 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Shelly
Date: 2001-04-29 21:31
An alto clarinet is one octave lower than an Eb soprano and a bass is one octave lower than a Bb soprano (I hope I am right on this one) I know that the fingerings for these two instruments is practically identical to the Bb. So does that mean that if you are playing a alto you just read off of an Eb's clarinet part and you sound one octave lower? Does the Bass read the Bb part and finger what's on the page but sound one octave lower?
What I am not sure of is this. Let's say a middle C is printed on the paper (one leger line below the treble staff). Is it also written this way for the bass and alto and they finger it the same way as the Bb and Eb would finger it and then it just sounds an octave lower OR when a bass and an alto use the fingering that we would use for middle C they see it on their paper as a low C? (I am totally not considering the transpostion factor, that's not my point)
The reason I am asking is I am interested in maybe trying the alto (if I could ever find a resonably priced used one) because I am kind of partial to the lower notes. But would I need to relearn what note goes with what fingering?
If they play the notes as written on the paper not 8va they would still be on the treble staff or do they write their music on the bass staff?
I hope y'all understand what I am asking
Shelly
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2001-04-29 21:40
Shelly,
I think I understand what you are asking, so I'll give it a shot...
You are absolutely correct about the sounding octaves of alto and bass. With the bass clarinet, middle C sounds an octave lower than written. Bass music is primarily in treble clef to make it seasier on those who double, although I have encountered some bass parts in bass clef (for bass cl. in A, nonetheless!) With alto, if you see a 2nd line G (open G) on the music, you'd still play an open G, but the sounding pitch would be a concert Bb. Again, this is to accomodate doublers.
Now, one thing to remember is that there are usually separate parts for Eb soprano, Bb soprano, Eb alto, and Bb bass, so you wouldn't be reading off the wrong part and have harmonies in the wrong voices (a pet peeve of mine was a former band director that gave the alto cl. parts to the Eb contra -- way out of place parts!), but in that hypothetical situation if you were, yes, you would sound one octave lower.
Hope this answers your questions!
Melanie
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Author: Shelly
Date: 2001-04-29 22:02
Ah yes! That answer was exactly what I was looking for!
Shelly
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-04-30 01:25
you're completely right, shelly. fingerings on an alto and bass are exactly the same as a Bb soprano, with the exception that most generally have a low Eb key (which makes no real difference, unless you're playing a low Eb). alto is fun.. give it a shot. if something you're playing doesn't have an alto piece, or you want some kind of a method book (you can use another, just don't play with anyone else in a different key!) you can use somehting in Eb. I've played bari sax parts, alto sax parts, contra-alto parts.. it's not "right," but sometimes you've got to make due.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-04-30 01:50
You finger them all the same way for the printed note. The necessary transpositions are taken care of in the music. All read treble clef except for some old German notation for the bass, which you are not likely to run into. The bass clarinet is notated in the treble clef sounding an octave lower.
This is done for the express purpose of avoiding having to learn different fingers. Each of the instruments actually gets its name from the concert pitch sounded when you finger printed C. The Eb soprano sounds an Eb at the bottom of the treble clef. The Bb soprano sounds the Bb a ledger line and a space below the treble clef. The Eb alto sounds the Eb below the treble clef (an octave below the Eb soprano). The Bb bass sounds an octave below the Bb soprano.
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Author: Blake
Date: 2001-04-30 20:14
If you do get an alto or a bass and dont have parts for all the pieces, a more reasonable substitute for parts would be the Eb French horn part for the Eb Alto and perhaps the Bb Treble Clef Euphonium part. A lot of times these instruments are doubling these parts anyway. The alto can also play on an alto sax part and the bass can play the tenor sax part. Talk it over with the director to see where the "gaps" are in your band if there isnt a part for the alto or bass clarinet part.
Have fun!
Blake
Arlington, VA
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