I'm a string player who recently offered to buy my wife the instrument of her choice as a birthday present. I got a surprise when she chose a clarinet, and was set to buy her a Buffet B12, but she insisted on getting a cheap "Glory" brand Bb instrument. After a couple of weeks following YouTube tutorials, she's getting a surprisingly good sound out of it but, while the clarinet is in tune with itself, it's playing almost a semitone flat. For example, when she plays a "G", my clip-on chromatic tuner shows a slightly sharp concert "E" rather than the "F" I was expecting.
The instrument came with two barrels and she's using the shortest pushed all the way in. She's using the reeds that came with the clarinet but I've ordered a pack of Rico 2½ strength hoping that a better quality reed might make a difference.
As I know next to nothing about woodwind, I'd appreciate comments as to whether this issue is likely to be the instrument, her inexperience, or both; and how to resolve it.
Thanks for any peals of wisdom offered. Geoff
The instrument came with two barrels and she's using the shortest pushed all the way in. She's using the reeds that came with the clarinet but I've ordered a pack of Rico 2½ strength hoping that a better quality reed might make a difference.
As I know next to nothing about woodwind, I'd appreciate comments as to whether this issue is likely to be the instrument, her inexperience, or both; and how to resolve it.
Thanks for any peals of wisdom offered. Geoff
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