 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: George L Smyth
Date: 2001-12-07 17:08
I bought an inexpensive clarinet (Artley) to see whether or not my interest would be revived following a 30 year absence. I have bene practicing every night possible for the past three onths, so I'm pretty confident that I'll continue to play for quite a long time.
That being the case, I am starting to look at better clarinets that are in my price range, which will be in the $500-800 area. I expect that this should get me a reasonable intermediate level horn.
The thing that bothers my about my clarinet, as well as the one I had 30 years ago, is the note Bb, just below the break. The note sticks out like a sore thumb because it sounds so windy (the only way I know to explain it). When I listen to recordings I never hear this problem.
I am making the assumption that this is one of the few problems I am encountering that really is the fault of the horn (if not, please lket me know). What clarinets in my price range (if any) might be able to relieve me of this annoyance? Are there any worth investigating?
Thanks for your help -
george
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Author: sarah
Date: 2001-12-07 17:29
That Bb is the worst note on any instrument. This is because there is so little of the clarinet that the air passes through. There is an alternate fingering that sounds a lot better: the A right below it, thumb, and the third side key. It is more awkward, but for longer note it is great.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-12-07 17:40
George,
It's great that you have started playing again! The Bb, as noted, can be played with an alternative fingering when it does not fall within a rapid passage. The British clarinetist and author Jack Brymer, in his book "The Clarinet" (part of a famous series on instruments of the orchestra edited by Y. Menuhin), gives an excellent discussion of the motives behind and the techniques involved in finding---even inventing---alternative fingerings that correct the basic (common) inadequacies of the clarinet and the tuning eccentricities of individual clarinets.
Choice of instrument is personal and involves trial and error. Generally, many people feel Buffet clarinets with serial numbers between 83,000 and 100,000 (mid-1960s to 1970s) have the best playing and tonal characteristics of any clarinet ever made. At any rate, this is a good starting place for understanding how a fine clarinet ought to sound.
Best wishes! --Bill.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-12-07 17:52
This has benn discussed MANY times, "Search the Phorum". It has been the subject of intense research and patented key systems for the "pinch Bb" improvement. I have found the better models by LeBlanc and Selmer have VG solutions whereby the difference in character between the pinch and the A + the next-to-top-trill key is very small, one of my criterions in cl evaluation. Don
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-12-07 21:15
George -
The middle line Bb can be substantially improved on most clarinets by putting down the right and left ring fingers and the low F key with the right little finger.
Artley clarinets sell for low prices because they're cheaply made. If you become at all serious, you'll probably do better with a student-leval instrument from any of the "Big 4" makers, in alphabetical order, Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer and Yamaha. In the $500-800 area, you will probably do best with a used instrument in good condition.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2001-12-07 21:24
Sarah, in your description of the alternate 3rd line Bb fingering: forget the "thumb" you have included in the fingering.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-12-07 23:31
Another important resonance fingering to improve the Bb is adding the left hand middle and ring finger with the left pinky C# key.
R+A key oxxC# / ooo ...GBK
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Author: sarah
Date: 2001-12-08 18:12
Oops, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking of with that thumb.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-12-09 16:00
You should test resonance fingerings with a tuner. I use the F key and both ring fingers one because most of the others are really out of tune on my clarinet (it depends on the individual instrument).
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