 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: 2cekce ★2017
Date: 2010-12-11 17:42
What would be the reasoning behind new professional clarinets equipped with two slightly different sized barrels and what would dictate which one to use especially since most Ive seen or heard would be using the longer one most of the time anyway.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2010-12-11 17:59
1. to play at either 440 or 442 pitch
2. to allow playing at correct pitch when instrument is cold e.g. when making quick switch between Bb and A
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Author: 2cekce ★2017
Date: 2010-12-11 18:34
Ok now my next question. my clarinet came with two barrels and since the barrel and tuning pitch thing is foreign to me, which barrel would I be using the longer one or the shorter one. both of my tuners default to A440 so I m
assuming this the norm for the most part since when tuning with the band I also have it on the stand to be sure Im in tune. Honestly a lot of us here have trouble tuning by ear unless the waving pattern is a lot off.
I found the answer thanks I think I understand it now. My goodness, so many barrels and bells and info.
Post Edited (2010-12-11 18:49)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-12-11 19:11
The answer is not simply that the longer barrel plays lower. The other half of the story is that the gap created by pulling out a shorter barrel makes the throat notes (top of the clarinet, non octave key notes) play lower yet than the rest of the clarinet. So the longer barrel allows more length (lower pitch for the entire length of clarinet) without causing a disparity of internal tuning.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-12-11 19:35
Paul,
Interesting mention of the gap. I recently tried playing steadily while pushing my barrel in 1-mm. The throat tones "glissed up" about 10-cents. So did fingered C4 (which includes the middle joint). The "long tones" (like F3 came up only about 5-cents; half the tuning effect of the pulled barrel.
I usually need to pull the center joint a bit to bring the right hand clarion in tune.
NOW, I've gotta go find a longer barrel to see of swapping it for my short one pulled out by the barrel length difference (say a 65 pulled 1-mm vs a 66 closed down) will affect the tuning differently. If I understand your analysis, I should see 10-cents/mm on both end of the horn with the longer barrel closed. This compared to 10-cents/mm in the left hand and 5-cents/mm in the right hand.
Of course, all of my barrels have different tuning characteristics -wide 12ths, etc --and getting back to the test embouchure after a barrel swap will be even harder to do than trying to hold my mouth/throat, ... steady while playing "trombone" with the tuning barrel gap.
SIGH
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-12-11 21:08
I don't agree with Paul if I understand him correctly. The longer the barrel is the more it will effect the throat tones more than the notes at the lower end of the horn because the ratio of distance is so acute. The distance from the mouthpiece to the throat tones is a lot less then it is to the lowest part of the horn. If you're throat tones are in tune but you need a longer barrel for everything else chances are those throat tones will now be slightly flatter in relation the the rest of the horn once you use the longer barrel. That's why many players pull out the middle joint in cases like that. Remember too, the bore of each barrel will effect the tone quality as well as the intonation. Some type of barrels will make one register slightly sharper or flatter than another. There's a reason that the majority of professional use after market barrels no matter that came with their clarinets. My Selmer Signature came with a 62.5 and a 64 mm barrel. The 64 played much to flat for me with my set up. After trying several Backun barrels I like the way that sounded and tuned even better that then 62.5 that came with it. On my old set of Buffets I've used a variety of different barrels over the years until settling on the Backuns too because I just liked the way they sounded and tuned better but I tried a great many of them because every barrel from every manufacture plays slightly different. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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