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Re: Bass Clarinet Technique; Is 'Slightly Lifting Off' A Thing? ...

Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-03-23 02:16

Just an update:

The owner of this bass (a C series low C Selmer) came over today and was still having trouble with it on certain notes squeaking. I tested the LH thumbplate pad and open G vent pad whilst he was playing using a feeler gauge. Turns out he wasn't 'slightly lifting off' at all as the feeler gauge stayed put and was only released when he fully lifted off.

No issues there, yet he was still having some trouble with some notes squeaking. Then I noticed how close his left index finger was to the throat A key touchpiece and it turned out he was lightly catching the throat A touchpiece on certain notes. On these basses, the entire throat A key and tonehole is very much offset to the left of the instrument (as you're playing) instead of inline with the rest of the LH main action toneholes and the throat A touch itself was easily caught as a result.

Then after a slight bend of the throat A key touchpiece to shift it over to the right by a couple of millimetres, the problem was solved. No more squeaking as there was now some clearance between the throat A touch and his index finger when holding the LH1 fingerplate down.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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