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 One note out of tune ????
Author: Sue G 
Date:   2003-07-02 21:13

Hi,
Can anyone tell me please ..........is it possible for just one note on the clarinet to be out of tune whilst the rest are perfectly OK ????
I took my Leblanc to a repairer to have the thumb rest raised which he did but he also adjusted a couple of keys and ever since I'm convinced that it plays out of tune on the E but absolutely fine on every other note - is this possible or it is me ????
Appreciate your thoughts before I take it back to him and make a complete fool of myself !!!!
Thanks
Sue
:)



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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Henry 
Date:   2003-07-02 21:18

Not that I have the answer in any case but which E gives you the problem? There are two in the chalumeau, one in the clarion, and one in the altissimo registers.
Henry

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: EEBaum 
Date:   2003-07-02 21:21

Along with Henry's question, is it flat or sharp?

(Hoping it's not the clarion. The others can be helped more easily.)

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Liquorice 
Date:   2003-07-02 21:41

Just one?? Is your clarinet for sale??!

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Henry 
Date:   2003-07-02 22:10

Hey, Liquorice, it's a Leblanc! We expect PERFECT intonation!
Henry

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: ron b 
Date:   2003-07-03 00:27

Since it was okay before your tech tweaked it, Sue, ask him to please 'UN-tweak' it  :)

- r[cool]n b -

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Neil 
Date:   2003-07-03 01:22

If it's E4 (bottom line of the staff) the problem could be the bridge mechanism keeping the pad between the E and D holes partially closed. Playing lower notes would close it completely and throat tones would vent out the open E hole. This happened to me once.

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Mark Pinner 
Date:   2003-07-03 01:41

Yes one note can play out of tune and yes it can be done inadvertantly by adjusting things. I think the de-tweaking option should be pursued. The tweaking may have suited the repairer with his mouthpiece etc. but doesn't work for you. These things happen. Instrument "tuning" or "voicing" is one of the more difficult aspects of instrument repair.

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Benni 
Date:   2003-07-03 04:02

E4 tends to be sharp on most clarinets . . . I've found on my clarinet if I add my LH ring finger, it brings it into tune, and in a situation where the notes go by too fast to do that, no one really seems to notice that it's sharp anyway!

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Contrabasssax 
Date:   2003-07-03 05:56

You know i had the lowest E of my contrabass was very very flat and the rest of my notes were in tune. It was just one day but it did not make me happy for i was playing in a concert.

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Sue G 
Date:   2003-07-03 06:31

hi folks,
Thanks for your help - yes it is the E at the bottom of the stave and it's flat but the rest are ok i'm sure.
Think I'll have to take it back.
Thanksagain
sue
:)

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: Wes 
Date:   2003-07-03 07:48

A flat E2 on a clarinet is very common. Alvin Swiney commented extensively on that and how his mentor Hans Moennig fixed it. His solution was to undercut the tonehole next down on the clarinet, under the pad. This raises the pitch of the E2 without affecting the pitch of the B3 in the second register. Sometimes the F2 is also a bit flat but it is a little harder to fix, I understand.

It is also possible that the pad is too low over the hole. Good luck!

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 Re: One note out of tune ????
Author: ken 
Date:   2003-07-03 14:09

Any musical instrument (a clarinet is not exempt) is no more perfectly in tune than the mortality and lack of perfectionism of the warm body that breathes life into it. Sounds like the tech simply adjusted key/pad height (up or down). I'd guess the E natural (concert or written?) you're referring to is the first ledger line chalumeau E natural or altissimo high E natural. Have you sat down with a tuner fully warmed up to confirm your suspicions? Take your horn back and have it re-adjusted if you you're not happy with it and don't be concerned about what someone thinks, you're paying them for their time aren't you?

Remember, if you begin fidgeting with pad/key height and tone holes, alignment problems can often be progressive. Also, the "quality and consistency" of a note is most critical ... NOT tuning. Always better to have a nice, full ringing note that might be a shade up or down than a stuffy shrill one that's zeroed out. v/r Ken

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