The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Katfish
Date: 2001-10-16 23:23
I've been pressed into service to play the bass part on Also Sprach Zarathustra. I've never played bass other than fooling around a little. I borrowed an old Vito and did some last minute cramming. The first rehearsal was last night and it was a lot of fun. The bass part is quite challenging and it went pretty well considering my lack of experience. One problem, high E [3 leger lines above] is very sharp. The only fake fingering that seems to work is G on top of the staff overblown. It's rather harsh though. Are there any other fingering you bass players can suggest? Is high E a commonly unstable note on bass clarinet?Thanks for your help.
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Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-10-17 01:40
OK what's wrong with the old alternate fingering charts?
http://www.wfg.sneezy.org/basscl_alt_2.html
By the way, I can never find them without having Google search the site.
OK, Kat, the first thing is that instead of covering the half hole with your left index finger, like you do for Altissimo on the Bb, that's what that little hole in that key is for. You put down the key but leave the hole uncovered. Beyond that, this fingering is just like it is on the Bb, with the G#/D# pinky key pressed.
OK, one other thing about high notes on the Bass - RELAX. You have to loosen rather than tighten. Squeezing with your jaw won't make them come out on the bass like they will when you're in a pinch on the Bb.
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Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-10-17 01:42
Scratch that bit about what's wrong with the alternate fingering charts. I still can't figure out how we're supposed to find the woodwind fingering guide from the front page, though.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-10-17 03:01
Stephen, The clarinet fingering charts are found under "Research" on the Clarinet home page... It's ok - it took me a while to remember how to find it as well...GBK
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-10-17 04:46
The WFG, along with the OCR (Online Clarint Resource) are separate Web sites. I just give them space gratis on Sneezy. They're responsible for almost all their own stuff.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-10-17 14:36
Katfish -
If the standard altissimo fingering for E (using the half-holing technique Stephen describes) is bad, try keeping all your left-hand fingers down and opening the throat Ab key. High register fingerings on bass vary from instrument to instrument, but that one works on my Buffet.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Katfish
Date: 2001-10-17 16:33
Stephen and Ken, Thanks for your suggestions, I will try both ways.
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