 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Maruja
Date: 2021-08-02 13:44
I am struggling with the bass - I have detected a sort of growl which I thought was water in the clarinet itself, but now I think it might be coming from my own throat (some saliva?). The first few notes are clear and then this sound kicks in. Is it because I am trying to play from the throat rather than from the belly? (I must admit my throat feels rather sore at the moment).Any thoughts gratefully received .
Maruja
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2021-08-02 18:21
Maruja,
A couple of questions first. What model/make is/are your bass, mouthpiece, and reeds. Is there a particular range of notes where this happens? Have you tried playing long tones (with breath from the belly) and is there any difference?
The answers to these questions should help anyone to assist you in undercovering what is causing the growl.
If you are new to bass, the embouchure is different than you may have used on the Bb soprano.
HRL
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2021-08-03 07:17
Unclear what it actually sounds like, so just one possibility is water collecting in the neck. Depending on how "wet" you are when you play, and weather/AC, it can happen even after a few minutes. With enough water there it can sort of gurgle.
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Author: Maruja
Date: 2021-08-03 14:59
Thank you both for your input. To reply to Hank, the bass is a second hand Selmer (Bundy) student model which I have had customised to my hands and thoroughly gone over by a great technician. I got someone who is a good player to have a go (before the growl!) and he got a very nice sound from it. So I am confident that the instrument is fine. The mouthpiece is a Fobes Debut and the ligature is a Rovner 3RL (all recommended on this forum, I think).
The real problem comes when I try to go over the break and beyond. I don't know whether I am trying too hard and fighting the thing and thus ending up hurting my throat.
I will try the long notes from the belly and see if that helps.
I am aware that the technique is quite different from the soprano but it is difficult to get advice on what actually to change. I bought a Voxman book which I thought might help but it has no advice on technique, just studies and so forth.
I am determined to give this my best shot as I have made quite an outlay on the thing, although this clarinet would not have been my first choice. I did rent a student Yamaha which did not give me these problems - but the Selmer was a present from my family so I just have to get on with it!
Maruja
PS it is difficult to explain the strange noise - growl, bubble....
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2021-08-04 21:10
Check out my bass articles on by website listed below.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2021-08-05 02:00
Hi Maruja, maybe a good place to start would be the technician who turned up your horn or the person you referenced in your OP that played it after the tune up. Allowing someone in person to hear what you hear might be invaluable.
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