The Myth of the Low F Vent

Morrie Backun and Eddie Daniels discuss the myth of the Low F Vent and what exactly it does for the Clarinet. It is common knowledge that many Clarinets suffer from tuning issues on the Low F. The new MOBA Bb and A Clarinets have a standard Low F Vent that helps tune this note, which is vital in much of today's Clarinet repertoire.
In this video, Morrie Backun and Eddie Daniels talk about the design and function of this key and vent, changing the way you think about your Clarinet's tuning. No more compensating for bad tuning. So turn up the volume and hear for yourself the difference between playing in tune, and not!
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[@brianbillings6815]

You can definitely hear the better resonance with the vent open!

[@teddydunn3513]

Actually the low F in that part of the Mozart clarinet concerto is the seventh in the context of a G dominant seven arpeggio. Those of us who understand just intonation know that the minor seventh in equal temperament is 31 cents sharper than the desirable tuning for a harmonic seventh (7/4 frequency ratio). And the low F is only like half as flat as 31 cents (15) so at least it tends halfway towards just intonation

[@davenatale850]

So glad you cleared that up for us.

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

You're talking about the harmonic series - where, before instruments were more sophisticated, the flat "seventh" was sometimes used by brass instrumentalists as a highly imperfect and *undesirable* stand in for the actual note desired - because the dominant seventh is so useful to composers harmonically. Trombonists could obviously always play in tune (if good players), but trumpeters and horn players would have to "fluff it". Valves, and equal temperament, were invented to get away from all that.

[@DivingDuckDon]

That is an awesome development! Really cool to see this...someday we will all own an instrument of this caliber!

[@RoySyCho]

Manual low F is for preventing the sharpness of the pitch in Piano or Pianissimo dynamic. It is significantly sharp with that dynamic (for example, measure 170 of Weber's Concerto no.1 1st mvt.).

[@jennybailey2998]

I do love "Stranger on a Shore, " Also I think my Dad either knew or at least may have met Acker Bilk!

[@interwebzful]

that was a fun vibe they had

[@saxmanno]

Yes, the F vent works. Yes, the pitch is better. Would I buy one? Nope, not just to have that one adjustment key. The Buffet Tosca also has that adjustment key. I don't see the dramatic increase in price worth it, though.

[@Zdrange03]

I think tosca is not automatic, it's another smaller pinky key below regular F

[@alexhoward650]

as as bassoon player, I'm laughing at clarinetist's complaints about intonation in different octaves.

[@matthewmitschele8184]

+Alex Howard As a clarinet player, I'm laughing at the many background parts you have, and the many melodies the clarinets have.

[@alexhoward650]

Touché

[@tervaaku]

+Alex Howard As a violist I am very sad that someone burnt my instrument.

[@cyndie26]

This is actually more prevalent in student model instruments.

[@dylansfantasticallyweirdwo2170]

i agrey

[@Celica202]

Im start my education as a clarinet player, but its been a long time ago... I complete colledge and conservatory as a saxophonist and almost never play clarinet since school, and never think about clarinet intonation. And now im see this video, grab my old amati clarinet and try to play 8 f - f, and you know, its perfectly in tune. Am i doing something wrong? Instead of F problem i see a little sharp C, but its easy to compensate by lips.

[@willemceuleers6041]

My 1978 Buffet RC clarinet tunes and sounds great on low F and its twelfth. In fact it tunes great at any pitch in the chalumeau, throat and clarion registers. Only a couple of small issues in the altissimo. Who cares for an extra key, so an key extra that can go out of adjustment and makes your clarinet havier in weight? Just purchase a properly designed clarinet, I would say.

[@jennybailey2998]

Couldn't help but notice that the side keys on the left look a bit different than on mine and on others I've seen!

[@phillipmccrevis]

Extended the range and the development of the clarinet? Where can I get one?

[@Zdrange03]

I should have played regular F arpeggios to really strike the ear.. Jazz music can easily accommodate with outoftune notes, various bending and pitch vibrato.

[@jennybailey2998]

I'd give anything to play anything on clarinet right now, as mine's hd to go in for repair!

[@joachimakerlind4453]

Well then you can go and by a Wurlitzer reform Boehm and you will find that it plays in tune all the way even the low F and E even in FF

[@Cheeseswissstyle]

nice nike with bms logo tee

[@rashakor]

K

[@SokratisVotskos]

Eddie's licks are at least impeccable,and i don't even know what the word means,but i now know. ;-)

[@harrw3168]

The Myth.... I just love how this Backun sucked me in to view this video. It is nothing more than a shameful infomercial. Retitle it, look I have re-designed the low F and that would be OK, but not your title.

[@teddydunn3513]

Harr W A myth is a story behind how something came to be. The idea that myths are inherently false derives from the predominant use of the word in the context of Greek mythology, whose stories are all fictitious. Don't blame Backun Musical Services for your misconceptions.