 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2015-01-22 02:44
Attachment: clarinetgraph.jpg (317k)
Here is a rather strange graph of a frequency analysis comparing two clarinets, one of which is mine.
Interestingly, the 2nd harmonic seems to be quite prominent on my clarinet, which is very strange considering that the clarinet is not an open-pipe instrument. Also it seems my clarinet is very weak in some of the other overtones.
Anyways, I just wanted to know how unusual this is, especially the "unwanted" 2nd harmonic, and what could possibly be the cause of this?
Post Edited (2015-01-22 02:45)
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Author: Wisco99
Date: 2015-01-22 02:51
My question is, how do you think your clarinet sounds? Do you find it has an acceptable sound and intonation, or do your ears tell you otherwise. What do others think of the sound when a few feet in front of you. Your ears and not an electronic graph of the overtones is what is really important. Trust your ears.
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2015-01-22 02:55
I think my clarinet sounds ok, although I have been wanting more mids and highs in the sound (more projection, clarity, and "ping") as I feel my clarinet is "too dark-sounding." Interestingly enough, I believe this graph shows exactly that, besides the very strange presence of a 2nd harmonic.
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Author: Wisco99
Date: 2015-01-22 04:11
The two things that have the greatest effect are the mouthpiece and reed. Try different mouthpieces and perhaps you will find what you are looking for, and may ye be blessed with great reeds.
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Author: Dibbs
Date: 2015-01-22 14:11
What note are you playing? It looks like it might be concert A(440)? That's a middle line B on the Bb clarinet and is a note that is very sensitive to leaks. Could a tiny leak be affecting it?
Also, it would be easier to compare the two if you normalised the data so that the fundamental is the same height on both graphs.
Post Edited (2015-01-22 14:22)
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2015-01-22 18:45
Thanks Dibbs for the response.
I did not perform this analysis by myself, so I'm not sure which note this is, although I suspect it is concert A as well. I suppose a leak could cause this; i will do try doing a "blow" leak test later when I get the chance.
Interesting to note that I have noticed a weird "buzz" when I play the long tube notes like clarion B and C. I wonder if this is the unwanted harmonic that is showing up.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-01-22 20:11
I envision a day when a player can watch such a graph in real time while making adjustments to embouchure, air pressure, finger pressure (is a pad leaking?) etc etc. And just like a tuner shows you "in tune" vs "out of tune", the display would show you supposedly good vs bad spectrum content- subject to the player's own specs of what is good or bad. Perhaps the software would contain some number of reference standards for comparison- not everyone is (or should be) striving for the same tone.
Oh, and this should be a free PC or smartphone app... lol.
No more arguments over tone quality or whether some piece of equipment improves it or not? Yeah, right.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2015-01-24 04:52
Another analysis was done on another sound sample of concert A4... same results.
Apparently my clarinet has some flute-like harmonics (the strangely high 2nd harmonic).
I did a "blow" test on the upper and lower joint. The upper joint seems to hold the air very well, but the lower joint does not. However, i cannot pinpoint where the leak is coming from as I don't hear any obvious hissing coming from a single place.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-01-24 06:57
You need to do a "suction test." The goal is to HOLD air for a modicum of time. A really well sealed joint might hold tight like a coke bottle, but as long as it holds for a few seconds you're pretty good.
The positive pressure (which I assume what you did above) is fine to test spring tension (the RH Ab/Eb pad can cause problems if the spring is not firm enough).
Finding a specific pad that is leaking (when not really obvious like a tear) can be hard. Most use a "feeler gauge." This is a thin piece of cellophane (the tear tab section from a cigarette pack OR even your Vandoren reeds) tied to a pipe cleaner. Alternately place the cellophane under the "four corners of a pad when closed, then pull. You should feel a good tug (indicating that that point of the pad closes tightly against the tone hole). If the cellophane pulls smoothly out when the pad is DOWN, then THAT is a point where air is getting out.
The less easy way (but really sure fire) is to take ALL pads off, close up the holes with electrical tape and do a suction test (this had BETTER seal really good). Now, take the tape off the upper most hole, replace the corresponding key, and do another suction test. Do this over and over until you reach the culprit. Obviously more involved, but it's a "can't miss" method.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: BflatNH
Date: 2015-01-24 18:25
I can't tell from your plot if you are playing a throat tone (holes open) or a long tone, e.g. C5 (holes closed), which might be relevant as tone eminates from the open holes, and may be different depending on each clarinet [projection] and microphone placement.
I would also like to see how this changes with different pitches. You may have a peak at 800Hz, and not necessarily at 2nd harmonics.
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2015-01-25 01:40
Paul,
I will try the suction test later tonight. I'll also try doing some feeler leak testing as well.
BflatNH,
It is concert A4, the middle line B on the clarinet. I agree it would be interesting to see what other notes sound like, and I will look into that. I was also wondering how much acoustic environment, mic placement, recording device, etc. all could potentially affect the spectrum as well.
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