 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2002-12-17 14:31
What exactly is the function of the bridge mechanism?
I've been playing clarinets forever, but only recently actually tried to figure out what this mechanism does. On the four clarinets I have examined it appears to me that the function might be to lower the bottom ring on the upper joint so that it has a smaller travel (presumably making it easier to play) and/or closing the small pad just above the ring.
Should the clarinet be adjusted so that the pad is tightly closed when the bridge mechanism is activated?
I couldn't think of any notes I play where any lower joint rings are depressed (activating the bridge mechanism) without the lower ring on the upper joint also being depressed, making the bridge mechanism moot. (There are altissimo notes above "a" that I never touch, and possible alternate fingerings that I'm not aware of.)
The Buffet R-13 I looked at had a much larger gap in the mechanism
than the three selmers I looked at. When the R-13 mechanism was activated the ring was still quite high, and the pad didn't come close to closing. My guess is that it needs to be adjusted. If so, would this adjustment normally be done by bending the metal to make the gap smaller, or by adding cork to close the gap?
Sorry for rambling on, hope I don't bore anyone to death. Just curious. I've been carefully assembling my clarinet for 48 years to avoid damaging the mechanism, but have never known what it does.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tom piercy
Date: 2002-12-17 15:17
Quick answer: The main function is to be able to play an alternate fingering (usually called 1 and 1) for first line Eb and the 12th above that - Bb. Great for particular passages and trills. Yes, the pad you mention should close when 1st finger R.H. is depressed.
Tom Piercy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-12-18 03:42
Well said.
John, imagine playing a tremolo between top line of the stave F, and the Bb above it. Just play the F and move fingers 2 & 3 of the left hand.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-12-18 04:14
Adjusting bridge mechanisms is part of clarinet repair 101. If the ring keys sit too high on the right hand the bridge may need adjusting or an incorrect depth pad, attached to the ring set, has been installed. There is no exact height that the rings must sit up in the closed position but they should be fractionally higher than the tone hole chimneys but not up too far so as to interfere with proper covering of the tone holes. Likewise the pad attached to the right hand ring set must be pushed down hard enough to seat. The next consideration is that in the neutral position the pads attached to the upper ring sets must vent properly. The 2 finger Eb/Bb also needs to work and speak with the same quality as the side or chromatic Eb/Bb. Other fine tuning is done during play testing. This also links to correct installation of middle tenon cork. If it is wobbly then the operation of the bridge is also compromised.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2002-12-18 10:49
Tom, Gordon, Mark,
Thanks thanks for the excellent information. I've already tried out the "1 and 1" fingering. I love it.
As it turns out, my old Selmer is properly adjusted, but I'll have to tell my friend that her R-13 needs adjusting, if she too wants to take advantage of the "1 and 1" fingering.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-12-18 14:43
Just for fun, try using thumb and L1 with R2, R3, or combinations of lower joint keys. While "1 and 1" may be the most common use of the bridge mechanism, rings on all the lower finger holes offer more than just one fingering possibility.
The adjustment of the bridge is basically correct when the pad above the L2 hole and the pad above the R1 hole close exactly the same when pressure is applied to the RH rings.
Regards,
John.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
