 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: martasgig
Date: 2013-03-01 19:41
I have had a problem playing anything above F (top line of staff) on bass clarinet. Have tried a variety of mouthpieces, different reeds (both softer and stiffer), and have had my instrument checked for problems. Any ideas?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-01 19:42
What make and model bass have you got?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Laurelin
Date: 2013-03-01 20:20
I have a rented student model bass, same issue. It's because the register key is badly designed on models that do not cost as much as a decent used car.... it should be a double register key, but it isn't.
I got a ridiculously awesome mouthpiece - Grabner's Bloom - and while it's still annoying, I know that it is possible to play it. Mostly I only have trouble if I'm starting a phrase on the A or B note up there, everything else is pretty reliable.
Playing lots of thirds, fourths, fifths, etc. also helps.
The real fix is buying a Bass with a double register key, though.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-03-01 20:25
Not necessarily, as I have a fine bass with a single register key. May I respectfully suggest that a good repair person check your instrument? Good luck!
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-03-01 20:54
Have a teacher or pro player try playing it.
You should be able to to 3+ octaves, just like on a soprano.
Then what Wes said - have a good tech. check it over again.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: martasgig
Date: 2013-03-01 21:14
I'm also trying to help out a local college student with the same problem. Although my bass hasn't been checked in ages, hers just came back from a very reputable repair person. But thanks for your help.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-01 21:50
The make and model would be useful to know.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: martasgig
Date: 2013-03-01 23:24
The student has a Buffet, I believe. Sorry I don't know the model. I have an older Vito.
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2013-03-02 01:57
I have the same issue with my Bundy. Anything above top line F is hit or miss. I was playing on a borrowed Buffet RC Prestige this summer, and boy did the upper register sing!
If anyone has ever played the band piece "Gallito" (spanish march), a lot of the piece is in the upper register for bass clarinets; it's somewhat of a challenge to play at the moment because of the range. With the exception of 2 D's, the entire piece is playable on clarinet.
Interestingly, my bass gets easier to play once I go above high C. Someone did some work on it this past summer. The thing I immediately noticed was that the pinch Bb no longer sounded like death (and sounds exactly like the fingering with A + the 2nd trill key down on the right side).
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2013-03-02 05:31
Whether it came back from repairs or not, it could still be a leak.
When I started playing bass I used a Vito and could never play that higher area that great. After a year I got a good model Buffet and it was much easier and after some pratice not a problem. After years of pretty much never playing any student or single register key model, I tried a bunch and this higher area played just fine. Maybe not as easily as the good double register models, but all notes were realtively easily possible.
It was possible with just about every mouthpiece too, unless it was a particularly lousy one.
It's best to find someone who is either an excellent bass clarinet player or an excellent bass clarinet repairer to check it, or ideally, both (though I guess that is rare).
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Author: William
Date: 2013-03-02 15:51
I've had 8th grade soprano clarinet players, who switched to bass clarinet because we needed them in our band, that quickly learned to play easily in that upper register on both Bundy and Vito student model bass's. I think it is just a matter of consistant practice and learning how to "place" those G# & A 5's with good breath support and articulation. They are difficult, but not impossible.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-03-02 16:00
ACK William. Same here.
(a good mouthpiece and a suitable reed certainly help)
--
Ben
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