 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Claripower
Date: 2018-06-01 01:04
Hello everybody!
This topic is about tuning and resources for develop good aural skills. I'm afraid that my windband used to be always out of tune, especially clarinets. For that, I have problems to play in orchestra.
I have tried with longer barrels, and even the mouthpiece B40 - 13, but I think it isn't a good solution forever.
Has anyone had this problem? How did you resolve it?
The problem is clear, I guess I bite too much, but if I hadn't enough air pressure to balance the system I can't relax more the embochure without suferring the sound.
Some advice?
Thank you,
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Author: Speculator Sam
Date: 2018-06-01 01:14
I'm not too experienced, but I could ask an insightful question. What instrument do you currently play? Also, your intonation; are you consistently sharp, flat, or is the tuning just inconsistent with every single note on the instrument? I recommend this video.
Intonation and playing in tune is an ongoing struggle within the world of all woodwinds. Every clarinet has a tuning quirk, even top-of-line "down payment on a house in LA" priced instruments. As far as your embouchure's concerned, you really need to consult a teacher regarding that if you have one.
I hope this helps any. Thanks for reeding (reed pun) Claripower.
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Author: Claripower
Date: 2018-06-01 01:34
: D Thank you, for reeding too ;-P
I'm playing BUFFET RC 442. I'm usually sharp.
Thanks for sharing, I saw that video some time ago but I think it's easy stuff, they are a kind of patch. Not the thing about tongue position, but I think it isn't totally developed .
I would find somebody that could explain what to do to in our oral cavity to achieve the right pitch, even piano, and if somebody has left victorius of this problem. Very common since my point of view.
Post Edited (2018-06-01 01:35)
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-06-01 02:33
Here's a way to tackle the problem. Biting is not a solution to a tuning problem. The clarinet is not a perfect instrument and all players slightly adjust pitch to be in tune. But that is learned alone with much testing so at least you know where to aim in an ensemble.
Get a tuner that can tell you where the pitch is on every note.
Pay a chromatic scale low E up at least three octaves or more.
Play each note about 3-4 seconds to let the pitch settle and mark each note discrepancy on paper.
Check the trends in the registers, right/left hand 12ths, throat tones VS altissimo etc, then check the list below, which I have posted here before.
If all notes are sharp or flat the barrel length is not right but if the pitches are all over the place, maybe the mouthpiece and/or barrel bores are not best for that instrument.
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Barrel
Lower register flat and left hand upper notes sharp?
Barrel bore too large.
Sharp in the upper part of the second register and the lower altissimo notes?
Barrel bore too large.
Altissimo notes flat?
Barrel bore needs to be cylindrical or mouthpiece bore too large.
Altissimo sharp and the throat tones flat?
Barrel bore needs to be conical, (smaller toward the bell).
Flat in the upper part of the second register and the lower altissimo notes?
Barrel bore too small.
Twelfths near the mouthpiece too wide?
Barrel bore needs to be conical, (smaller toward the bell).
Altissimo is sharp and the twelfths near the mouthpiece are too large?
A conical barrel will help.
Mouthpiece
It is essential to use a mouthpiece with the correct bore size and shape for a given clarinet.
A mouthpiece with a bore smaller than ideal will play;
*Sharp up to about A in the second register and flat above that?
Mouthpiece bore is undersize.
*Flat up to about A in the second register and sharp above that?
Mouthpiece bore is oversize.
(Because –This works for the lower register, esp. throat area. However, the effect diminishes when going higher. For the altissimo it's mainly the length of the bore that counts, not the volume. So, reaming your mouthpiece makes the throat notes lower but will not alter the altissimo.)
Left hand twelfths too wide?
Expand the bore around the speaker hole either conically or cylindrically.
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There are many fine mouthpiece and barrel makers that post here with good help if you need more information.
I will be watching for your results.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2018-06-01 12:08
These RCs with European pitch can be very high in pitch (442-444Hz). You can pull the barrel, the middle joint and even the barrel a bit to get it lower and maintain the instruments internal tuning.
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2018-06-01 20:05
Another possibility is to evaluate your embouchure. What pitch do you get when you blow just the mouthpiece alone?
Aim for C6 ![[C6]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/c6.gif) . The way to hit this is to:
1. not bite! Think of your chin pulling down, like you are yawning with your mouth closed.
2. Tongue high: Notice the difference between the syllables EEE and AHH. Aim for the EEE position.
3. Think of the pressure going down into the mouthpiece, not up into the reed.
4. High Air Pressure. Not from biting, but from your core muscles.
Hope that helps.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2018-06-01 22:06
There is a concertmaster violin in our region who plays consistently out of tune and out of tune with himself....but what human ears can endure is always of great interest to me...I would rather listen to country music than that..at least country music is honest!
David Dow
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2018-06-01 22:09
.so a tuner and listening to your own scales slowly can go a long way..quick playing is much harder to discern tuning unless maybe you are a genius..but even then landing on the chord note or pitch is most important. Isaac Stern always played somewhat out tune but always sounded great ..he just knew how to temper the tone so to speak..long held notes need to be tuned..especailly with notes from in an ensemble ..so take it from there!
David Dow
Post Edited (2018-06-01 22:12)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2018-06-02 01:33
Hi,
When working with a tuner to determine your pitch initially, do not look at the tuner's indication until you have your embouchure well settled. I have seen many inexperienced players look at the tuner, begin to play, and then quickly adjust their embouchure to center the needle/indicator.
Instead, I have my students start the pitch and then look at the tuner for confirmation. After you repeat this a few times, you will have a solid idea on how to proceed (i.e. is it your instrument, your ear, or both that need attention). See where your baseline pitch is and then you will get a sense as to how you are playing.
HRL
PS At DD said above "slowly..."
Post Edited (2018-06-02 04:22)
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Author: Claripower
Date: 2018-06-02 02:22
Thank you for all of your advices.
In fact I'm trying this with an app called tuner-pitched, it helps me to listen and then I revise my tuner. It has a clarinet tone for each note for trying to imitate. I like it so much, but it becomes harder in pianisimo.
Post Edited (2018-06-02 02:23)
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2018-06-02 08:58
You say your tuner sounds a pitch and you try to match it. Can your tuner also tell you how far off from 'perfect' you are? It may be that you're doing well. It's very difficult to play all notes on the clarinet perfectly in tune. Are there some notes that are consistently really bad? As you slowly play a chromatic scale, how many cents off from perfect are you? (The tuner scale probably has 'cents' marking. There are 100 cents between each semitone or half-step, C to C#, e.g. or B to C)
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Author: Claripower
Date: 2018-06-05 01:07
- When I play the mouthpiece alone it's a B flat.
- I'm afraid that when I play pianissimo my tuning becomes higher. How should I compensate? Maybe more air speed to relax the embochure?
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2018-06-05 02:05
Ken wrote:
“Biting is not a solution to a tuning problem.”
I would disagree and say that combating ‘biting’ is the first step to a solution to a tuning problem.
When that is ‘fixed’ then begin to look at equipment. Gear won’t fix fundamental issues that are wrong.
Peter Cigleris
Post Edited (2018-06-05 10:48)
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2018-06-05 04:41
Hi Claripower, I would suggest finding an alternate fingering to bring pitch down when playing very softly. Use mf for a basic tuning. Tune throat g, f, e. Then tune C, B above the staff. Find the best compromise for all these notes. Let us know how you do with this.
Freelance woodwind performer
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