 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Drew
Date: 2001-12-01 03:43
I started playing clarinet when I was in 5th grade......6 years ago.......and for the first couple of years, I had no problems. BUT before I "quit", I had a real problem with it always being flat and I couldn't change it. Nothing I did to the clarinet or the way I played it helped.
I need someone to tell me how to fix it.
Please help!
THanks,
Drew
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2001-12-01 04:24
Assuming that every note is more or less the same amount flat, the quick "cure" is to buy a shorter tuning barrel. This will allow you to tune the instrument to compensate. Your local store as well as all of the mail order houses should have these. If you are not using an electronic tuner, consider purchasing one, the Korg CA-20 is quite decent and sells for around $20 or a bit less.
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-12-01 06:27
I have that problem....and i'm a college clarinet major. Its getting better for me though - I started playing Bb about a year ago (took a hiatus from soprano to play only bass in high school - BAD move), and I'm just now starting to play a lot higher. A few days ago I was tuning for band, and I was actually sharp - I was really excited because that had never happened before. I think it just takes time, and as my embouchure develops more solidly and stuff....just a thought.....
~Ashley
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2001-12-01 12:29
My Opus came with 2 barrels, one is 66mm the other 65. With the 66, I play flat just about across the board. With the 65, I'm a bit sharp until I warm up after about 15 minutes of play which is no problem because I pull it out a bit to compensate. So, I'm agreeing with Jim's advice.
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Author: Mandy
Date: 2001-12-01 12:58
I'm a 10th grader, and I always used to be flat. I bought a "Click" barrel (Woodwind-Brasswind has the best prices) and it works great. It has a dial that allows the barrel length to range from 63 mm to 67 mm.
*Mandy*
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-12-01 14:31
I'm not sure if I'd recommend a tuning barrel unless you can find one that sounds very good. They rarely (in my experience) sound as nice as a regular barrel or a Moennig (or something to that effect). I also think you should look at the size of your barrel and try to pin down whether it's your playing or your equipment is causing the trouble so you fix the right thing.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-12-01 15:39
I remember having this problem , above the staff, on my full Boehm Penzel-Mueller, which a shortened barrel did not solve satisfactorily [many years ago!]. Since that time with better [possibly shorter] mps and embouchure [hope its correct, Mark], and having better-designed cls and experience with them, and playing mainly bass cl , problem solved!! Don
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-12-01 15:39
A shorter barrel will raise the pitch unevenly, more on the short-tube notes (particularly the throat tones) than on the long-tube notes, because the percentage of length difference is greater on the short-tube notes. This can be adjusted by custom barrel makers, at least to some extent.
Gigliotti mouthpieces come in A=440 and A=442 versions. You might try one of them.
Custom makers can adjust the overall pitch, particularly if you get a matching barrel from them.
As a last resort, you can get a European Buffet with an "F" before the serial number, which are pitched at A=442-444.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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