bridge keys with possible consequences both to 1+1 Eb/Bb and coverage of the top pad on the bottom section (the one above the first finger). Also, if the cork is a little rounded in the middle or just too thin (and loose a fit), you can get some wobble in the joint that can be at least distracting as you play.
Tuning long B4 from the bell is OK, although if it makes the lowest E too flat it may not be a good trade, depending on the music being played (and whether or not the pitch of E3 is important).
Lots of players pull the mouthpiece as well as the barrel to minimize the gap between the barrel and the top tenon (which can also be accomplished with tuning rings). The problem with this is if you're playing orchestral music and need to go back and forth between Bb and A clarinets. You loose whatever tuning you've done with the mouthpiece.
Karl
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-11-05 03:33
You should consider a longer barrel depending on how sharp the throat tones are in relationship to the rest of the instrumet. Most of us pull out the barrel, but only enough that those throat tones are not flat. Then the middle joint a little and finally the bell but that will only really effect the "bell tones" and very little of anything else if at all. It's a matter of proportions. A little here, a little there. but the barrel first, the middle joint second or together and then the bell if needed.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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