 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: A2musician
Date: 2012-02-24 14:09
Hello, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about playing sharp. I am an accomplished high school player but have had trouble playing in tune. My intonation problems used to be manageable but I now play in several ensembles and tuning is becoming more of a problem. My teacher has stressed the importance of moving my lower jaw further down on the mouthpiece to allow more of the reed to vibrate. Although I'm making progress, there are certain notes that are still 20 cents sharp. The C, D, Eb, and E, in the clarion range, are the worst. I was wondering if anyone has any different approaches for lowering pitch. Pulling out or extending my barrel only helps a bit. It is clear that the problem results from my embouchure. Thanks so much for any comments
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2012-02-24 14:51
What strength reed and what mouthpiece are you using?
Is the teacher you mention a clarinetist or a generalist whose main instrument is something else?
What clarinet are you playing on? With its original barrel or an aftermarket one?
Karl
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2012-02-24 14:52
A question I left out - are you the only one who plays sharp on this equipment?
Karl
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Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2012-02-24 15:06
I play in several ensembles and find that I need to tune slightly differently for each one. The largest has almost 80 wind/brass/percussion players and I have had to get a short barrel for this one - I think that everyone blows so loud (to hear themselves play) that they all blow a bit sharp, and I was getting tired of constantly lipping up all the time. Another smaller group gives me no trouble with intonation at all, but that has a piano as well so maybe that keeps everyone's intonation in line
Moving the barrel/bell only changes the tuning over the whole clarinet. Particular notes always need a bit of fine tuning, but check with your teacher that your clarinet is not so out of true that it is making it impossible to play in tune
My teacher has suggested playing fifths on long notes (so E-B-E-B-E-B-E), as well as long notes with a tuner, and this has helped (although I ought to do more of this, and regularly!)
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The older I get, the better I was
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-02-24 18:50
I doubt that it's you embouchure though it's possible you pinch, doubtful in that register though. You might want to try pulling out the middle joint some but not so much to make the "break" notes flat. If the notes a 12 below are also sharp then you could have someone with the experience put tape in some of the tone holes. If the notes below are not sharp then it's your clarinet and pulling out the middle joint and barrel a little might help. Really though, it is easier to lower the pitch with your embouchure and voicing then it is to pinch up the pitch. And yes, it is better to be sharp than out of tune. :-) ESP eddiesclarinet.
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2012-02-25 10:02
Interesting comments....I, too, tend to play a bit sharp (according to my tuner when I practice after warming up properly). But I find that playing a bit sharp keeps me in tune with one of the groups I play with (either that or the cold temperature of the music facility where we practice keeps me from ever entirely warming up properly). In any event, playing a bit sharp seems to be better than playing a bit flat in my experience....and one has to tune in the context of the group/situation...
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-02-25 13:50
TUNING IN CONTEXT.......YES
and......
There is 'one' best spot along the lay of your mouthpiece where you need to be situated. The idea that 'taking in more mouthpiece' arbitrarily solves anything needs to be put to rest NOW. Your best method for finding YOUR spot on YOUR mouthpiece is to play an open 'G,' nudge the mouthpiece in further and further until you get a big 'SQUAWK.' Back off just slightly from that point, and there you have it.
However, you can (and probably should unless you play German system) change the fulcrum point so that the upper teeth are not in line with the lower teeth (this invites the "B" word). You do this by simply bringing the clarinet closer in to the body (while maintaining your head up straight). This puts the upper teeth further up on the mouthpiece while your lower teeth REMAIN AT THE OPTIMUM POINT. Now your not clamping down on the reed so much as you are getting a 'glancing blow.'
And finally, make sure that you are engaging your UPPER lip muscles to a good degree. This will ensure that you support ALL around the mouthpiece and help keep the sharpness down in the upper notes.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: A2musician
Date: 2012-02-25 20:56
Sorry for not clarifying earlier, but I play on a Buffet Festival with a Kaspar (cicero) mouthpiece. I'm currently using V12 strength 3.5+ reeds but often experiment with 56's and Gonzalez reeds. My teacher is a professional clarinet player of over 40 years and can play my equipment perfectly in tune. Also, I play on a Festival stock 66mm barrel.
Post Edited (2012-02-25 20:58)
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