 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mmatisoff
Date: 2016-09-21 19:42
I was just asked if I play the "A" clarinet. The local community orchestra has an opening. Is it difficult to go from Bb to A?
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2016-09-21 20:03
I also liked Ridenour's A when I tried it. An A clarinet is slightly longer and the fingers are spread ever so slightly from what you are used to on a Bb. You can even use the same mouthpiece on both an A and a Bb. I love playing in orchestras myself so I encourage you to go for it!
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2016-09-21 20:18
A Second to David's recommendation on the Ridenour Lyrique 575A clarinet.
http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/index.html
1-888-258-7845
Tom is the best acoustician manufacturing clarinets, anywhere! I "shelved" several famous brand French clarinets in favor of his clarinets. I play (and love) his Libertas Bb, his Lyrique 570-C, and his Lyrique 575-A clarinets. His price is insanely low for the quality, mostly because he is a one-stop-shop, low overhead, and Tom and his son are the only employees! I would class his clarinets right alongside (and a bit better) than Buffet Prestige R13!
You will love Orchestra, and your A clarinet!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-09-21 21:43
I have two R13's, Bb and A. The right hand has to work slightly harder on the A. I suspect the greater length and spacing leads to a bit more stretching, especially for the pinky.
Further, on my A the thumb rest is positioned lower than the one on the Bb, even accounting for the proportions of the length. (I'm not terribly fond of how low the Bb one is either.) That caused difficulty for me for a time, though it seems to have been overcome by patient practice.
In addition, the layout of the keys differs a bit, in particular the four keys for the left pinky. The left F/C and the C#/G# keys are positioned a little differently in relation to the other left pinky keys, and in their height relative to the instrument.
For those reasons I alternate daily practice sessions between the two clarinets. That's not a matter of religious adherence, but if I stay with one or the other for more than a few consecutive days, the next time I return to the neglected instrument it seems to take a while for my fingering to behave nicely again.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-09-22 00:12
If the A clarinet is same make/model as the Bb then there should be virtually no difference in physical feel but you will notice a very slight difference in resistance and response.
Nothing that regular practice on both clarinets won't quickly solve.
If the Bb and A are different makes then you will find more differences between them but little more than between two Bbs of different makes.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-09-23 16:04
Only challenge is finding an A clarinet that matches blowing resistance (and tuning somewhat) with your B-flat. My old Yamaha YCL-62/65 were NOT very well matched, with the A clarinet being stuffy.
Ditto on Tom Ridenour's stuff ... I play several of his clarinets and all are excellent and not expensive, they hold up well, and you don't have to worry about cracking.
Yamaha also makes a kinda-sorta reasonably priced professional clarinet, the SEVA, but still a grand more than the Ridenour, and not many dealers stock this instrument. The Yamaha would be my next choice of investigation, if you have a mindset on wooden instruments ...
Tom
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-09-23 16:39
If you compare the same make/model Bb and A clarinets, chances are in some cases you'll find the A may have a slightly narrower bore and much smaller toneholes compared to the Bb.
I spoke to Yamaha back in the '90s as someone wanted to know the specs of their A clarinets and they generally had a narrower bore diameter than their Bb counterparts to some degree or other.
You'll also see straight away that some Selmer Bb and A clarinets have noticeable differences in tonehole diameters when all the keys are off - especially the lower joint.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2016-09-23 19:53
One big advantage to playing both Bb and A clarinets is that you won't have to sight-transpose in rehearsals when the conductor hands out music written for clarinet in A and you've only got a clarinet in Bb. Not that there's anything wrong with learning to transpose -- a good skill to know -- but it's a nuisance to have to do it in distracting circumstances.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: MoonPatrol
Date: 2016-09-24 21:54
How did you get into an orchestra with strings? In my city, it's so competitive and some of the players have held their chairs for more than 10 years! Being only two spots, there isn't much opportunity. Sometimes they need a bass or an Eb and a spot opens up. Now you will have two kids to look after if you buy one. I'm on a backup list for one group but am without an A and it would be with some panic that I fill in. Why are there so many good players out there?
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