 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chefmao
Date: 2012-01-07 02:03
Hi All,
I have an old clarinet that I'm pretty certain was designed for Europe, and as such is not tuned to 440hz. Using a couple different apps on my iPhone, I get pretty consistent results that the instrument seems to be pretty much in tune at about 443hz.
If I purchased a longer barrel, would that solve things? In general, I can pull out quite a bit (like 3.5-4 mm) and I can generally be in tune at 440 when playing above the break, but in the lower register things fall out of tune again. It gets sharp again, and while I can alter the pitch with my embouchure, I feel like to get close to in tune, I lose any sense of good tone. I think I probably clamp down on the mouthpiece too hard which I think contributes to a tendency for me to always be sharp regardless of the clarinet...does that make sense?
Is this more a function of me? The gap created by pulling out at the barrel so much? Or more because a clarinet built for 443 can't be adjusted down to 440 by just lengthening the instrument? All of the above?
It is an old Auguste Buffet -- so from the "other" Buffet company that, after reading this board, I have determined stopped making clarinets in the 1920s or so. So this one is at least that old. It's been professionally re-padded and such, and even the tech noted to me when she worked on it that it seemed hard to play it in tune. At the time, I don't either of us thought about the fact that being this old, it was likely not intended to be in tune at 440hz.
If you care to know the back story...keep reading...otherwise, that's my question! Thanks in advance!
Last year I bought the old clarinet so I could practice along side my son who was just starting as a 5th grader. I played all through school and college, but had my student yamaha stolen out of the high school band lockers, and later my R13 stolen from my apartment after college. I must have horrible clarinet karma...so I've been without for almost 20 years. My son's interest inspired me to pick it up again to at least play with him, and now I've got some thoughts of getting back into shape to play with my college's wind ensemble again. I still live close to the college, and its the same director, and he's always welcomed community members into the ensemble, so while I haven't asked him yet, I'm sure he would welcome me back. But, if I can't get this clarinet in tune, then I need to invest in a newer instrument...
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2012-01-07 02:21
You can try a longer barrel, but really, let's see just how close we can get it to be in tune first....
Here's my method of tuning. I first play an open G (all fingers up) and tune that as best I can by pulling out at the barrel. Then I play a clarion G (left hand down, with the register key, G just above the staff) and tune that by pulling out at the middle joint. Then I tune the C in the middle of the staff (all fingers down and register key) by pulling out at the bell. Has worked well so far.
This will have each joint pulled out a little if I was very sharp, kind of "evenly" distributing the tuning, instead of trying to compensate the whole clarinet with JUST the barrel.
If you can make it pretty well in tune through this method, then a longer barrel would probably be fine. Longer by enough that you can still pull out a hair if you're a little sharp. Not so long that you will be flat and can't push it in anymore.
But for the price of a barrel today, + a little extra cash, you can probably find a good used instrument. Up to you.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-01-07 05:27
To add to the post by Alexi... i find that when tuning my students (using a system very similar to that recommended above) i get a "better" (more helpful) result if i get the student to play a minor 3rd- "eeeeeeeeeggggggg" and tune the resulting G. If the G is played as the "initial tone" I often find the tuning compromised- it fools you into thinking you're sharper than you really are.
Bad lack having those other clarinets stolen btw
dn
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Author: Chefmao
Date: 2012-01-08 00:31
Tried out this tuning method...and here's what I find.
Tuning the open G needs about 4mm pulled out at the barrel. Then the clarion G needs another 2.5mm. That adjustment also gets the middle C in tune.
The original barrel is 65mm long.
Seems like an awful lot of adjustment, but I guess it works? Not sure I've seen a 69mm barrel before, but a 68mm barrel would give me a little wiggle room, literally.
Thoughts? Thx again for the insight and advice.
****
Yes, bad karma for my clarinets...the first student model was one of numerous instruments stolen from lockers in the band room over a weekend break in. Why the thieves actually took the time to break into my locker for my student clarinet remains a mystery. Sitting in an unlocked practice room was my friend's brand new, very expensive professional Selmer alto sax...
The R13 was really a shame to lose. I visited 4-5 stores around the San Francisco area and play tested dozens of clarinets before finding that one...it just felt right!
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