 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: RMCclarinet
Date: 2007-06-26 21:55
So.... I have in front of me a brand new Contra Bass Clarinet and I'm trying to play it. I can play the low stuff easy enough, but I can't seem to get into the clarion register. I can't get higher than Bb at the break. Now, I know this is meant to be a lower playing instrument, but with Bass clarinet (low C extension) I can easily play 4 octaves. Is there a special finger chart somewhere for the Contra Bass? or is it just the nature of the beast that you won't be able to play very high?
~Brian
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-06-26 22:05
What make is it?
Check the speaker mechanism isn't binding which could preventing it from working.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: RMCclarinet
Date: 2007-06-26 22:30
All keys are working properly. It is a Selmer.
Unlike bass clarinet, the left hand pointer finger does not have a small vent hole to lean off of for the higher range. I've already tried leaving off the pointer finger altogether but that doesn't really seem to help. And as I remember, that vent is for the altissimo range anyway, not for high clarion.
I can play F through C# in the clarion range relatively easily, but not B through E. Although, I CAN play DOWN from an F to a Bb, but I gets VERY quiet and hard to keep the sound going without jumping into an overtone. As I recall, this was also an iffy range of notes for bass clarinets... and seeing as the contra bass is doubling the size of bass clarinet, maybe it's doubling the problem as well?
Any other thoughts?
Post Edited (2007-06-26 23:10)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-06-26 23:32
I can only assume it's the size (diameter) and position (north or south on the instrument) of the speaker vent causing the problem, and the need for more vents to clear up the troublesome notes means a lot more mechanism and development to get a mechanically sound solution, which is probably not what companies would want to dwell upon much due to the few instruments of this type being made when they have more pressing needs to concentrate on getting their best sellers on the shelves.
Sorry if that's a bleak outlook, but it's most likely the case.
I wonder how the Eppelsheim contrabasses compare?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: RMCclarinet
Date: 2007-06-27 00:19
Thats pretty much what I expected.
After a little more experimentation, I found I can play a lower altissimo D6 (3rd space above the staff) chromatically down to the low C3 (5th space below staff). I can NOT however, do this the other way around, which leads me to believe it has a little something to do with emboucher.
Technically, its a low instrument, so I can't see those higher notes being too much of a problem, as you rarely see them (or even an actual BBb part) written for the contra bass clarinet. The highest I've ever seen and played on the regular Bb Bass clarinet was a high E in Pines of Rome (darn Respighi!)
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Author: RMCclarinet
Date: 2007-06-27 01:07
ah HA! figured it out.
Thank you Chris P, you were on the right track, which got me looking at the right parts.
The speaker mechanism was not binding, however, the pesky octave mechanism that has a tendency to go out of whack on bass clarinets was off JUST A HAIR. I missed seeing it before because it was SO close.
A pad that was supposed to close was opened just thiiiis "|" much and required half a twist on an adjustment screw. Plays great now.
Post Edited (2007-06-27 01:08)
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Author: nahoj
Date: 2007-06-28 19:36
I play a Leblanc paperclip contra-alto clarinet and I must say it is indeed very hard to play above the B above the staff. C, C#, D and D# do work but breaking them nicely is not easy at all. Above D# is still in experimentation phase... But the instrument needs some regulation again I think.
A very interesting link for fingerings on contra's is the one to a web page of Terje Lerstad: http://kunst.no/lerstad/altissimo.html
Enjoy your contra! (Is it a Selmer Paris or Selmer Bundy?)
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Author: RMCclarinet
Date: 2007-06-28 21:59
Thank you for the link! Looks like some interesting stuff!
It's a Selmer Paris, and it's actually not mine. It's for the Cleveland Orchestra. but I did enjoy the short time I had to play it.
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Author: nahoj
Date: 2007-06-30 15:36
Waw. I would like to try the Selmer Paris once...
Meanwhile I experimented some more with Terje's fingering charts on the paperclip and actually it plays very well up to G#. High A simply does not work at all for me yet. C#, and to a lesser extent C, D and D#, are still the hardest though.
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