 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-15 11:32
I have trouble tuning my clarinet. I have a buffet R-13 with a Premiere Hite mouthpiece (I think...I don't have my clar with me right now) and a mark III ligature. What tends to happen is that my low notes go flat, but I have to pull out because my upper notes (about mid G and up) are sharp, even if I pull out in the mid section. If I get the lower notes in tune, the upper notes will be sharp- if I get the upper notes in tune, the lower notes will be flat. I'm not sure if this is simply an issue of bad embrochure, or if I should get a longer barrel or something. any suggestions?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-15 12:44
My old HS band instructor (a GREAT clarinetist) once told me that what most people do is relax their embouchure in the low notes and tighten up a bit to hit those higher ones.
Then he told me to make sure I do the exact opposite. So the higher notes should actually have a LOOSER embouchure than the extreme low ones. Since doing this I've been in better tune (not PERFECT, but definitely better) and also the notes sound a lot better (all the notes sound fuller).
I don't know if you're doing this already, or if you're maintaining the same embouchure pressure throughout, but this advice really helped me out. Go ahead and give it a try. Couldn't hurt!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-02-15 15:12
Tuning is an ongoing process. The same note, played the same way, at the exact same frequency, can be both flat and sharp depending on context. "Set it and forget it" is a myth.
The clarinet behaves the opposite from most other instruments in intonation. When you play soft, with little airstream, the pitch goes sharp. When you really blow, the pitch goes flat.
High notes should be played as "notes that happen to be high." Don't "REACH" for them. Play the top note of any phrase into the next lower note.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-02-15 19:42
To a large extent you should be able to play "in tune" by varying your embouchure and its surrounding structure....unless you have a grossly mis-adjusted horn. If you can't play in tune after perhaps a slight barrel pull out then you should get your horn and yourself to a technician....or replace it.....maybe both.....and maybe the mouthpiece, ligature, and reeds too.
Bob Draznik
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-15 19:45
hmmm... interesting... reeds... I always wondered whether or not reeds affect your tuning... I play on size for Vandoren reeds, which tend to be good, but I wonder if the fact that the weather is warping them a little...or making them play thinner, is perhaps making my tone sharp?
but my clar. is usually out of tune anyway. thanks for the advice everyone.
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Author: hartt
Date: 2005-02-15 20:18
soft reeds may tend to play flat.
a quick fix for ' on site ' is to place the reed higher on the mp tip (not a solution).
too soft a reed will inherently cause your to 'bite' to get a better sound
regards
dennis
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