 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: superson
Date: 2009-11-12 17:10
hi, ok so not long ago i got a new clarinet, and after spending about a month faffing about with mouthpieces and stuff, i'm finally happy. Anyway call me unobservent but i just noticed my clarinet came with two barrels, a normal sized one(as far as i know) and another one which seems really long. Is this a tuning thing or is it there for another reason? i find that with the long one i'm really out of tune,but the higher notes seem a lot easier to play?
thanks
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2009-11-12 17:28
The reason that there are two barrels is because of tuning. If you find you're in an environment which you are sharp the longer barrel can help. If everything is out of tune except your high notes, do check that you are not biting when you reach altissimo.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-11-12 17:42
In a new clarinet, one of the barrels should tune the instrument to A=440 Hz, with the other one higher pitched, often to A=442 Hz or even A=444 Hz. Someone who moves around between orchestras in Germany and the USA, for instance, might find the two barrels especially convenient. Raising the pitch by that much with tuning rings is difficult and, if the fit isn't perfect, can even cause a squeaky leak or create weird noises by distorting the shape of the column of air vibrating inside the bore. Old clarinets also sometimes come with two barrels, allowing the clarinet player to join groups with either LP (usually modern low pitch, concert A=440 Hz, but sometimes as flat as A=437) or the old high pitch (up to almost anything!) that preceeded it.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-11-12 18:17
It's a common misconception that a clarinet will play at 440Hz with one barrel and at 442 with a slightly shorter one - SOME notes will be affected by barrel lengths but not ALL notes, clarinets are built to a specific pitch and changing the barrel won't alter this.
Don't believe marketing hype from major manufacturers - it's all bollocks.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-11-12 18:21
The reasons given above are correct. Many clarinets now come with two size barrels so the clarinet can be use in the USA, A440-442 or some places in Europe generally anywhere from 440-444. The problem is that the throat tones will be drastically effected from one to the other. It's interesting that you say one barrel allows you to play the high notes easier than the other. That's the reason so many players use "after market" barrels. We look for one that not only tunes well and gives us the tone quality were looking for but one that plays all the registers to our liking. You may need to look into that some day as well. ESP
http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
