The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-02-06 01:59
I know throat tones are normally sharp, but mine are waaaaay sharper than normal, especially my open G. my open G sounds really really bad. I normally play flat, probably because i'm semi-new to soprano clarinet (been playing bass all this time), but I need to get in tune better! I'm getting less flat in all the registers as I'm beginning to be able to keep my chin flat (takes time..) without thinking about it, but my throat tones arent inproving. Am I just going to have to lip these notes down all the time, or is it a matter of opening my throat, or what? I'm getting really frusterated with this!!! thanx
~ashley~
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Author: The Big J
Date: 2001-02-06 02:26
Have you tried keeping your right hand down when playing in the throat range? Sometimes this helps. That's what i've been told to do. Bye bye
-Jeanie
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-02-06 04:22
Take it to a good tech to make sure the A, A sharp, and the register keys aren't opening too far.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-02-06 12:08
Take it, and a tuner, to an accomplished player to check the instrument first. Get your embouchure, air pressure, etc checked at the same time.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-02-06 13:30
Ashley -
What brand and model of clarinet are you playing? What kind of mouthpiece? How long is the barrel? All of these can make the throat tones sharp.
If the top end of the clarion register (A, Bb, B and C) are also sharp, your barrel is too short. It should be about 68 mm. A longer barrel will lower the throat tones and upper clarion without affecting the rest of the instrument very much. A cheaper way is to pull out the barrel a couple of millimeters at the bottom and insert tuning rings to fill the gap. Get the fiber ones, not the metal ones, which are too small in diameter and fall out when you take the instrument apart.
Slightly harder reeds may help.
If pulling out makes the upper clarion impossibly flat, you probably need another mouthpiece, or, if the horn is an el cheapo, you should start saving your pennies for a good one.
Let us know how you're doing.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2001-02-06 14:37
I thik that Wilie means the G# and A keys. It is an easy adjustment for your claritech to perform (do not try this on your own).
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-02-06 21:01
I've got a Buffet International, w/ a B45 and vandoren 3s. No clue how long the barrel is, it cam w/ the horn. I saved my pennies for the better part of a year and just got that in december. My C is pretty in tune, its flat on occasion, the notes that are out of tune are everything from D to Bb. Middle C is fine. thanx a bunch
~ashley~
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2001-02-07 05:19
I bet it will get better as you grow more accustomed to the horn. The Bb embouchure is a lot tighter than the bass embouchure, and takes some getting used to. As you grow more accustomed to the instrument, and pre-hear the note before you play it, you'll be able to adjust the note into tune as you play it. Do get the equipment checked out. You don't want to fight an improper set up. All the horns play more or less out of tune though. You want to have equipment that can be played in tune, and then you have to compensate to make it happen. I just took up bass, and its like going on vacation. The embouchure is soooo comfortable.
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