 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JezW
Date: 2008-08-05 14:36
I am considering buying a pair of selmer signatures but am a little confused by the option of having the Bb clarinet pitched at a=440 or 442 (the A only comes at 440). I live in England so the pitch we play to is 440. I found it very easy to play at 440 on the 442 instrument (with the 63mm barrel included) and was under the impression that most french clarinets in this country including the buffets i currently play on are pitched at 442. Does anyone know why selmer offers the option of a 440 instrument when the 442 pitch can be played at 440, also is it true that most french clarinets being played in the uk are officually 442 pitch instruments?
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-08-05 19:44
The only thing I know is that my teacher needs to use 61,5 mm barrel that didn't come with the clarinet and he only got it after he told the retailer he was dealing with in Paris about it and it was a bit hard because the refused at first but in fact he tunes with the mm barrel to 442 pitch after warming up. So if he was to take it up cold in the orchestra he would need a 60,5 mm barrel. So to tune to 440 the 62,5 and 64,5 are ideal but not for 442 pitch
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-08-05 20:30
I think Selmer may still mark their clarinet bodies as being built to 442Hz on the back.
I've seen this on the back of Recital Bbs built to 442Hz, whereas 440Hz ones carry no other markings on the joints apart from the logos and serial numbers.
You're probably best with 440Hz ones, and your choice of mouthpiece and barrel length could offer flexibility in the overall pitch/tuning.
But I do find it odd that their A clarinets are only built to 440Hz, though the 440Hz ones can easily be played at 442Hz.
I can get my old Series 9 A to play at 443Hz even with a 68mm barrel, especially when playing along to the CD accompaniment for Schumann's 'Fantasiestueke'.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2008-08-05 21:45
I mean the retailer in Paris couldn't believe my teacher when he said that he needed 61,5 mm barrel to tune to 442 on his Bb Signature. But even with 61,5 mm barrel he need to warm up to reach 442 pitch.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-08-06 05:36
>> I found it very easy to play at 440 on the 442 instrument
>> he needed 61,5 mm barrel to tune to 442 on his Bb Signature
Which show exactly how big effect the player and mouthpiece has on pitch, and it's a bit silly for a manufacturer to claim an exact pitch for their instruments.
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