 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jason
Date: 2001-03-23 21:19
Hi there everyone, I have taken up the Bass clarinet after a few years off from playing old plain clarinet. I like the bass a lot better for its improved range and tonal quality. However, I kind of butt heads with a couple problems now and again, and I'd like to ask the fine people on this list if they know what would likely be the cause.
First and worst, I notice that on my Clarion "A sharp" ("concert G#" - with the first trill key or the small ring key for the LH) it is difficult to tongue with attack. I have a difficult time staccato tonguing it with any kind of PUNCH. I can hear a lot of the lower register note poking through and destroying it - about a concert c# or somewhere around there. What might be causing this? Could it be a reed issue or a pad issue? I'm using a Legere 3 1/2 tenor sax reed which by the way works very sweet.
Second, in the lower clarion register, the Bb, B, C and thereabouts sound awfully stuffy and buzzy. Is this loose pads? I may have slightly maligned them inserting and removing the bell at the lower cork.
On a matter of interest, I have found a nifty way of cheating altissimo and getting very high notes on the bass. I can pump just about 5 octaves out. It's pretty sweet although I have some difficulty controlling the top notes. I just 'break' it at about the high clarion E, and finger the F sharp as if it was a left hand clarion G, and that gives me the altissimo F# and above. I can play the cheers theme song easily with this combination, back and forth across the break. Frankly, I find it a lot easier than the suggested chart altissimo fingerings. It's simple like potatoes.
So keeping a steady, motionless jaw is important to upper register hey? Very interesting.
Anyways, hope to hear back from you soon!
J
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Author: Al
Date: 2001-03-23 23:10
<I just 'break' it at about the high clarion E, and finger the F sharp as if it was a left hand clarion G, and that gives me the altissimo F# and above. I can play the cheers theme song easily with this combination, back and forth across the break. Frankly, I find it a lot easier than the suggested chart altissimo fingerings. > I'm sorry I can't quite follow you. You're at clarion E and finger F# as if it was G and this G fingering gives you an altissimo F3? Kindly explain.
Thanks, Al
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Author: Al
Date: 2001-03-23 23:12
>That's supposed to read F# ,not F3.
Sorry,Al
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Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-03-24 05:43
Jason, I'm just trying to get the problem description straight.
First one, Clarion Bb - The "bannana key" fingering is fine on attack, but the two alternate fingerings won't allow a quick attack? I assume the "thumb" C above it is just fine?
Second, low clarion B, Bb, C (just above the break) are the buzzy notes. On this one, many basses have a double register key mechanism that is activated by the "D" key. You will be able to tell because there will be two bridge keys. Is this the case on your horn? By the way - what kind of Bass is it?
Honestly, both of these could be key problems. They are unfortunately somewhat more common on the bass than on the Bb. The first one could easily be two separate ones, one a out of adjustment bridge key, the other would be a bent trill key (probably the F# trill). Make sure all four trill keys move freely of each other without friction. The other thing that happens with trill keys on a bass (like the Bb) is that they tend to get bent away from the holes they're covering (because they meet the holes at an angle).
The second could be a register key issue if you have a double register key, it could also be a leak in the D key. If you have a double register key, the bridge linkage from there could be a contributor.
I'm already into rampant speculation, but I am even more hesitant to say more.
The Altissimo G# thing sounds cool. By the way, one doesn't usually use the low Eb key to play Bb in the clarion register - its always waaay out of tune.
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