 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-03-24 22:08
I've been getting back into playing clarinet after a lapse of many years.
I've noticed my throat notes seem flat, so today I checked with an electronic tuner. I discovered ALL the notes on the instrument are flat -- by about 30 cents or so (the throat notes are indeed a bit worse). This is of course with everything pushed in all the way.
I say "the instrument" but I should say "instruments", because the same is true on both my clarinets: a plastic Evette and a wood Evette & Schaeffer.
Both instruments have what I believe are their original barrels; both are 67 mm.
I tried three different mouthpieces: a new-ish Fobes Debut, an ancient Vandoren, and a beat up no name (maybe it's a Woodwind). Tuning was about the same with all three. I didn't vary the reed (Legere 2 1/2) or ligature (Rovner) though.
This was in a room at about 65 degrees F. I had not been playing either instrument long, so they were not as warm as they would've been if I had.
Paranoia drove me to check the tuner with an A440 tuning fork, and the tuner said it was A440.
I know I haven't built up much embouchure strength yet; is that my problem? But try as I might to tighten up or otherwise vary my embouchure, I couldn't get anything up to pitch at normal volume. There wasn't that much variation in pitch with volume, except that some notes did come up to pitch if I played them *very* softly. On the other hand, I can't think of any other reason for these instruments to play flat. If anything, from what I've read, the Evette at least as a student instrument probably would be expected to play a little sharp.
I guess a shorter barrel (or a Click barrel) would address the symptoms, but I hesitate to throw money at the wrong solution. Is there anything else I should consider? Or should I just practice a lot and expect the pitch to come up as I improve?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-03-24 22:27
rsholmes wrote:
> Both instruments have what I believe are their original
> barrels; both are 67 mm.
The original barrel which came with the Evette Schaeffer was about 64.5mm .
With that barrel the clarinet was pitched at 442 ...GBK
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-03-25 01:04
GBK wrote:
> The original barrel which came with the Evette Schaeffer was
> about 64.5mm .
>
> With that barrel the clarinet was pitched at 442 ...GBK
This 67 mm barrel is marked "Evette & Schaeffer" in the same style as the markings on the other parts. The barrel matches the other parts in appearance. Were different length E&S barrels sold as accessories? Or could it be that the 64.5 mm barrels were used during a different time period than my instrument's? Mine is an early K series, dating from ca. 1953. (The Evette is from ca. 1980; its barrel appears to match the instrument in its appearance, but carries no markings.)
Can anyone with a 1950s-era E&S and/or a 1980ish Evette confirm the barrel lengths?
Post Edited (2007-03-25 01:09)
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-03-25 01:25
the 67mm barrel is a bit long and 65deg F will help bring things down. warm up the instruments about 15mintes and see how things are then. but FYI- it's reall common for beginers to play flat. the pitch comes up after the mouth firms up.
happy music making!
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-03-25 01:32
I have a early 1970's E&S in hand - I just measured the barrel - 65.1mm
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-03-25 01:50
Another bit of paranoia... do I know how to measure the barrel length correctly? I'm going end to end, from the top of the top ring to the bottom of the bottom ring.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-03-25 04:50
end to end is correct. i use a digital micrometer.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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