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 Getting low D from a Bass
Author: kny 
Date:   2001-12-30 01:57

Hi, any creative ways of getting the bass clarinet to play to low D? My bass extends down to Eb only. I have thought of placing a PVC pipe into the bell to change the low Eb key to lowD but I'm wondering if there are any other creative ways?

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 RE: Getting low D from a Bass
Author: David Pegel 
Date:   2001-12-30 03:32

I tried sticking my foot in the bell and letting my jaw go slack. It was very impractical, but I eventually got a very pitiful-sounding D out of it.

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 RE: Getting low D from a Bass
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2001-12-30 05:20

Unless you want to spend a bundle for a fitted extension (to low C), PVC pipe is probably your best bet. The cardboard tube inside a roll of paper towels works for me (e.g., for the last note in Monti's "Csardas."

Happy new year,
jnk

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 RE: Getting low D from a Bass
Author: Wes 
Date:   2001-12-30 06:30

In my hand, is a beautiful brown grenadilla wood low D extension which a friend gave me for my Lefebre bass clarinet. It has one key on it so, if you want a low D you have to put a cork on the bell key to close it. The Eb can't be played in this condition but if you take the cork off the bell key the clarinet then plays to low Eb. It was most likely made by Glen Johnston, the legendary woodwind player, tuner, and mouthpiece man. He probably made the first low C extension too, as he made a lot of them. One of these probably would cost $500 if you could find someone who would make it. It is probably better to play D's an octave higher. Good luck!!

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 RE: Getting low D from a Bass
Author: Doug Ramsdell 
Date:   2001-12-30 14:52

One night I caught the Maria Schneider big band & noticed that at one point her bari player, Scott Robinson, inserted what looked like a long rolled-up paper cone into the bell of his (metal) bass clarinet. I have no idea what the note was, but it sounded on-pitch and quite clear. (I've also seen him stick his heel into the bell of his bari, a Conn low-Bb, presumably to get low A.) I don't know if Mr. Robinson reads this web page or not, but it'd be interesting to hear how he approaches the whole subject. He's an amazing player, by the way.

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 RE: Getting low D from a Bass
Author: Ralph Katz 
Date:   2001-12-30 17:48

The paper tube trick is the standard way for the bassoon to reach the last note, a low A, in the Nielsen Wind Quintet.

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