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Re: Help! Need physicist or meteorologist

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-02-05 15:25

I left out a lot but let me expand a bit or rather, back up.

We know (some of us) that at higher altitude (such as Denver Colorado) the air pressure is different, lower. That has several effects. Water boils faster, so one needs to leave an egg in water longer to cook. Another effect is that with "thinner air," (less molecules per unit of volume) aircraft need a longer runway to take off.......a very real world problem indeed. AND clarinetists need to switch to a softer reed than they would use at sea level.

Now, air pressure (barometric pressure) can swing to a fair degree based on the weather. Usually when it is sunny and warm, the air pressure is higher(er). When the weather is cold and wet, the air pressure is low(er).

Recently (this is another odd problem that I have......it seems more prominent than in years past) I find while playing Legere reeds that there IS a weather related (air pressure related) issue. With all the "bad weather" we've had in the south central US, I find I have to seek out reeds that are from one quarter strength weaker to a full half strength weaker.

I only seek to understand WHY when you add the humidity factor there is either greater (when dry) or lesser (when humid) tendency for the reeds to respond as described. On the face of it, this seems backwards.

For the record, air is LESS dense when the relative humidity is higher.

I am convinced that cane players probably don't have the "air pressure" sesitivity issue to as much a degree because cane is more "flexible" and simply pressing a bit more on the reed makes it play like a softer reed (or rather allows you to play as if your mouthpiece has a smaller tip opening).

...............Paul Aviles

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