Clarinet acoustics: Introducing a compendium of impedance and sound spectra

Abstract

This paper introduces a web-based database that contains details of the acoustics of the clarinet for all standard fingerings and some others. It includes the acoustic impedance spectra measured at the mouthpiece and sound spectra recorded for each note. The data may be used to explain a number of the playing characteristics of the instrument, both in general and in detail In this paper we give an overview, and highlight some interesting phenomena. The clarinet has, very approximately, a cylindrical bore, which is acoustically closed at one end and open at the other. Because it is so often used as an example of closed-open pipe, we show several phenomena that can be clarified by comparing measurements on a clarinet with those on a cylinder of equivalent acoustic length. We also compare these data with analogous data for the flute, an example of an open-open pipe.