Klarinet Archive - Posting 000331.txt from 1998/11

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet Extended Technique...
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 08:47:51 -0500

On Tue, 10 Nov 1998, Bill Hausmann wrote:
> Assuming you know that you have to open the speaker vent under your left
> index finger by moving out onto the little plateau on the key to get
> altissimo notes, stiffer reeds are the only solution I know. I was just
> playing a little bass last night and noticed my reeds were flabbing out
> badly on high notes, right about in the range you mention.

I don't have a fingering for a high D# above altissimo C - that's a
toughie. However, I do want to comment regarding fingerings for bass
clarinet in altissimo.

The most common error made by young bass clarinetists is to overlook the
overblown 12ths - they are often more in tune and speak much easier and
with less resistance than the standard Bb soprano fingerings for
altissimo. If the standard fingerings are used, by all means slide out to
the plateau key - but consider the following for some of the notes most
commonly found in orchestra and band literature:

High C# = Side fingering or overblown 1st space F#
High D = overblown open G
High D#/Eb = overblown Ab (throat)
High E = overblown A (throat)
High F = overblown Bb (throat)

I have no problem popping out any note up to altissimo C - with a size
3 - 4 Vandoren reed on a Fobes Bass Clarinet mouthpiece. Anything less
than a size 3.5 on a 1.70 tip opening is pretty soft.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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