The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

RE: B-flat basics

Author: William
Date: 2002-12-11 15:03

"Isn't a note a note? When I play 440Hz, don't I get an A?"

The clarinet belongs to a large group of instruments designated to be "transposing" instruments. That simply means that when the player of a transposing instrument reads a note and plays it, the instrument is actually sounding another note--or "transposing". So the answer to your question is "yes and no." Yes--440Hz is always the pitch A; but to produce that A (440Hz) what you need to read and finger on your Bb clarinet is the notation B natural. So, "No", a note is not a note (on transposing instruments, that is) When you play into a tuning meter on any transposing instrument, it will tell you what note you are actually "sounding" but not the note you are necessarily playing (fingering and reading). So when you play (read and finger) C on your Bb clarinet, the actual sound being produced is Bb (concert). Tuning meters usually respond in "concert" pitch. Boy, am I rambling!!!

I do not know why the concept of "transposing instrument" ever can to be and that why all instruments are not simply allowed to read the note they are required to sound-- ex. you want an A, you read an A. But, historically, we are "stuck" with it, so we must continue to live with the confusion.

Bottom line--it is a reading problem developed over the years by the practice of composers writing different parts for tranposing instruments, not an accoustical problem.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics