 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amiee
Date: 2001-06-10 18:05
I have a Vito plastic clarinet that I use because I only play in my HS Band. At the moment I have no real plans on buying a new clarinet in the near future because I am unsure if I want to continue playing after HS.
My problem is that when we tune before band, our conductor has us play a open G and a high G, no matter what I do, changing my embouchure, anything, the low G is sharp and the higher G is flat. I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on what I could do to fix this problem.
Thanks in advance!
-Amiee
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-06-10 18:22
Withoout actually watching and hearing you as you play, I can only venture a guess and suggestion to help. Have you checked the instrument out on a tunner -- I mean a GOOD tuner? If the tuner which you are presumably using is showinhg this I would venture to suggest that embouchure and support (tight tummy) might be a problem. Try loosing the embouchure for the upper tone as you say it is sharp, and then checking the lower notes to see if this pull it up to pitch. So this in a octave jump so you can hear the difference.
Most unexperienced players have a tendency to play sharp as they go up into the upper areas of the instrument by not listening carefully and adjusting. The instrument will not play in tune by it self, you have to listen carefully and adjust. Check out your scales on a strobotuner which shows the spining dials for each note and see where you are as you play. This, I know, is only one possible solution to the problem. Support, reed, control, etc. all enter in. Take it one step at a time and you can eliminate some possible causes.
Good Luck,
Bob Curtis
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Author: John
Date: 2001-06-10 21:26
You might also try different mouthpieces. They can affect intonation to some extent.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-10 21:59
FWIW, Issue 8 of the Woodwind Quarterly has an article, by Richard Bush, on fine tuning Vito horns. Your problem may just be the nature of the "stock" Vito horn, but most of the fixes described in the article are for a repair tech to perform. Other suggestions are mouthpiece selection, and barrel and bell changes.
http://www.musictrader.com/wwqindex.html#3
I am not implying that you shouldn't work on your embouchure or look at other ways to tune.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-06-11 00:55
Perhaps your "jumper" key between the upper and lower joing is holding the F#/B pad too low. That would have the effect of making your upper G play flat. Take it to your local repairperson and have it checked out. Just a thought........Good luck.
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Author: Amiee
Date: 2001-06-11 19:53
Ohh, thanks all, I've started to talk to my director about what the problem could be. and these ideas are all extremely helpful.
PS- I just started playing with a Vandoren 5RV Lyre mouthpiece with a Rovner ligature.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-11 20:06
Author: Amiee wrote:
PS- I just started playing with a Vandoren 5RV Lyre mouthpiece with a Rovner ligature.
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Excellent!!!
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