[Dixielandjazz] Clarinet tuning

[Steve barbone]

BudTuba at aol.com

> In a message dated 11/10/05 2:46:26 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> barbonestreet at earthlink.net writes:
> 
> Snippet  quoted From Tom Ridenour's web site. Note the discussion on barrels.
> I use  a 63mm barrel on my Selmer 10G to play in tune with the rest of the
> band,  in place of the 66mm barrel supplied originally. And they tune to  440.
>  
> For pity's sake, why aren't these things tuned at the factory?

They are, however there is MUCH MORE to tuning a clarinet then just barrel
length. No doubt, with the original Selmer mouthpiece and the "correct"
embouchure, and "correct" reed, the 10G "A" is probably in tune at 440.

HOWEVER. Change the mouthpiece and you have changed the tuning. Then go to a
Moening barrel (tapered) or other, and you have again changed the tuning.
The barrel becomes a "choke point" where it attaches to the clarinet if
barrel diameter is different and that of the rest of the horn etc. Also;

Different reed strengths affect the tuning.

Different embouchures affect tuning.

MANY variables to worry about besides the notes on the horn not being in
tune with themselves.

And looking at them independently, is usually a waste of time because they
are interdependent. So you must change them one item at a time, and start
again if one change cancels out another change.

So, tuning and/or projection is a very PERSONAL experience. For me it is the
following, listed in date discovered sequence.

1988 - Started playing again on my 1950 top model Buffet and HS**
mouthpiece. Very frustrating. No projection, fingering too tight.

1988 - Causes? Old man's embouchure / tongue placement / ham hands etc.

1990 - Bought 10G Selmer. GOOD

1991 - Bought Van Doren 5JB mouthpieces. BETTER

1992 - Bought Moening 63mm barrel. EVEN BETTER

1993 -  Settled on Reed strength 2 and 1/2 to 3 and 1/2 depending upon brand
and variations among reeds in the reed boxes. BEST.

Would have happened much faster if I'd checked out the Clarinet Page and
others like Ridenour's on the web.

Cheers,
Steve

PS: To Russ about going sharp 3 clicks. Maybe the rest of the guys were
going flat? Break out that electronic tuner. Or, if the horn arrived in an
air conditioned car, then it needed some time to adjust to outside air temp
& humidity. I assemble mine at all gigs, inside and out, on the stand, a
half hour before start time like fine wine, to let it breathe. :-) VBG