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Bass Clarinet Question

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-04 00:46

Question for experienced, secure bass clarinetists:

When I try to use the separation point of the reed and mouthpiece curve as a starting point for how much reed to take in, I have realized just today (after all these decades) that my tongue doesn't come very close to the reed tip for articulation without the sense of seriously distorting my tongue. If I tongue with a comfortable tongue stroke and position at the tip of the reed (as I do on a soprano clarinet), my lower lip is much closer to the tip of the reed than when I place it near the separation point.

I've never been a very good bass clarinetist and have always had trouble with articulation, especially on certain clarion and altissimo notes. What is the most common solution to this conundrum? Articulation for me is cleaner and more reliable at the tip. The sound seems, of course, to be bigger if I take more mouthpiece.

FWIW, I'm using #2-1/2 Legere Signature reeds on one of Walter Grabner's Lawrie Bloom model mouthpieces. My bass clarinet's neck is angled slightly upward and I tend toward using an angle similar to the one I use for a soprano clarinet.

Karl

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