 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-06 07:55
Hi
My clarinet is just slightly flat usually. Is there an easy thing I could do to make it sharper? Like a certain brand of reeds make a higher pitch, or anything a repairman could do?
Any other suggestions.
Thanks.
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Author: DezzaG
Date: 2005-01-06 09:26
Shorter Barrel, afterall it is a tuning barrel!
Better than going to the repairman.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-06 09:33
OK I forgot to say my barrel is alreayd 63mm so there isn't a shorter barrel. The clarinet is Eaton and comes with 2 barrels, a 64mm and a 63mm. The barrel solution isn't going to work here, unless I buy a special one from Eaton but that is going to be expensvie.
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Author: DezzaG
Date: 2005-01-06 10:41
Is it a large bore or normal?
If normal you could just use a higher pitched mouthpiece like trad Vandorens
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2005-01-06 11:32
My clarinet tends to be quite sharp (Buffet Festival). Maybe we should swap? :-)
As far as I know Peter Eaton's clarinets are built to play at around A=440. If you're playing at A=442 then that could be the cause of your problem.
One thing you can try is what DezzaG said- use a higher pitch mouthpiece like the trad Vandorens. Or why don't you try contacting Peter Eaton directly. He makes mouthpieces, so perhaps he can send you one that tends to play higher?
You could also get a repairman to cut the barrel by a millimeter, but that affects the "short" notes more than the "long" ones. I suspect you'll find a similar problem with using a higher pitch mouthpiece.
Want to buy my Buffet? :-)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-01-06 13:29
Could it be simply that you are playing in a room that is colder than what the instrument was designed for? That makes a huge difference for pitch.
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Author: MisiMcG
Date: 2005-01-06 13:41
I had the same problem a few years ago when I picked up my horn after a few years away from any serious amount of playing. I was about 2 cents flat all the time. I tried everything I could think of to get in tune - including spending several hours with my repairman trying various barrels, key adjustments and anything he could think of.
After much frustration, I picked up a reed 1/2 strength higher and it worked! This is not a solution I would necessarily try first, but if you run out of options, it was a cheap fix for me.
Misi
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-01-06 14:26
Why not look for a shorter mouthpiece, or have a good player shortened by 1-2 mm, and NOT cut an original barrel. After all it is the total length of the two which sets pitch !! I've had this done, and the machining is actually easier. Try a number of mps, some just play sharper than others, AFTER you warm up your room, as Gordon says !! Simple things first ! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-06 14:38
The mouthpiece I'm using is the Eaton mouthpiece and it's the best mouthpiece I have and don't want to change. I can be exactly in tune at 440, but most pianos here are tuned at 442.
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Author: Vicky
Date: 2005-01-09 01:04
I agree with Misi... if one plays on a softer reed, the pitch lowers. Maybe you could try moving up in reed size?
Vicky
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2005-01-09 01:36
***The barrel solution isn't going to work here, unless I buy a special one from Eaton but that is going to be expensvie.
Why not! You can contact Allan Segal 'Clarinetconcepts and ask him to make the 61-62 mm long barrel for you from his WONDERFUL BILLET OF KINGSWOOD. I don't think you'll pay more than $100.00 for it.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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