 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Kurt
Date: 2000-02-12 01:03
I had been playing my base in front of me, but now I have one with an angled neck which means it has to be set lower so I've started playing it off to the side like a sax. It also helps that my new horn has a key guard so it doesn't rest against my leg. I'm intersted in how others play.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-02-12 15:13
I play mine directly in front [with stock necks], but find I need to pull my right leg back a bit so as to not interfere with my right hand. Most bassists I have seen do similarly. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Al
Date: 2000-02-12 16:10
I always play with the instrument directly in front. I hope you have a floor peg on your instrument.Sounds like you may not. Consider having one attached to your bell. You'll wonder how you ever played without it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kurt
Date: 2000-02-12 17:29
Actually on the older horn I use a strap with two clips and am more comfortable without the peg. Having two points for the strap to attach helps immensly with bracing the instrument. The newer one has only one point for the strap so I've found myself using the peg and the strap. I find it difficult to play this one with only the strap because I tend to lose grip and compensate with my mouth thus ruining my embochure.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tree
Date: 2000-02-12 17:40
I have played both ways. I find that playing bass like a saxophone helps to get a better, more comforatbale neck position. It also provides for better flexiblitly with air and gives a more "Bb clarinet" feel to your embouchure. Playing bass between your legs is fine too. I guess I always changed my position of the bass depending upon what type of neck joint the bass had. If it was more curved, I would play between my legs, if it was less curved I would play it like a saxophone
good luck and have fun! therese
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tree
Date: 2000-02-12 17:40
I have played both ways. I find that playing bass like a saxophone helps to get a better, more comforatbale neck position. It also provides for better flexiblitly with air and gives a more "Bb clarinet" feel to your embouchure. Playing bass between your legs is fine too. I guess I always changed my position of the bass depending upon what type of neck joint the bass had. If it was more curved, I would play between my legs, if it was less curved I would play it like a saxophone
good luck and have fun! trees
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alphie
Date: 2000-02-12 21:14
I find playing between the legs having the bass pointing straight up can be very tiring for the back and the RH wrist. I usually play with the chair turned clockwise to one o'clock. The posture should be like standing up putting the left foot one step forward with the bass leaning a little bit like a saxophone. Not all the way to the side though, only so that the right hand feels relaxed and straight. Keep on trying.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-02-14 16:42
When I was in High School, a few years back, we never had pegs for our bass clarinets, so I learned to play it positioned like a sax. I still play that way, because I have an older horn that doesn't have a peg and after all these years I am used to it. One thing that really helps is a good neck strap, such as a Neotech strap. You can order one through Woodwind and Brasswind. I hope my 2 cents helps. This is a great place to pick the brains of other bass clarinetists. I am finding there isn't a whole lot of us out there.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2000-02-19 17:10
I have always played mine in front of me, which is pretty much the standard. With my new bass, which has an angled neck, I use both the neckstrap and peg which provide stability so that I am not using my hands to balance the instrument, but to play it. However, I do not hold it straight up and down, but with the lower end slightly angled toward me.
My older instrument has a neck that makes the mouthpiece nearly perpendicular to the body of the instrument. I only have a neckstrap for it and to get the mouthpiece in a good position, hold the instrument so that it is angled back to where the bell is almost under the chair.
In both cases, I sit up straight on the front edge of the chair, never leaning against the back.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
