 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: FredR
Date: 2006-06-29 21:07
I've done some searches and don't have an exact answer to my question.
I posted quite a while ago on buying an old Bass Clarinet. I've had it worked on and it plays. I'd like to work with it over the summer. The register break is not very smooth and the B and C are very fuzzy. From what I read thats something I need to work on. However I do play rather sharp over the whole instrument (about 20 cents), even pulled out. Is there a a mouthpiece I can consider that may bring the pitch down? Currently I'm using what came with it which is Selmer C and I have Grand Concert 3.5 reeds.
I was always a bit sharp with my sop. clarinets and when I tried the Vand M13 it brought the pitch down nicely (even though I play on Leblancs and the the literature says the M13 was specifically designed for the R13). Also on soprano I prefer a close set up and a harder reed. Would the same preference probably carry through to the Bass?
Post Edited (2006-06-29 21:08)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-06-29 21:43
Mouthpiece manufacturers have been giving us a "darker sound" on the soprano by tooling mouthpieces that have a larger tone chamber effectively bringing the pitch down considerably. I have not run into the same phenomenon with bass mouthpieces. If you need to pull the tube on the bass out, WAY out, there is no shame in that, adjust as needed to play in tune.
Bass is funny though. As one who doubles somewhat reluctantly I can say for me, the problem is balancing the pitch you want at the volume you are actually going to play. That is, if you practice softly in a room by yourself and the pitch seems high, make sure you have a tuner at your side when you're playing in a group to ensure the pitch is really what you practiced. Often times it's not. The louder you go, the lower the instrument goes. Also ensure that the pitch you work up is consistant from register to register. Just like the soprano, the low chalameau doesn't really want to move higher. The throat notes can be squeezed up through the roof.
.......Paul Aviles
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2006-06-30 00:07
If you have to "pull the tube WAY out" on bass clarinet, I'll give you odds that you are using:
1. Too much jaw pressure
2. Too little air support
I can't count the number of times a new bass clarinet student has come to me with the neck pulled out to the severance point; in the vast majority of these cases after a lesson or two he/she is playing in tune, with the neck pushed (almost) all the way in. And using the same mouthpiece and reeds, usually!
The late, great sax teacher, Joe Allard, used to make his students play with the mouthpice shoved all the way onto the neck cork, bringing the pitch down by relaxing the embouchure and mobilizing the air. Not only does this allow the instrument to tune internally the way the manufacturer designed it, but it also broadens the sound and allows a full range of overtones.
Generally we play the soprano clarinet in the upper half of the pitch range provided by a particular fingering. Bass clarinet just doesn't work well that way; try to play each note in the lower part of the pitch -- the results might amaze you!
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2006-06-30 01:33
By "old", how old do you mean? If it's from before 1930, it could be high pitch (A=450 or more.)
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