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Re: R 13 (1974) ~ barrel length, throat tones, mouthpieces

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-11-17 14:14

What part of the "lower register" is slightly flat? It's more or less normal for the bottom two or three to be flat - I've never been sure why, but it seems to be axiomatic that if the chalumeau bell tones are in tune, the twelfths (long B, C and C#) will be sharp. Not apparently much to be done about it.

Throat intonation is the most affected by barrel length or pull-out (a millimeter is much larger proportionally to throat A than to the bell notes). Often, *if the rest of the instrument is tuning satisfactorily*, you can bring the throat notes down by putting narrow strips of thin tape - thin plastic like electrical tape - layer by layer around the *upper* half of the circumference of the A tone hole (for A and G#) and the tone hole under the A key, which is the first open hole when playing G. You can use tape for any note that's a little sharp to the rest of the instrument, but doing it to these holes has no other unintended consequences (like throwing the twelfths of the note out of tune). If A is good but G# is still sharp, you can do the same thing to the G# tone hole.

You put the tape around the top to make the tone hole a little smaller and also, in effect, to lower it a little along the instrument's length. The tape strips need to be cut narrow enough not to protrude into the bore or, of course, above the pad seat. I think some players may use nail polish brushed on a layer at time, but that' a little too permanent for me - if I change mouthpieces the pitch adjustment may need to change and tape is much easier to remove than lacquer.

This assumes the clarinet in general is in tune with the barrel and mouthpiece you're using. If you change mouthpieces you may well have to take the tape out entirely or use less because mouthpieces contribute their own effect on an instrument's tuning.

Karl

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