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tounging on bass clarinet

Author: SuzyQ
Date: 2003-11-01 03:10

Ok, ya'll here's another question from a "youngster." I'm in 8th grade and this is my 3rd year playing clarinet, and 1st year playing bass clarinet.

On the bass clarinet, I am having trouble tounging fast or even a good medium speed on any notes with the register key. They just don't seem to respond really to my tounging! I can tounge just fine on my regular, soprano clarinet, so this is really bothering me.

Is there perhaps something that you do "different" on the bass clarinet to tounge? Or will it get better the more I play it? ( I've only started really playing register key notes on the bass clarinet these last couple weeks.) Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

SuzyQ
who is getting nervous and excited about a piano competition tomorrow morning. [frown]

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Re: tounging on bass clarinet

Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-01 19:20

I havent found any way to tongue the large mp/reed horns rapidly, even with double-register-keying [which does improve response in the lower clarion!]. So if it works OK, I tongue every other note and hope the cond. doesn't complain!! Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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Re: tounging on bass clarinet

Author: William
Date: 2003-11-02 16:03

You are simply dealing with a longer and larger resonating tube with more resistant harmonics than the smaller Bb soprano. Tonguing rapidly is possible on these notes with increased breath support and tongue muscle conditioning. A "good" reed that responds well is also necessary for fast articulation. I have recently had very good results with a 3.5 Legere reed on my Grabner customized Selmer mouthpiece. But even with the best reed and equipement, articulation in that C5 register on the bass clarinet can be a challenge. Keep practicing and eventually--but not "overnight"--your speed and performance will improve.

BTW, good luck with your keyboard competition.

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Re: tounging on bass clarinet

Author: SuzyQ
Date: 2003-11-02 21:42

Thanks for the replies Don and William! At least now I know I'm not doing something terribly wrong.

Don Berger... I liked your sugg. of tounging every other note, but unfortuneatly that doesn't work so well when it is the same note over and over your trying to tounge.

Your replies really encouraged me to put more into my bass clarinet and work harder.

Thanx,

Suzy

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