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 size
Author: HOTREEDS 
Date:   2005-02-20 17:32

What's the simplest way to tell someone who knows nothing about clarinets how to tell whether the one he's got is an 'A' or a 'B flat'?

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 Re: size
Author: bflatclarinetist 
Date:   2005-02-20 18:50

An A clarinet is a couple inches longer than a B-flat, therefor the A has a lower pitch.

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 Re: size
Author: music_is_life 
Date:   2005-02-20 19:49

it's kind or hard to tell. I have heard funny stories of people accidentally picking up their A clarinet during orchestra instead of the Bb, and it sounded funny, of course. but essentially, the A is longer. but I sometimes can't tell when my friend is playing his A clarinet, until I pick up my Bb to match him and realize it's off.

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 Re: size
Author: GBK 
Date:   2005-02-20 20:45

Bb clarinet - approx. 23 1/2" (59.69 centimeters) from top of barrel to bottom of bell

A clarinet - approx. 25" (63.5 centimeters) from top of barrel to bottom of bell


...GBK

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 Re: size
Author: Steve Epstein 
Date:   2005-02-20 23:12

If you have access to a piano (or other concert pitch instrument), your clarinet's C will sound like Bb on the piano if the clarinet is a Bb, and like an A if it's an A.

Steve Epstein

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 Re: size
Author: clarinetist04 
Date:   2005-02-20 23:38

Yeah, I don't think length is going to help unless he has another Bb clarinet (which would defeat the purpose of trying to figure out whether he has an A or Bb because he would know already?!...make sense...maybe not).

I think the best way is to use a piano and play an A....if he plays a B and matches the pitch, then he has a Bb clarinet. If it's a C he's playing he's got an A clarinet.

On a different note, I've found that A's have a lot more resonance in the low chalumeau notes than a Bb...could just be my instruments though.

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