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Re: Cents

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-08-29 02:09

mmatisoff wrote:

> I don't understand what "cents" refers to
> and how many cents are acceptable (# or b).
>

A cent is one hundredth of a semi-tone (half step). So, 20 cents flat or sharp would a tenth of a step, or a fifth of a half-step. Depending on what range you're talking about, cents represent different numbers of Herz (cycles per second). The higher you go, the greater the number of Hz in one cent.

> After warming up the clarinet, most of the notes are in tune.
> Those that are flat are scatter about, mostly in the throat
> tones.

This is why I've suggested a couple of times that a shorter barrel may just trade one set of problems for another. If most of your clarinet is in tune, it will not be with a shorter barrel. Notes that are now in tune will be sharp. By the time you get the throat register up to pitch, you may have driven the rest of the instrument up too high for comfort. You do want the overall pitch of the instrument to be slightly sharp so you have room to go up or down as conditions demand. But if you're spot on for most of your range, a millimeter shorter would be plenty too ensure that amount of flexibility.

You really need to have someone who knows what he's doing evaluate your pitch problems first hand. You've gotten several suggestions about barrels, so if you want to go in that direction, have at it. But if your description of the problem is accurate, I don't think you'll be happy with the result. Take it to a qualified tech and get his or her opinion.

Karl

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