Klarinet Archive - Posting 000557.txt from 1996/09

From: Roger Shilcock
Subj: Bb (fwd)
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 04:09:09 -0400

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 08:58:37 PDT
From: Barry Kruse <bkruse%MINDSCAPE.COM@-----.UK>
To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET <KLARINET=VCCSCENT>
Subject: Bb

The recent postings on finding a "better" fingering for Bb have made me
wonder why we don't see low Eb extensions on soprano clarinets. It seems
to me that having that kind of option would be really useful for exposed
Bbs in certain situations not to mention helping on certain passages around
the register break. Is this alternative used much in the bass clarinet
world? Does anyone know why it's so rare in the soprano world?

BTW, my solution to getting a clear Bb is to find a good reed. How do you
know when you've found a good reed? It gives you a clear sound on Bb. If
it's not clear on Bb, it's not a good reed. That may sound circular and
facetious but it's been true for me.

Barry

I agree absolutely with this last bit.
There is a *large* difference in
breath pressure (if that's the term) between the throat A and the
overblown B flat on a bass.
This is a problem. Possibly this is less of a problem on a bass with low
c, which in my case I have not got.
Roger Shilcock