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 intonation with piccolo...
Author: musica 
Date:   2009-03-28 18:33

Any ideas on tuning with piccolo on an extended clarinet /piccolo duet?
Are there any tendencies the piccolo has that won't allow for much adjustment
on certain notes that I should be aware of? I'm playing about as sharp as I can
to match at times...... Thanks.

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2009-03-28 18:48

Omigod! Tuning with a picc --- a fate worst than death for the clarinetist. I guess in general, they play flat down low and sharp up top (where they are also bloody loud). Exceptions: REALLY good picc players, who play in tune and have some dynamic range. As for individual bad notes, it depends on the individual player and his/her particular instrument, you'd just have to ask and listen/adjust as you go.

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2009-03-28 20:03

Both of you need to make piece with God and a Korg. Just when I think my altissimo is in great shape, I seem to have strayed off in one direction or other with a few notes ........... and usually not an anticipated direction either.

After the starting pitch thing (Bb or A.....or whatever) I'd hit at least a couple of key pitches in the most troublesome place. That will at least give you guys an anchor.

My present piccolo match up is pleasant. This player listens and adjusts (it seems that there is a lot of rolling for very little pitch adjustment). He claims most pic players play flat. All I know is that they usually play reasonably well in tune with themselves so if you can find and match the piccolo player's center of pitch, you are golden.



..................Paul Aviles

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: Tobin 
Date:   2009-03-28 20:10

This isn't helpful, but have you considered just shooting the picc player?

James

Gnothi Seauton

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: D 
Date:   2009-03-28 20:40

Tell him it is all your fault, but can he pull out a little as there is simply no way you can match his pitch at the top. At least if you are both 'flat' it is the rest of the band who are wrong........alternatively shoot him, we'll all provide an alibi.

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: musica 
Date:   2009-03-28 21:10

Thanks to all! I'll leave the violence to the violin section... :-)

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: Ebclarinet1 
Date:   2009-03-28 23:21

Piccolos and Eefers have a RUNNING BATTLE on playing in tune as it seems we're often paired, like in Candide, where we both have rather bad notes (the treacherous high E on Eefer). If the piccolo and you get along it's best to run those sorts of passages out of everyones earshot and with a tuner (so you can let it decide who is off). Some piccolos think the Eefer is just out of tune and "you have to match me". Frankly I've found that they were just as if not more chances for being out of tune.

Of course there are lots of jokes in the direction James suggests and as an Eefer-ist and oboist I think I've heard most of them... Hopefully Eefer playing is getting better so we're less stygmatized these days!

Eefer guy

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2009-03-28 23:35

The best thing is to have them play while you watch the needle on the tuner. Have them tune their lower register G or A to start with, then once that's in tune, do the following:

Get them to play low G (xxx|ooo) and upper G, and altissimo G (thumb off, xxx|ooo) and see how each of them reads on the tuner.

Then the same with A (lower, upper, altissimo).

Then get them to play low D (xxx|xxx), then middle D (oxx|xxx) and then top D (oxx|oooEb).

If they get progressively SHARPER with each 8ve (but having already tuned the low G or A) , then move the headjoint cork AWAY from the embouchure hole until each 8ve is in tune. Use a piece of wooden dowel or a plastic rod to push the headjoint cork with.

If they get progressively FLATTER as they go up, undo the screw on the end and push the headjoint cork in (TOWARDS the embouchure hole) until the 8ves are all in tune.

And when you've got that sorted out, do the same with all the flutes in your band!

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: Ryder 
Date:   2009-03-29 01:46

... is impossible

____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2009-03-29 03:56

Tonight, I just finished Wonderful Town on Reed 4 (picc, flute, clarinet, and tenor). Sitting next to me on Reed 3 (EH, tenor, oboe, and clarinet) was one of my former HS students who has a masters in double reeds.

She diplomatically asked me to play flute on one extended oboe/picc phrase. The intonation was really shaky on my part as I had to jump to picc rather quickly and that was a real challenge.

The picc is much tougher to play in tune than an eefer for me. What a little pain in the embouchure.

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2009-03-29 18:12

It takes two to play in tune, doesn't matter what the second instrument is. You both have to listen and both be willing and capable of adjusting. ESP
http://.eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: intonation with piccolo...
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2009-03-30 03:39

Of course you're right, Ed, but the picc already counts for two, so when the clarinet joins in there are actually THREE who have to listen to each other and adjust.
[toast]

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