 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2005-12-08 15:21
Would it be wise to raise the angle of the clarinet to flatten a note and vice versa when the opposite occurs? What are the main methods of post tuning when performing? Thanks!
Howard
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-12-08 16:59
I guess the effect of altering the angle would be to "pry" the reed tighter or looser against your lower lip --another way to "lip" a note into tune.
I think that its faster and less silly looking to just use your lips. This will keep the air stream flowing in the same direction into the mouthpiece and leave you with only one (but complex) thing to work with.
Bob Phillips
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-08 23:18
Or maybe instead of moving the clarinet, tilt your head back and forth. Same effect, but you, not the clarinet moves. Less noticeable, and probably would achieve the same result.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Shorthand
Date: 2005-12-09 17:05
With the bass, if I have a sharp note quiet, I find myself tilting my head forward to facilitate lipping it down. I have no idea how I formed this habit, but it seems to be pretty common if not nearly universal amongst bass clarinetists as we can't exactly change the angle of our instrument on a whim.
I am fighting the habit of using jaw support instead of lip support (which is common, of course), and the two could easily be related.
It could also be related to the fact that you need a big open throat for big notes on the bass and for that you can't tilt your head down, whereas when less air is required you can get away with it.
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Author: bass9396
Date: 2005-12-09 17:08
I've found myself holding the Bass up off the ground when I sit, so I can tilt a little down or up. It allows a little more freedom of movement. It's definitely a good idea. If it works for you I say 'do it'.
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Author: tims
Date: 2005-12-13 04:50
Moving the head or the horn is never a good idea. One should adjust pitch with alteration of pressure against the reed. To lower the pitch, keep the lips tight while lowering the jaw as if to make and "Oh"or "All" sound and draw the tongue back slightly. To bring the pitch up, don't bite as if you are chomping on a sandwich, but jut your lower jaw foward toward the reed, pressing into it. Biting the reed tends to close the tip stifling the sound. Lipping up is always harder than lipping down, so favor your flattest notes when tuning (when adjusting your barrel) so that you only have to lip down sharp notes and not have to lip up flat ones.
Also flat notes are much more painful to the ear than sharp notes. I had a band director that always said (tongue-in-cheek) that it was better to be sharp than out of tune.
One should practice bending pitches such that beween any two notes in a chromatic scale, you can lip the upper note down to meet the next lower pitch being lipped up. In other words, you should be able to to lip down an F to match an E being lipped up. With practice and a good ear, you should always be able to play in tune.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2005-12-14 15:37
For those "on the spot" moments, if the pitch needs to drop considerably (usually the low quiet register) I will attempt a double lip posture. If things are slow enough and you have room to add venting (such as for B and A below the staff) just start lowering the third finger of the left hand until things get better.
..........Paul Aviles
P.S. For bass, prayer helps.
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