 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2009-12-17 01:44
Recently I discovered that if I rotate the bottom joint a little when putting together my clarinet I get a more comfortable and aligned finger position. All the you tube videos and other material I've seen, however, says that the joints of the clarinet and the mouhpiece should be in a straight line. the only difference I've noticed when I've rotated the bottom joint is that my right pinky finger has trouble reaching the E/B key. I would appreciate some comments about this.
Thanks.
Leonard
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-12-17 02:08
I have a clarinet where if I lined up the bridge centerlines, the thumb rest is a few degrees off center. So, with one part of the bridge being a T shape, I just align the top bridge link to one of the T legs, perhaps 1/8" off bridge center. It works fine like this and I assumed the T shape so you can make small adjustments to suit the player.
knotty
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Author: marcia
Date: 2009-12-17 05:34
>I just align the top bridge link to one of the T legs, perhaps 1/8" off bridge >center.
Can you still play Bb/Eb one and one?
Marcia
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-12-17 07:50
>> I just align the top bridge link to one of the T legs, perhaps 1/8" off bridge center. <<
> Can you still play Bb/Eb one and one? <
The bridge can be adjusted to work in the position where the joints are aligned the way the player prefers. That's for most bridge linkages, which have a problematic design. The best design would be where the lower part of the linkage is parallel to the clarinet body when the key is pressed. The upper part would be straight. This would allow the linakge to work in any alignment of the joints.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-12-17 12:42
Dear LeonardA,
The alignment for Boehm clarinets is a result of the "1 and 1" Bb. Sometimes if only a slight adjustment to this note needs tweaking, turning the horn slightly can (sometimes) make the difference needed.
As far as finger placement.............. How about bringing your right elbow
UP?
There is also a general tendency amongst the younger cats to want the thumb rest up higher toward the top of the bottom joint. This could contribute the "reach" problem.................and perhaps cause other issues such as carpal tunnel. As I see it, if your right index finger is NOT (at rest and unengaged) just hovering OVER the last sidekey (but actually is perhaps above the second to last sidekey), then to reach this MUCH USED key (Eb and Bb) your thumb winds up pressing to get your hand lower.
[ sorry.......... hard to describe]
Just think about it.
.........................Paul Aviles
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2009-12-17 12:55
"The best design would be where the lower part of the linkage is parallel to the clarinet body when the key is pressed. The upper part would be straight. This would allow the linakge to work in any alignment of the joints."
- I am having trouble understanding this. I don't see how any linkage would be so affective to work in "any alignment". Are there any clarinets that have a key like you describe?
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-12-17 13:35
Skygardener
I hope these photos show what I think Clarnibass means. The two instruments have different types of bridge, but I think it shows the principle
This is from a B12. The connection to this bridge lies on top of the part shown. You notice that the top surface is shaped to be (near) parallel to the instrument body. In this case, it does not matter whether the linkage is in the middle, or to one side, as the linkage should be held the same distance from the body in relation to the key, and adjustment should remain.
The next photo is from a student Yamaha. In this case. the link to it goes beneath the splayed end that is photographed. The bottom area that articulates, however, is straight. This means a twist away from centre, and the linkage will raise the splayed end, and regulation will be lost. In this case, if the bottom of the splayed end were curved in parallel to the body, regulation would be maintained.
Chris
Post Edited (2009-12-17 21:24)
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2009-12-17 14:48
For whatever reason, this adjustment is very precise on my Yamaha 221 bass clarinet....if one part is turned even slightly out of alignment, some notes become very airy.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-12-17 17:47
Sometimes if the adjustment is not quite right (first finger right hand is not quite totally seated), your altissimo D and neighboring fingerings can chirp a little in fast passages.
I always forcefully depress that Bb key (RH 1) on assembly a couple of times and if I feel signifcant vibrations in the left hand fingers that are depressed (usually T & 1), I have a problem.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-12-18 04:21
Skygardener:
I was talking about the lower part of the linakge, shown in Chris' first photo. The upper surface of this part should have the same curve as the body. The one in the photo is not so accurate. Also it is critical that the curve matches the body curve when the key is pressed and not when it is resting on the body.
I don't think I remember a clarinet with the better designed linkage exactly but I think a Selmer Paris (don't remember the model) had one that was close.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-12-18 12:54
.....another advantage of one-piece metal clarinets. I'm betting that most beginners bend the bridge mechanism the first week.
Bob Draznik
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-12-20 14:03
As often as bridge keys get bent, I'd suggest that the ability to bend them back should be in every advanced or professional clarinetist's repertoire of skills. A small pair of smooth-jawed pliers and a steady hand are all that's needed. Adjust the keys so that they are lined up in both the horizontal and vertical planes, then adjust cork thickness (as Lelia suggests) until the upper joint pad just barely closes when the lower joint rings are depressed, using light pressure.
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-12-20 23:27
Apart from non-marking pliers, I think the other essential piece of kit required is a sliver of cigarette paper to check the sealing of the auxillary pads on the UJ and LJ.
It is essential that they seal with same pressure, as the bridge can hold either of them off from sealing. Although the adjusment is easy, it has to be perfect, as there is practically no tolerance for error
Chris
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Author: Its_Michael
Date: 2009-12-21 01:16
Aside from how the clarinet is working, it could just be an acoustical thing specific to your clarinet.
Barrels also will often sound better when they are in a different position - mine plays best with the front pointing to the left.
Just a thought
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