 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: SecondTry
Date: 2022-03-20 06:55
So....
a situation might find you sharp relative to your fellow players.
One solution might find you taking out from your clarinet case a longer barrel.
Another might find you pulling out your barrel, but remembering to fill the gap created by such elongation with tuning rings, so as to provide a smooth air column within the instrument, with no abrupt changes to the instrument's inner wall's diameter, as absence of tuning rings in this elongation exercise might create.
Given tuning rings are cheaper than barrels, please explain to me why purchase and use of the more expensive longer barrel might still be indicated.
Thank you.
(P.S. I do realize that there's more to turning that just elongated the barrel length.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mojo
Date: 2022-03-20 16:25
I think most players do not bother with using tuning rings and just pull out and leave a gap. I use rings but I can not tell the difference vs having a gap. I use them to get a repeatable barrel location since my barrel is a tad short most of the time to tune with others.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-03-20 18:40
There have been brief periods where I had pulled out at the middle. Tuning rings there seem to lessen the affect of pulling out with a minor (maybe) improvement of the timbre.
I would NEVER negate the ability to sharpen pitch on the fly with tuning rings between barrel and top joint. The purchase of a longer barrel is required if your general pitch pulled out slightly is still rather high. I ALWAYS want “room” either way as far as pitch goes.
………….Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2022-03-20 21:40)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: m1964
Date: 2022-03-20 19:24
Modern clarinets are made to tune well, after playing at room temp for a few minutes.
If your clarinet is really sharp by a lot, I'd get a longer barrel (if available).
I actually find myself using a shorter barrel (64mm) for my Bb Buffet in the winter, when we rehearse in a church or in a high school, both of them somewhat cold in winter.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Peacock
Date: 2022-03-21 00:39
Paul Aviles is dead right: you need some room for adjustment. I play a Buffet Bb with a 65mm barrel rather than the standard 66mm, as then it stands a chance of being at pitch when I switch to it cold. I expect to pull out a bit as I warm up. Peter Eaton always designed his clarinets with exactly this intention: that they would be in tune when pulled out a mm or so when warm. I've never found the internal gap created by pulling out has any effect beyond the desired overall shift in pitch, and so have never seen the need for tuning rings.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tom H
Date: 2022-03-21 01:42
I've used a 64 barrel, the tuning rings, just pulled out the barrel, and even pulled out at the middle on rare occasions (as Paul mentioned). That was long ago. At our rehearsals (the only place I play now), the band tunes to me. At the concerts the oboe gives a Bb, I tune to her (fortunately that doesn't necessitate me pulling out), and the band tunes to us.
So, I do nothing....
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-03-21 02:34
Tom,
You lucky stiff. No trumpet or horn sections leading you guys into higher, louder, faster, sharper?
……………Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tom H
Date: 2022-03-21 05:28
We do occasionally re-tune during a rehearsal. Same procedure, I give a note for the wws then one for the brass. At the concerts, almost never a re-tune. Concerts are outside except if rain.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk
Date: 2022-03-21 18:35
m1964 wrote:
> Modern clarinets are made to tune well, after playing at room
> temp for a few minutes.
> If your clarinet is really sharp by a lot, I'd get a longer
> barrel (if available).
It shouldn't be sharp "by a lot" unless you've deliberately substituted a shorter barrel for the original one. Some mouthpieces tune higher than others, and if that's the case with a specific mouthpiece the player might have to choose between changing the mouthpiece or compensating with a longer barrel.
If a clarinet is "sharp by a lot" with a standard-pitched mouthpiece and the original barrel, I'd have it checked by a good tech to look for a mechanical explanation. As m1964 says, very sharp pitch is not generally a design feature of modern clarinets.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TomS
Date: 2022-03-23 19:56
I generally always have to pull a little in the center, and I use tuning rings to add mechanical stability and to eliminate the gap in the center joint that collects water. You have to check that you haven't caused the C/G to be too low.
Same thing on the top ... I like tuning rings but a "click"style barrel might be a better option. I sat by a player once that clicked her click type barrel every few seconds ... drove me crazy.
Brad Behn now has a new "click" type barrel.
Elimination of the joint gap is important, acoustically, mechanically and to prevent a place for more water to collect.
I think that Ridenour actually designs his clarinets so that once warmed up, you are expected to pull a bit in the center. Tune the throat with the barrel pull and tune the clarion B/C with center pull and maybe the bell.
I like tuning rings, once warmed up and in playing in a narrow range of ambient temperatures. A microscopic pull or wobbly of the joints can really make a big change in tuning, therefore I like the consistancy and repeatability by using rings.
We need "click" center joints ...
Tom
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2022-03-24 09:17
>> It shouldn't be sharp "by a lot" <<
A lot can depend on conditions.
I once had to record in a sort of make-shift studio, very hot and humid city, during the summer, with no air conditioning. I had to open the longer barrel to where the cork was showing quite a bit. It is an extreme example but it happens occasionally, and less extreme situations happen all the time.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jarmo Hyvakko
Date: 2022-03-25 10:01
If you are sharp in USA and you are playing with an older Buffet instrument, check the serial number of the instrument. If it has an "F" in front of the numbers, it is an instrument tuned in "continental pitch" a=442Hz and you will propably need a longer barrel.
In general, barrels have different intonation and sound qualities just as mouhpieces. Prefer the "good" barrel and adjust it with tuning rings. My recipe is: in Bb clarinet use a barrel that is in tune or a bit flat but playable in tune when the instrument is not warm yet and then get used to adjust the intonation by opening the barrel. If the barrel makes the instrument sharp right from the start, correct the tuning with rings to intonation described above. Or by a longer "good" barrel.
With the A clarinet, use a barrel that is in tune when the instrument is NOT warm yet, because very often you have to switch to a cold A clarinet in the middle of the piece. That happens much more often than vice versa. And when you have the opportunity to start with a warm A clarinet, correct the tuning with rings.
Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: m1964
Date: 2022-03-25 20:36
Jarmo Hyvakko wrote:
> ...With the A clarinet, use a barrel that is in tune when the
> instrument is NOT warm yet, because very often you have to
> switch to a cold A clarinet in the middle of the piece. That
> happens much more often than vice versa. And when you have the
> opportunity to start with a warm A clarinet, correct the tuning
> with rings.
>
Absolutely right, but occasionally/rarely could be opposite, depending on the program (if most of music is for an A clarinet, and just small portion for Bb).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: crazyclari
Date: 2022-03-30 06:48
I find leaving a gap between the barrel and body can result in a flattening of the throat notes due to the proportionally larger volume in the top end of the clarinet. Having a horn made at 442 drives me crazy, I have re-tuned and voiced my alto clarinet and run a 2mm spacer to sort the problem out.
Preferably I would have a "good" barrel slightly short e.g. 65-65.5mm and run a tuning ring if required. My laziness usually results in just pulling out the barrel.
On clarinet "my belief" is that you really only have about 1mm to play with and then you are going to inherently make the horn play out of tune with itself.
On the smaller horns D & Eb this is even less. Really we should just play in tune:)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jarmo Hyvakko
Date: 2022-04-01 10:35
If that becomes an issue, i have a 1 mm shorter barrel for just in case. Usually mouthpiece being warm in that situation is enough.
Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
