Bb clarinet tone difference
13:26 on Wednesday, September 8, 2004
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Re: Bb clarinet tone difference
08:01 on Thursday, September 9, 2004
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(Christine)
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Are you sure you`ve got a Bb clarinet?!
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Re: Bb clarinet tone difference
14:16 on Thursday, September 9, 2004
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(interlocuteur)
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well, I have been told that it is a B flat clarinet
It should have an open G but instead it has an open F
what does this mean ?
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Re: Bb clarinet tone difference
18:47 on Thursday, September 9, 2004
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(Christine)
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I can only assume that by F you mean a concert pitch F. The clarinet is a transposing instrument. Its normal key is Bb which means when you play a concert pitch `C` on say a piano, you need to play a `written` D on the clarinet because it is 1 tone different, ie the clarinet sounds 1 whole tone lower than concert pitch instruments so you need to play 1 whole tone higher than concert pitch to sound the same.
Therefore when you`re playing an open G on the Bb clarinet it will sound the same as a concert pitch F.
I hope I`ve explained this clearly enough. If not let me know!
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Re: Bb clarinet tone difference
20:12 on Thursday, September 9, 2004
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(interlocuteur)
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If you are saying that this difference of 1 tone is normal and that it is the case with all Bb clarinets than I understand.
But I dont understand why
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Re: Bb clarinet tone difference
14:05 on Friday, September 10, 2004
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(Christine)
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Encyclopaedia definition: Transposing instruments were necessary in the 17th and 18th cent. when the natural brasses and the clarinets could be played easily in only a few keys; they were therefore built in specific keys. Although improved construction in the 19th cent. obviated this necessity, all clarinets, the English horn, French horn, trumpet, alto flute, cornet, and most saxophones are transposing instruments. Parts for the piccolo, double bass, and contrabassoon are written an octave below or above actual pitch to avoid ledger lines, but this is not, strictly speaking, transposition.
Also see: http://cnx.rice.edu/content/m10672/latest/ for a good explanation of what transposing instruments are.
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Re: Bb clarinet tone difference
11:24 on Saturday, September 11, 2004
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(interlocuteur)
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thanxalot
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