 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-06 00:41
I finally bought a tuner. I wanted to check the alto clarinet that I'm renting before I inflict it on my fellow band mates. YEOW! It is a nightmare. The bottom end doesn't match the top or middle and even notes in the same range aren't consistent. Why would they build an instrument that isn't going to play in tune? Surely this isn't a trait of the alto; it must be this individual horn. I'm going to have to pass on taking it to practice unless I can figure something out. Does anynoe have any suggestions? Thanks Michael
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-06 03:25
gRAHAM wrote:
What brand is it?
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Of course, I'm sorry. It's a Selmer Bundy; I don't know what year. It plays pretty well (new pads, corks), but tuning is a problem. Michael
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Author: gRAHAM
Date: 2000-05-06 03:40
Have you tried different mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures etc.?
I had tunnig problems on a vito bass clarinet. The biggest problem was that the body was one piece. So if the lower notes were in tune some of the higher notes were flat or sharp. and if the higher note were in tune the lower notes wouldnt be. Also because of the single octave key the high high notes were very out of tune. also the simplified keys effected the tuning.
Theres my worthles two cents worth.
GRaham
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-06 12:59
gRAHAM wrote:
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Have you tried different mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures etc.?
I had tunnig problems on a vito bass clarinet. The biggest problem was that the body was one piece. So if the lower notes were in tune some of the higher notes were flat or sharp. and if the higher note were in tune the lower notes wouldnt be. Also because of the single octave key the high high notes were very out of tune. also the simplified keys effected the tuning.
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Thanks Graham, I haven't tried different mouthpieces and the only reeds that work well for me are alto sax soft LaVoz. I have seen mention of "double register' key, but I'm still not sure what that means. I guess the altos that I have had contact with only have one. Oh well, I'm not planning on buying this instrument, but I was hoping to do more than just practice at home with it. Michael
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-05-06 19:35
Can you specify the tuning problem a little more? Does the instrument have wide twelfths? By that I mean that the lower register is flat, while the upper register is sharp, with inconsistency in the throat tones (some flat and some sharp). The Bundy alto (new in about 1960) that I played in junior high had this problem and I believe it's characteristic of older Bundy altos. I'm not familiar with the new ones. It may be that there's not too much you can do about wide twelfths, since they're part of the basic construction of the instrument, but one thing you might try is to ask the technician to adjust the register key so that it doesn't open quite so far. A gaping register key can cause sharpness.
You mention that the instrument has new corks and pads. Another possibility is that, in addition to the corks and pads, the clarinet also needed to have some work done on the springs. If so, and if this work wasn't done, then some keys may be opening too much or too little. It's also possible that the tech didn't replace the pads with the same thickness that was on there originally. You may even have some screws tightened down too much or left too loose. In general, if a key opens too wide, the note will be sharp. A key that doesn't open wide enough will play flat. Tweaking those key heights may improve the intonation.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-06 19:41
Lelia wrote:
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Can you specify the tuning problem a little more? Does the instrument have wide twelfths? By that I mean that the lower register is flat, while the upper register is sharp, with inconsistency in the throat tones (some flat and some sharp).
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Yes, this is what is happening. I'm going to keep working with it and see what happens. I did order a new mouthpiece today, so I'll have that to compare it to also. Thanks for your help. Michael
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Author: bill
Date: 2000-05-06 21:58
Are you sure that your tuner is calibrated and working correctly?
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-07 00:38
bill wrote:
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Are you sure that your tuner is calibrated and working correctly?
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Yes, I'm pretty sure. It's brand new and I took the 9volt battery out of my smoke detector, so I think the batter is plenty strong.
Also, I put the My Tempo Accompaniments CD on and help the tuner up to the speakers and David Blumberg's note registered PERFECT! Michael
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Author: Kimberly Nisius
Date: 2000-05-07 13:41
The alto clarinet is rare in use due to its tuing problems. The instrument was never developed sufficiently, and finging an isntrument that plays in tune with itself is difficult.
The mentioning of key height is an important one. If the instrument in the low octave can be played in-tune with itself then the problem lies in the register key. If you are mechanically incliked place something under the register key to keep it from opening up as far, and see if this brings the upper register down. If it is closer in-tune, thne check your Bb in the throat if this is incredibly flat, then the added bumper for the register key needs to be up in the mechanism of the octave key not under the key that you push since that also effects the Bb.
I had to do this on the alto I played for some Husa and Granger pieces a few years back. It takes some practice to play the alto well. You realy need to get the tuing as close as possible, and then work with the instrument so that you know what its tendencies are, and just play fixing these as you go. I hope this is helpful. The alto parts can be some of the neat parts in the clarinet choir.
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Author: bill
Date: 2000-05-07 14:46
Michael Kincaid wrote:
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bill wrote:
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Are you sure that your tuner is calibrated and working correctly?
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Yes, I'm pretty sure. It's brand new and I took the 9volt battery out of my smoke detector, so I think the batter is plenty strong.
Also, I put the My Tempo Accompaniments CD on and help the tuner up to the speakers and David Blumberg's note registered PERFECT! Michael
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Michael-
Here's how to find out if your tuner is calibrated. Get an A440 tuning fork (from your local music store or a catalog). Hit it against your knee and then quickly hold it up to the tuner.
Oh-one other thing. Do you have to set the note that you are going to tune to? If so, when you set it to an A you play a B natural, when you set it to a Bb blay a C, set it to a C play a D, and so forth.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-07 15:48
Kimberly Nisius wrote:
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The alto clarinet is rare in use due to its tuing problems. The instrument was never developed sufficiently, and finging an isntrument that plays in tune with itself is difficult.
...[snip...]
It takes some practice to play the alto well. You realy need to get the tuing as close as possible, and then work with the instrument so that you know what its tendencies are, and just play fixing these as you go. I hope this is helpful. The alto parts can be some of the neat parts in the clarinet choir.
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It is funny because I thougt I sounded pretty good on it until I got the tuner. Thank goodness I checked it out or the alto sax section would have been throwing food at me. I have called one of the local music store to see if they could bring in a few altos for me to check out. I'm taking the tuner with me! Michael
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-07 15:57
bill wrote:
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Michael-
Here's how to find out if your tuner is calibrated. Get an A440 tuning fork (from your local music store or a catalog). Hit it against your knee and then quickly hold it up to the tuner.
Oh-one other thing. Do you have to set the note that you are going to tune to? If so, when you set it to an A you play a B natural, when you set it to a Bb blay a C, set it to a C play a D, and so forth.
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Bill, I bought a KORG CA-10 Chromatic Tuner (about $40.00) and it has an "auto" feature and shows the concert pitch. At first I was confused because everytime I would play a "C" the tuner would read "A #". I thought it wasn't working right until I figured out that it meant "Bb." I never call that note an A #. At least I didn't take it back and complain--that would have been embarrassing. Michael
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Author: Amber
Date: 2000-05-08 03:59
Another way to check your tuner is to use your metronome. Mine plays a a steady concert A note so I can kinda tune without needing a tuner.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-05-08 20:54
Michael Kincaid wrote:
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It is funny because I thougt I sounded pretty good on it until I got the tuner. Thank goodness I checked it out or the alto sax section would have been throwing food at me. I have called one of the local music store to see if they could bring in a few altos for me to check out. I'm taking the tuner with me! Michael
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The alto sax section would have no basis to throw food at you. Saxes are just as hard to play in tune.
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Author: George Kidder
Date: 2000-05-09 18:07
Michael Kincaid wrote:
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Yes, I'm pretty sure. It's brand new and I took the 9volt battery out of my smoke detector, so I think the batter is plenty strong.
This is the Fire Marshal speaking: You go and put that Smoke Detector battery right back! You certainly won't play in tune after you are crisped.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-09 23:21
George Kidder wrote:
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This is the Fire Marshal speaking: You go and put that Smoke Detector battery right back! You certainly won't play in tune after you are crisped.
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Yes Sir. That tuner is driving me nuts anyway! Michael
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