Improve your Intonation: Week Two!

Hello tonebase clarinetists! Welcome back for Week Two - this week we are working at understanding the tendencies of our individual clarinets - while continuing to practice our exercises from Week One! 

For the exercise this week you will need your tuner and this handy 'score card' for clarinet tendencies. 

Please share your completed score cards in the forum - and a video of your progress on the exercise from last week - and I'm always happy to hear about the things you're struggling with, I'll be on the forum daily offering feedback and advice to anyone who wants it!

12 replies

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    • Adam_Cohen
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi, this is the test report of my fairly new Yamaha YCL-CSG III A and Bb. Most of the abnormalities are correctible with extra covering of holes and the E/F correction keys that are on this instrument. My large problem on these is the altissimo F and F SHARP often badly too low on both instruments and with the short and long fingering. Any suggestions?

    Tuning tendency
      • Head of Clarinet
      • Heather
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Hi Adam, are you adding the G#/D# key when you play F and F#? That can help a little bit. There is also a HUGE list of altissimo fingerings at this website, maybe try some of those fingerings, to see if something works better on your instrument? https://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/

      • Head of Clarinet
      • Heather
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       oh I did think of something else, the little fork key you play with your right hand is also very good for bringing these pitches up!

      • Adam_Cohen
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       thanks-the right hand fork between 3 and 4 lowers the pitch at least for me….

      • Anders
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       You need to be sure you don't press down the rings when adding that key as doing so will lower the pitch.  I always press at the back of the key where it attaches to the rod just to be sure.

    • Gabrielle_Tymkow
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    I knew my clarinet was sharp, but didn't realise quite how all over the place it was! F# is the most out-of-tune note, followed by Ab. I find pulling the barrel out a touch generally sorts out most of the tuning problems.

      • Head of Clarinet
      • Heather
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       Hi Gabby - oh yeah, it looks like definitely regularly pulling out at the barrel is going to be key for you - are you already covering other notes when you play throat tones? It's quite normal that they're a little sharp. Although it's great that your upper clarion is so well in tune, you must have good voicing for that to be true ðŸ˜Ž

    • Head of Clarinet
    • Heather
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone! Here's my pitch mapping - I hadn't done this since I got my new clarinet and it's really interesting. The lowest notes are so flat (only the F isn't, but that's because the Buffet Divine has a bonus F key to raise the pitch), but the clarion is actually really well in tune. But I think what we can all see is why it's so important to 'cover' the notes in the throat tones, they're sharp for everyone!

    • Alfonso_Pimentel
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    My apologies fir being so late to the party. My clarinet was at the shop for corks and adjustments. 

    MioMc8 tuning tendencies
      • Head of Clarinet
      • Heather
      • 2 mths ago
      • Reported - view

       That is remarkably in tune!!! Fantastic! 

    • Luke
    • 2 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Here is my chart! It's a bit of a strange exercise on my setup. I use a very wide mouthpiece (Vandoren 7JB) so any note can vary in pitch from almost -25 to +25 depending on airstream and embouchure. As I played through I attempted to keep those things the same and place the pitch where I typically do. Of course, looking at the tuner, there's an automatic tendency to adjust. :)

    • Adam_Cohen
    • 1 mth ago
    • Reported - view

    Yes that works! Quite useful yet another alternative-thanks

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