 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-03-05 13:03
Attachment: bassclef.png (155k)
Here's a chart to show how French (treble clef) and German (bass and treble clef) notations compare. These are the written/played notes on the instrument.
In essence, German bass clarinet writing puts the notes in their relative pitch compared to French writing which retains the treble clef fingerings you'd use on all members of the clarinet family.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2018-03-05 18:29
True, always has been and still is. Bass clarinet in the treble clef alone means everythig sounds an octave lower than written. When in the bass clef, even when it goes into the treble clef at times for the upper register, always sounds the pitch of the note you are seeing, except for Bb or A transposition off course. That's why every bass clarinet player should learn to read the bass clef.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2018-03-05 20:09
Very interesting. I can read bass clef while playing piano, so I thought... let me try playing bass clarinet reading bass clef. It was like being a beginner again. haha
I found myself having to think of the note I was trying to play before playing it.
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2018-03-05 20:21
Without actually learning to read bass clef, can one not mentally add two sharps (or remove two flats) and actually play it as though it is treble clef ?
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Author: TrueTone
Date: 2018-03-05 21:08
alanporter wrote:
> Without actually learning to read bass clef, can one not
> mentally add two sharps (or remove two flats) and actually play
> it as though it is treble clef ?
Unfortunately nope. For example, playing what looks like a throat A in bass clef on a Bb Bass Clarinet is a C below the staff when written in treble clef.
That works for Eb instruments when adding 3 sharps though.
(Also thanks to Chris P. for posting that chart, I might keep that on my stand next time I have to read a BCl part in bass clef as a reminder of what all the ledger lines above the bass clef are past D, as I'm still not good at that.)
Post Edited (2018-03-05 21:11)
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2018-03-05 22:13
When in the bass clef, even when it goes into the treble clef at times for the upper register, always sounds the pitch of the note you are seeing, except for Bb or A transposition off course.
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Except for Rite of Spring, where Stravinsky uses German notation for bass clef and French notation for treble clef.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-03-05 22:52
Reading bass clef itself isn't the hard part - only applying it to a treble clef instrument is where the difficulty can lie as most of us are accustomed to clarinets of all sizes and pitches using treble clef notation, bass clarinet included.
I can see the benefits of using bass clef for bass clarinet, but the flip side is it sets it apart from the other members of the clarinet family that all use treble clef notation.
Some basset clarinet and basset horn parts do use bass clef for the low notes to make it easier to read, but on the whole they use treble clef everywhere else - some parts are all written out in treble clef, right the way down to low C.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2018-03-05 23:48
One can, though, play viola parts by adding two sharps and pretending one is playing something German on bass clarinet.
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2018-03-07 06:48
> Without actually learning to read bass clef, can one not
> mentally add two sharps (or remove two flats) and actually play
> it as though it is treble clef ?
That trick works if you're reading tenor clef (in C) on bass clarinet. Comes in handy for reading some bassoon parts that go that high.
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-03-07 14:04
Tenor clef and treble clef Bb basso (bass clarinet and tenor sax) have the notes in the same place, so that's an easy transposition just as is reading straight off Concert Pitch bass clef parts when playing EEb contra or bari sax.
Reading/transposing bassoon parts on bass clarinet can be done if you think bari sax or upper register fingerings in the low register.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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