The clarinet spectrum: Theory and experiment

Abstract

While a great deal is known about the oscillation and radiation mechanisms of the clarinet, an overall account has not been provided of the manner in which the tones of a clarinet are generated and then transmitted into the listening room. This article presents such an account for the clarinet in general. Room-averaged spectra measurements are presented that are shown to be consistent with the implications of theory, with both measurement and theory showing a great deal of spectral regularity over the playing range. The fact that the tonehole lattice cuttoff frequency is essentially constant over the scale is of particular importance, making it possible to define a single semiempirical formula for the odd harmonics of all the notes in the scale and a closely related one for the even harmonics. Both of these formulas are fitted to the data by way of the same three adjustable parameters.

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