 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2006-05-16 23:35
The low notes in my Leblanc clarinet (E and F in the chalumeau register) are a little bit too flat. I believe (but I am not sure) that this is a common problem in most clarinets since the instrument is inherently imperfect. However, is there anything that can be done to make these notes sound better (I mean higher)? Thanks.
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Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2006-05-17 02:36
My E is close to fine, but the F is pretty is about 25 cents flat. Maybe your horn(s) could use some adjustment by a repairman. I don't know any tricks other than just to lip them up. That works well enough for me.
Ben
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-05-17 02:45
If you can locate a bunch of bells to try, sometimes a shorter bell and/or one with a different flare can raise those flat chalumeau notes. Alternatively (and this has been discussed before) you can have a 'resonance' vent hole drilled in the bell (don't try this at home, kids, have a good tech do it). I've done this on quite a few clarinets, especially the various Boosey & Hawkes models, and it generally solves the problem.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-05-17 16:26
(Disclaimer - I am maker of the Forte' Bb and C clarinets)
As David cautions, only a very experienced technician can begin to figure out where, and how large a resonance hole will work on your particular bell and clarinet. Even with higher level experience and some pretty sophisticated mathematical formulas were we at Forte' able to figure out where to put the resonance hole on the Bb and C clarinets - even then we had to move and tweak it slightly to get the right amount of correction. The real world often is not fit to a mathematical model (or we just do not have the exact formula !!). To get the right effect you want to raise the low E/F without messing up the clarion B/C which can be done. Placement of the hole also depends on whether both low E/F are flat - and by how much - or only the low E or F alone.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: Burt
Date: 2006-05-17 22:30
Is there enough pad clearance over the E hole? If not, the F will be flat.
As mentioned earlier, changing or modifying the bell could make a big difference, especially for the E.
Is your third line B stuffy? That could also be related to the bell.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-05-18 05:28
Won't a hole in the bell make the middle B too sharp? I always thought that they make the low notes E and F a little flat on purpose so the clarion B and C won't be too sharp. This makes a lot of sense because around that register it is harder to hear tuning than the clarion the 12th above. I don't think I've ever played a clarinet, that when played ignoring intonation, those notes weren't flat.
Rgoldem - how much is "a little too flat"?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-05-18 10:53
(Disclaimer- I am maker of the Forte' Bb and C clarinets - the "C" with TRAC)
To tune the low end E and F - depending on the exact condition of the clarinet in question (which presupposes that the pad height and other factors have been optimized first), using the bell resonance hole and/or a bell resonance chamber (we call it TRAC - Tuned Resonance Acoustic Chamber), you first tune middle clarion B/C with a candidate configuration. The next step in modifying hole size and placement or resonance chamber configuration to tune the low E/F and then rechecking the clarion notes. It is very possible to raise the pitch of the lower notes without messing up clarion B/C - not easy though. Certain clarinets at the higher end, some German clarinets, and some oboes use the bell vent, extra key opening an extra tone hole for the lower notes, or certain add on custom bells with a specialized resonance chamber improve the intonation of the lower notes without sacrificing tuning of the middle equivalents. As pointed out to me by another manufacturer, the bell resonance chamber idea has been around for over 80 years but rarely used because it is tricky to optimize for an entire model of clarinets effectively - a current professional model A clarinet has this modification today.
L. Omar Henderson
Post Edited (2006-05-18 11:02)
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2006-05-18 11:58
Thanks for all answers. Regarding clarnibass question about "a little too flat", it means something around 25 cents below target. Clarion notes (B and C) are very good and I would be certainly afraid of making a resonance hole in this instrument. It seems that a lot of expertise is needed to be successful in this operation.
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