[Dixielandjazz] Clarinet tuning

[Barrie Walter Marshall]

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

I remember years ago reading a small book aimed at clarinet players, he said 
that you should get to the gig and open the case in the room you are going 
to play in at least half an hour before you play, do not assemble the 
instrument. I know that with my Selmer CenteredTone I have to play a few 
numbers before it settles down.

He also said that during a session you should not eat or drink anything as 
it will not be good for the instrument, tonight I had two pints of Guinness 
and some sandwiches supplied by the organisers, I don't think he was talking 
about jazz musicians.

It was a good gig, great acoustic, a clarinet players room. anybody out 
there played The Whitewater at Lake Side UK.

Barrie Marshall.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 12:52 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Clarinet tuning


> 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
>
>
>
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