 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Hank
Date: 2002-08-22 17:47
Hi Everyone,
I have pondered this question for the last several weeks and need some opinions from others. I seem to be plagued with playing too sharp recently. Here is the situation.
I routinely alternate playing a Leblanc Dymanic 2 and a Selmer Series 9 using a combination of Portnoy BP02 (the favorite), old Buffet C Crown, or VD 5RV L. Ligatures are a classic Portnoy, modified Gigliotti, or a Joue Jolie. Reeds range from a VD 3 and 3 1/2 to a La Voz MH. The barrels are the standard equipment or a 66 or 67 mm Scott. My gigs are the community band and jazz/dixieland work.
I religiously use my tuner and the temperature in my study is about 75 to 77 degrees F. In several registers, the pitch is very close but in several places, a note can be 15 to 20 cents sharp. I even have the barrel and the upper and lower sections pulled a mm or so.
The question is (drum roll):Is that amount of cents sharp something that I need to be greatly concerned about or do I automatically compensate for and adjust my embouchure to adjust the pitch. I am a very experienced musician and am aware of the acoustic compromises in clarinet construction but really need to know if others have faced this problem and if so, how was it handled.
Thanks,
HRL
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous botch
Date: 2002-08-22 18:36
You are playing in a room warmer than most, and this may contribute
to your tuning difficulties.
Standard Temperature and Pressure would call room temperature 68 degrees farenheit, 20 degrees celsius.
Elevation above Sea level also affects barometric pressure.
Anyway... 20 cents between 12ths, if you are discussing the lowest 2 notes was a problem in older designs, addressed by moving to smaller bores - so you're not imagining things.
I would not be surprised if a tapered barrel will help on the S9.
I'm unfamiliar with the leBlanc model dimensions.
Have a look at the following link to a comprehensive article from
Clark Fobes... it's a basis for conversation.
http://www.clarkwfobes.com/Tuning%20article/Tuning%20the%20Clarinet%20for%20PS.htm
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-08-22 21:18
Hank -
At A-440, a semitone is about 25 Hz, so 20 cents sharp on A would put it at 445. That's enough out to be clearly and audibly out of tune. If you're uniformly 20 cents high, you need to do something about it, most likely a lower pitch mouthpiece, a longer barrel or both.
If you're in tune on some notes and 20 cents off on others, you need to work with a tuner to get the correct pitches "in your ears." Eventually, you may need to get a new instrument that plays better in tune.
Nobody can "stick" a tuner dead on with every note, and even if you could, you'd have to adjust to be in tune within the harmony and with the other players. Still, ear training is as important as finger training.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-08-22 23:09
Further note on sticking with tuners - forget it, once you get into an orchestral, chamber music or band situation - it is irrelevant as the picth of the "group" adjusts depending on the ambient temperature of the hall you're in.
Playing in tune is a matter of having a keen ear and being in sync with your colleagues.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2002-08-23 01:51
While I don't disagree with what has been said, I would also not rule out the possibility that your sharp notes may be caused or made worse by poor adjustment of pad heights. A few pads waving too high in the breeze can very easily send you 20+ cents sharp.
From your post, I assume you experience this problem on both clarinets. So unless you find both instruments out of adjustment, perhaps you are not taking advantage of common resonance fingerings for your problem notes. It might help if we knew what notes you were having problems with, and whether the fingerings are sharp both with and without the register key.
And yep . . . 20 cents is way too much to ignore. Gotta do something.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank
Date: 2002-08-23 02:21
Hi Fred,
I too thought about the possibility of pad height and am familiar with the effect on specific notes. The Series 9 is pretty well in tune with itself and the LeBlanc has certain areas that I can work around with resonance figerings. However, with both instruments using the same barrel, mouthpiece and reed combo, I am still at times 15 to 20 cents sharp pretty much across the board.
I guess I must consider a 68 mm barrel. But then I will probably be starting to significantly alter the intervals between tone holes and causing more problems.
A mystery
Hank
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-08-23 02:31
Diz I have to disagree. I think it is important for everyone to know their instrument like the back of their hand, and to me, that means working with a tuner regularly (not that I do...lol) to be familiar with the troublesome notes on the particular instrument. It's true that a keen ear is probably equally or more important, but using the tuner to distinguish between pitches that are very close (using alternate fingerings or whatever) is not a bad idea.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank
Date: 2002-08-23 02:48
Auzzie Nick,
I use the tuner during rehearsals all the time and do know certain notes that tend to be troublesome. You bring up an interesting point that you really do need the tuner for really close pitches.
To the delight, I'm sure, of my section-mates, mate, I ask them for a pitch comparison. It is surprising that many times they are more off then I am so .....
The director is very pleased with all of the section's work, however. Now if we can only get those alto saxes in tune.
Hank
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-08-23 19:59
Good intonation is good cooperation--meaning that you must always listen and be willing (and able) to adjust a bit on way or the other on any given unison or harmonic note. If you are within two cents of pitch, sharp or flat, that will be acceptable. Twenty cents is "way out" and needs to be corrected.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-08-23 22:25
Oh come on diz, we're not talking about Indonesian gamalan...
if your instrument is not optimized, how in the deuce will you fit
in with anyone else?
There's an acceptable limit for how much fiddling should be needed to get any given note into shape, that's why the business of tuning these things is so prevalent.
If you don't care about general tuning of the instrument you are probably already playing the viola.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
