 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2002-01-16 06:13
I'm about a half a year along on learning bass clarinet (Selmer Series 9), and am wondering what others do about the sharp notes above the staff, i.e. B, C (especially C!), C#, D, D#, & E. I'm reluctant to pull out because I've got a couple of flat notes I have to blow up to pitch (especially low Eb and the 3rd EB). I've also got a couple of mid staff notes that are pretty sharp, especially B. Generally the notes can be pulled fairly close, but the sound quality isn't as good as when playing with a centered tone. It would sure be nice to discover some way to shade the tones without having to extend the embouchure so far. I haven't been able to discover or invent any alternate fingerings for some of these notes. I find that the altissimo notes are almost easier, because it seems possible to discover so many ways to finger them, and some of the fingerings are very precisely tuned. Maybe I'm being too fussy. My little Korg tuner makes me awfully aware of intonation. I do seem to be able to blend my tone with other instruments fairly well.
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Author: Jerry McD
Date: 2002-01-16 14:21
Ken,
Have you tried using the half-hole technique? If you look at the key that covers the first finger left hand there is a small hole. If you keep the key depressed but roll your finger down to uncover the vent you should have better success. Every bass clarinet is different and where in the register you need to begin using the vent will be unique to your instrument. It's good to hear that you are using a tuner, because tuners don't lie and if you know where you are "in tune" it will be easier to adjust to the ensemble that you are playing in. One more thing...make sure your tongue position is high on the high notes and DON'T BITE! Which can be very tempting on the bass.
Keep up the good work and happy tootin'!
Jerry McD.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-01-16 14:35
Ken,
Often this problem can be corrected by limiting the travel of the upper (small) register vent pad so that it only opens a tiny bit, maybe a 1/16th of an inch --- just barely enough to 'trip' the horn into the upper register. Try adding some cork to the bottom of the key to act as a ''limit stop' --- no other adjustment is necessary.
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Author: Doug
Date: 2002-01-16 14:51
Ken, you sound like you're about where I am with MY Series 9 bass. The mid-staff B is just horrendously sharp, and I either lip down or use the throat Bb plus side trill key (if the passage permits). For the mid-staff C# I add the pinky B key, which flattens it acceptably (again, passage permitting, because it's a little awkward). I'm still getting used to using the throat A/G#/register key combinations for D, D# and E above the staff, but they sound much less stuffy and are easier to blend than the half-hole "long" fingerings. With all due respect to Mr. Spiegenthal, I wouldn't TOUCH my horn's register mechanism (any more than I'd attempt to repair a nuclear reactor) but it's an interesting idea, thanks very much, and I'll run it by my repair wizard next time I visit him.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-01-16 15:51
Well, excuse me---Dave Spiegelthal IS a "REPAIR WIZARD>" Signed: Friends of Dave.
Bob A
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-01-16 19:23
Bob and William --- thanks for the plugs, I'll send you your money as soon as possible........Doug, FYI, in an earlier life I was a US Navy submarine officer, and we DID have a nuclear reactor, and although I didn't personally attempt any repairs on it myself, I was on occasion responsible for its operation.........
All seriousness aside, try the register key trick, it's extremely easy to do, there's no way to harm the instrument, and the worst thing that could happen is that it may not correct the intonation problem.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-01-17 06:46
The sharp B2 on a bass clarinet can sometimes be helped a little by putting a thin piece of cork or moldable epoxy around the edge of the bottom hole on the clarinet, shaping the insert so that this hole acts as if it were undercut quite a lot. When one undercuts a tone hole, the bottom register gets raised in pitch with the second register staying the same. When this kind of insert is put in, the second register may get lowered in pitch while the low register may stay the same in pitch.
Maybe the best thing to do is to find a great clarinet tuner and get him/her to help. Sometimes, the pad height is not right. With a great instrument like a Series 9 Selmer, one can feel good about putting some effort into it.
The Series 9 Selmer basset horn I found not long ago has a somewhat sharp middle B also but I have been too lazy to take my own advice to fix it as removal of the several low keys is a time-consuming effort. Good Luck!!
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2002-01-17 14:21
I want to thank everyone who responded. I bent the upper register key slightly, and it did help. I'm also focusing on not biting, and I've also pulled the neck out a little. I am getting better tuning. I think at some point, I will pass the horn into the hands of a tuning expert. Just a present I'm still recovering from the expense of purchasing and reconditioning the instrument, so I'll wait a bit on the tuning. Best wishes to all!
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-01-17 14:58
Dave said, in part:
"I was a US Navy submarine officer, and we DID have a nuclear reactor, and although I didn't personally attempt any repairs on it myself, I "....[.did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.] Sorry Dave, I just had to do it. Heh Heh!
Bob A
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2002-01-24 06:11
I've tried Doug's short fingerings, and surprisingly, they play sharper than the fingerings I have been using, so that suggestion didn't work out. However, Dave's idea about adjusting the top register pad closer to the hole worked like a charm. It is scary how well it worked! Wow, Dave. First you fixed my Eb horn--not without tormenting me for awhile, of course--were you a cat in a past life? Let the mouse run a few steps, then whap it again? But then, in an even greater demonstration of awesome repair ability, you fixed my bass from a thousand miles away, without seeing so much as a photo, or hearing a single note from the horn. Awesome, Dude! OK. Here is another test: The bottom Eb is a bit flat. (That seems so stupid. For cryin' out loud, it's the first note on the horn before they even drill any holes. How could they miss?) How do you fix that one? Do you adjust the pad so it doesn't quite close, or do you take a can opener and shorten the bell just a trifle?
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