Klarinet Archive - Posting 000550.txt from 1997/08

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: Double tonguing on the Bass Clarinet
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 1997 16:50:51 -0400

This reply is in reference to a member of the list who posed the question "is double
tonguing possible on the bass clarinet and do you have any tips on tonguing on the bass clarinet
in general".

First, double tonguing on the bass is very possible although not as easy as on the
clarinet due to the greater amount of mouthpiece involved. I am only a novice at the DT
technique on clarinet, but I have been using it in performance when practical. Interestingly,
while I find it very difficult to DT in the upper clarion of the clarinet this is one of the
easier areas on bass. A great place to use DT for the bass clarinet orchestral repertoire is
near the end of "Till" where one is playing the high B staccatto passage with the trumpets.
Another passage that comes to mind is the opening section of Mahler One. It's where the
clarinets come in with the little woodwind fanfare.

My suggestion is to develop your DT technique on clarinet FIRST and then apply it to bass.
I find that if I take a little less mouthpiece when I have to DT on bass this helps. (I also
back off the mouthpiece when using flutter tongue)

Tonguing on the bass, particularly STARTING a tone cleanly requires a great deal of
attention. Usually the attention is put in the wrong place - on the tongue. The attention needs
to be placed on BREATH support and the subsequent RELEASE of air by the tongue. Most players can
tongue with relative ease on the bass in the chalumeau. The trouble really begins around
clarion F#. I really believe that good tounguing is developed from the legato side of things.
Play scales with the softest, lightest tongue you can achieve. Try playing at a whisper level
ppp . You will find that AIR is the most important component of getting the tone started.
Gradually shorten the tones, but don't change your air or the quality of tonguing. This will
keep your tongue relaxed as you begin to increase speed.

Also, I find that most novice bass clarinet players use a reed that is too stiff. The air
column of the bass clarinet has a much larger mass than the clarinet and require a softer spring
to get it in motion. Also, if the reed is too resistant you will reduce many of the wonderful
overtones that give the bass clarinet it's extraorinary resonance. Lightening up your read will
require you to relax your embouchure a bit as well. This is extremely important on the bass to
play smooth intervals.

Now, here IS one trick I learned from a flute player. It is often difficult to start a
tone on the bass clarinet when making a loud or forceful attack, particularly one short note.
As an example try playing a low E with a good SFZ. Go ahead try it. If you were paying
attention, you may have noticed that the note took a bit of time to get started. Now try it
another way. Have the note completely "fingered" before you start, but raise the index finger of
your left hand very slightly. Assuming you are using good breath support, just at the moment
you start the note with the tongue "pop" your index finger down. This may take some pratice, but
you will find that the note starts very cleanly. I occasionally use this technique when
beginning soft passages as well, because it gives one a very clearly delineated RYTHMIC place to
begin the tone.

Hope some of this helps

Clark W Fobes