I`m always flat

    
I`m always flat    23:19 on Saturday, March 18, 2006          

Michael_D
(15 points)
Posted by Michael_D

After numerous attempts to sharpen up, everytime I try to tune I end up really flat. I've pushed the bocal as far as it goes and I tried to tighten my embouchure and to blow harder but that did nothing. Also, everytime I play low Eb its horribly out of tune.


Re: I`m always flat    22:41 on Wednesday, March 22, 2006          

BsnObo
(9 points)
Posted by BsnObo

Could be a bad bassoon.....


Re: I`m always flat    22:59 on Friday, March 24, 2006          

rgordley
(18 points)
Posted by rgordley

I'm going to assume here that you don't have a private teacher. Sounds like you've tried more support (not necessarily blow louder but keep the air pressure up). One shouldn't try to tune by moving the bocal in or out, the bocal should be firmly seated at all times. As mentioned above, could be a bad bassoon but there are other things you could try. You could try a shorter bocal. Lower bocal numbers are shorter. If you are playing on a #2 try a #1. Unfortunately, bocals are fairly expensive. If you make your own reeds or are good at adjusting them or know someone who is, check the dimensions of the blade - the distance between the shoulder and the tip should be about 28 mm. If its any longer than this, clipping the reed might help your pitch problem. Notes below low E are notoriously sharp, you have to loosen your embouchure a lot, but if your Eb is much worse than neighboring notes, it might be time for a good repairman to look at the instrument. This might be good advice just to make sure the overall intonation is not due to poor adjustment.

Good luck
Rich


Re: I`m always flat    16:29 on Sunday, March 26, 2006          

Michael_D
(15 points)
Posted by Michael_D

Maybe it is a bad bassoon, the upperclassman that also plays the bassoon gets a fox or renard one when I get this old thing, I'm a lot better then her too. I am using a 1 bocal and that's all they left me with, also I once tried to shorten my reed with a pair of really dull scissors, BAD IDEA. I guess i'll just complain to my director because in our school district band wise we have 6 bassoons but only two players to play them.


Re: I`m always flat    22:21 on Sunday, March 26, 2006          

rgordley
(18 points)
Posted by rgordley

Have you demonstrated that using another bassoon you can play reliably in tune? If so, its definitely time to talk to your director.


Re: I`m always flat    10:34 on Friday, June 23, 2006          

bsnlame-o
(22 points)
Posted by bsnlame-o

I had the same problems with an older year Fox 222 I was playing.The problem with Eb may be that the pad is rising too far off the hole. I noticed that with mine. what type bassoon do you play?


Re: I`m always flat    00:52 on Thursday, June 29, 2006          

Michael_D
(15 points)
Posted by Michael_D

I think it's a Huller or something like that...

I haven't played it for months because one of the screws went missing and my director took forever in repairing it. He STILL has it and now it's Summer Break.

I miss my Crappy Bassoon...


Re: I`m always flat    07:15 on Monday, July 31, 2006          

Ruth88
(168 points)
Posted by Ruth88

WOW! How many bassoonists do you hear complain about being flat?? Anyway, I wouldn't try to tighten your embouchure... i think just about everyone else (that i know, anyway) has the opposite problem and spends all their time trying to relax their embouchure. I've recently been suffering from problems with my jaw, and having a tight embouchure did not help. here are my suggestions:
1) Give the air as much support as you can. It doesn't mean blowing harder, it means taking a good breath in, and pushing it out from the diaphragm. It's just standard breath control stuff, you'd find it helpful when you want to play really loudly and really quietly too.
2) Go onto a shorter crook - but it appears you've done that so never mind. My teacher told me once that you should always play on the shortest crook you can without going wildly out of tune, because it teaches you to relax more.
3) Check the reed. It could be too hard so maybe try a softer one (they take a while to get used to though), or like someone else said, check the dimensions of the reed. I've recently began making my own, and I found out that you've got to experiment with the length because if it's too long then the E below middle C is disgustingly out of tune, and if you lip it down then it breaks. I'm sure some of you know what i mean.
4) If none of that helps then try a different (preferably better) bassoon. If you don't have the same problem on the different instrument, then give your bassoon a good service.
Hope i've been some help.


   




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