 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jeanne
Date: 2001-11-01 04:18
My A clarinet is impossible to use in orchestra. I was taught to switch clarinets but use the same barrel and mouthpiece to prevent breaking/misaligning the reed. When I use my Bb berrel on my A clarinet, I have to pull out almost an inch to make the tuning note in tune. When I do that, the lower octave is almost exactly a half-step flat, but the notes above middle C are perfectly in tune. What could be causing this? What can I do about the horrible tuning problem? I have a duet in a song on my A that is in both the upper and lower octaves, and the bottom is so bad I end up skipping the lower part. I cannot do this, because it sounds really bad. HELP!!!!!!!
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Author: John
Date: 2001-11-01 04:52
While it would be handy to be able to use the same barrel on Bb and A, it never has worked for me. They are different lengths. Your Bb barrel may also have a different sized bore. When you have a barrel pulled out so far, that leaves a large open space in the bore of your clarinet and that plays havoc with the intonation all over the instrument.
I once played in an opera orchestra in La Boheme. There was a very quick instrument change from Bb to A and while pulling off the mouthpiece the reed came off too and there was no time to get it back on. The conductor whistled the part and did a fine job. Look for a ligature that holds the reed on securely.
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Author: Jon Usher
Date: 2001-11-01 05:35
This is a very nice feature of the Peter Eaton Clarinets. The barrels are completely interchangable - the same length as well as bore. I don't understand why other manufacturers haven't done this earlier. Never worked with my Buffets - even in a pinch.
-Jon
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-11-01 07:33
You can't just pul out the barrel when tuning. The middle joint, and sometimes ever the bell is important to pull out. You say you pull out about an inch at the barrel...well, try pull the barrel out half an inch, and the middle joint also about the same, maybe not quite so much as the barrel though. Pulling the barrel will effect the throat register and the upper notes which you play using the upper joint, and pulling the middle will effect the lower joint. Use a tuner and experiment. Hope I helhped.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-11-01 08:02
3 comments:
1. If you have to pull out 1" are you sure your A clarinet is not a Bb clarinet! I don't believe that the barrels are an inch difference in length, and it would take about an inch to lower the half-instrument-length notes from being in Bb to being in A.
2. Or is your A clarinet a "high pitched" model?
3. Show music (apart from G&S?) is not written for A clarinet. The player is simply expected to play everything on a Bb. And there is absolutely no consideration given to avoiding nasty keys. Perhaps this is because the player is likely to already be juggling piccolo, flute, maybe alto flute, clarinet and a sax or two with quick changes.
So, for real solutions.....
a). Transpose your music and play it all on Bb.
b). Get a second mouthpiece and leave both instruments set up, just like the pit musician has to do with his various reed instruments.
If you have to pull out 1" then no amount of playing around pulling out other tenons is going to correct such a resulting intonation mess. It will be huge compromises all round.
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Author: Sandra Franklin Habekost
Date: 2001-11-01 13:54
I could never use the same barrels for A-Bb switch. Grease up your mouthpiece cork! ...and practice the switch at home! It will become easier. The other option with many switches in one piece is to have two setups!
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-11-01 14:13
The barrels that usually come with A clarinets are usually shorter than the barrels that come with Bb horns. One thing I've noticed on my new model Buffet A and Bb clarinets is that they are much sharper than on older clarinets I've played on and owned. My A is extremely sharp and usually use a longer Bb barrel to bring it down in pitch. When I get it in tune though it becomes a great horn, infact I've gotten offers to buy it.
The suggestion that your horn may be a HP (High Pitch) instrument, however, might proove quite valid.
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Author: Bob T
Date: 2001-11-01 22:02
Check your A clarinet joints - look the serial numbers - are they the same ?
Although they might fit together, joints from different clarinets can be vastly different in length and bore, giving rise to horrendous problems. Don't laugh, this happened to me a few years ago - this was the last thing I thought of
Bob T
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Author: William
Date: 2001-11-02 21:36
Try using your A barrel on your Bb--it should be the shorter one. Then tune your A clarinet first by pulling the mpc. Then, when you switch to the Bb, leave the mpc in the "A" position and tune the Bb by pulling the barrel. This way, both instrument will be "in tune" when you switch. Works for me on my Buffet R-13s and my LeBlanc Concertos. Good Clarineting!!!!!!!
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Author: Allison
Date: 2001-11-05 03:46
You may have to invest in some different lengths of barrels for your A. Your teacher or perhaps someone in your group, or a repair tech in your area may have several different size barrels that you could try. Having to pull out an inch seems pretty extreme... I would address this issue with your teacher or someone who plays professionally. I used to have a pair of buffet R-13s and had several barrels for different situations. Now I have a beautiful pair of Rossi's on which tuning is simply NOT an issue, and even they came with 3 barrels each! If they are out of tune its the player (me!) not the instrument!
When I am playing in a siuation where there will be a lot of switching back & forth between instruments, I tune them both with the mouthpiece pushed all the way in in on the barrel. Part of the reason for this is that the cork on some mouthpieces is not all that stable and the mouthpiece on some instruments can sort of move around and even push in somewhat as you play. If you always play with the mouthpiece fully in ...then tuning is NOT an issue when you switch instruments. Also when you grease the corks don't use a lot of cork grease on the barrel to the top joint cork, as you want this setting to stay put once you adjust the barrel.
You do have to make sure the reed is really secure BEFORE you start playing and that the cork on the mouthpiece itself is well greased. If you do the switch with only the mouthpiece, you do not have to mess with getting the barrel in the right place ...its already been done!
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-05 04:20
Jean,
With all due respect to you, it's assinine for you to be in an orchestra and going through all these troubles during a performance.
Go buy yourself the right equipment and have two set-ups you can depend on.
I'm sure it did not happen to John more than once, but it's embarrassing for the conductor of an opera orchestra to have to whistle a part because his clarinet player, who should be a professional, can't get his stuff together.
Pay attention to these horror stories and let others' mistakes be your future counselor.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-11-05 12:59
Switching mouthpieces is very, very, very common among all the professionals I know (which is a great many). This isn't what you're referring to, is it?
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2001-11-05 16:18
Try this yourself with your B-flat instrument: pulling out the barrel of a B-flat clarinet by a lot less than an inch can put the left joint very nearly in tune as an A-pitch instrument. Perhaps the left joint of your A clarinet is the wrong item, from a B-flat instrument. This, coupled with a genuine A-pitch clarinet right joint, might cause the lower notes to be flat, depending in part on the bores of the two joints. And I don't understand how you could pull the barrel out anything close to an inch, unless your left joint has the world's longest tenon.
How long have you been suffering with this instrument, anyway? Do you know that it has *ever* played properly?
Regards,
John
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-06 17:23
Mark,
What I'm refering to is that if something creates that big a problem then the forthcoming solution should be swift and drastic enough to eradicate the problem the first time around!
If switching barrels works well for you and your instruments, by all means do it. Ditto for switching mouthpieces.
However, if switching barrels or mouthpieces causes you problems, like having to pull out an inch's worth of tuning at the barrel, and/or you can't do it within a reasonable and/or the allotted time, then you need to correct the problem asap. Preferably before it becomes an impediment for the orchestra to perform the piece well.
Not to mention, "...lest your name should become besmirched in critical innuendo of a negative influence."
Which is much easier to do than for it to become involved in praise as an outstanding musical performer.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-11-06 17:49
Peter,
Not switching mouthpieces then starts the next set of problems - keeping not only the second clarinet warmed up, but keeping the reed in good shape while the second clarinet isn't being played.
The people I know conquer this dilemma by making sure the mouthpiece they use works properly on both the A and Bb clarinets. That may mean a different barrel, etc. to make sure that it's in tune on both clarinets.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-06 21:41
Agreed, up to and including that using the same mouthpiece might even help them to "play the same" all the time.
The people I know who use two mouthpieces, etc., (which I have to admit are only a very small minority) ensure the second reed stays moist and ready by keeping a solid, plastic cap over the second mouthpiece so the moisture does not readily evaporate.
If they lack another way to do it, the instruments are kept warm by blowing their breath into it whenever they are not otherwise occupied, and that can be accomplished right through the second set up mouthpiece.
It works for them. I don't dispute the other, more popular way you are talking about, but it's not the only one and everything, for everyone often depends on what they find easier to do.
I also know people who never prepare their reeds before playing (oh, sacrilidge!), but pull them out of the storage box and play them as they come out. Of course, these aren't classical musicians.
But that's another story.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-09 01:31
Here you go Mark C,
This is from "Playable Reeds." Some one else who thinks there ar times when each clarinet with it's own mouthpiece, reed and barrel can be a feasible alternative.
"Another point about having more than 1 m.p. is the possibility of having 1 on the Bflat and 1 on the A in pieces that involve quick changes..."
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