Wind instrument final adjustment procedures
A. H. Benade · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1976
Many aspects of the “goodness” of wind instruments are perceptual correlates of strong cooperation between several air-column modes in the production of each note in the scale. Laboratory resonance and spectrum measurements are immensely useful in showing the basic properties of an instrument, but its final adjustment should be made under playing conditions using auditory cues. Accurate mapping of intermode relationships is possible using listening experiments based on the dependence of intermode coupling on playing level, effects of bore perturbations on the lower-mode frequencies, changes in the upper-mode frequencies by shading of tone holes or bell, changes associated with the use of register holes and unconventional fingerings, and also the changes arising from control of mouthpiece, reed, and embouchure. Once the properties of the played instrument are mapped, adjustment procedures can be worked out and applied under the guidance of further playing experiments in order to improve performance in a manner consistent with other musical requirements such as tuning. Practical illustrations will be presented for all woodwind and brass instrument types.