 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-12-03 20:47
Who here plays bass clarinet? I play clarinet and i really want to switch to bass. does it have the same notes and all?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-12-03 22:44
Since its also in Bb, you will play the notes with the same fingerings, but the sound will be exactly one octave lower. Of course, by their nature, ALL clarinets have the same note/fingering relationship, but their sound will be based on their "KEY' as in Eb, C, A, F etc. Hope this helps! Don
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-12-03 23:02
I do - rather poorly, though. =)
Only difference - basses (and altos!) often have low Eb extensions, which means that unlike on most soprano clarinets you have play the low Eb. It's just one extra right hand pinkie key. Some basses go to the low C, now, though. I haven't seen one of those guys yet.
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Author: Jake Rivera
Date: 2001-12-03 23:32
I play bass clarinet and enjoy it immensely! It's no harder to play than a Bb and is capable of producing a very pleasant,rich tone. True, it does have that extension on it but that's only one more note to play.It really helps to get you up to speed on your low notes too.If you'd like to e-mail me and talk about clarinet and any problems you might have, feel free.I myself am a young amateur clarinetist(15 years of age) and I like to think I am a talented player.
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Author: Jake Rivera
Date: 2001-12-03 23:39
Sara wrote:
>
> Who here plays bass clarinet? I play clarinet and i
> really want to switch to bass. does it have the same notes and
> all?
I play and it's realy benifical. Everything is the same except for the extension but that's only one note.I know about the instrument, though I'm only 15, and if you need anything perhaps I could help.Feel free to e-mail me at itsalargeworld@aol.com- Jake Rivera
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-12-04 00:47
there is no need to switch. Play both and enjoy both. i have a cheap bass and love the lower register, but have a hard time going up the scale.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-12-04 01:20
I'm one of the newer bass players. With the exception of some alternate fingering it's the same as your soprano Bb. I find it harder to get through the break though and think it must be the change of mouthpiece, ligature, reed and embouchure setup. Am still looking for a reed I am happy with.
Bob A
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2001-12-04 01:22
I play bass as well (actually I was all state Contra-Alto my senior year of HS).... I don't find that bass is harder than soprano, in fact I find its easier for me at least. Actually I would still play bass, but unfortunatly I don't own my own bass clarinet. I wish I did a lot of times, but I'm a broke college student and don't have the money.
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Author: sarah
Date: 2001-12-04 01:41
I played bass all through high school and was first chair in all state my last three years. I'm now a Bb perfomancce major in college. I found that bass parts for younger bands are a little boring, but more difficult music has some very good parts. It was a lot of fun and very rewarding. And yes, you don't need to quit the Bb, you can play them both.
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Author: Pat
Date: 2001-12-04 02:55
I play bass clarinet clarinet. I can say the fingerings are the same with the exception of the extra fingerings for the low e-flat and low-c extensions. I enjoy playing the bass a lot. I enjoy it much more than playing the e-flat clarinet. I have found that it is a different beast than the regular b-flat. I found many people make the mistake of playing the bass like a clarinet. I had some really good experiences playing some really cool wind ensemble music on the bass clarinet last year in college. My advice is if you really like playing bass go for it.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2001-12-04 04:18
I play bass clarinet part time, and it's really fun--even on a cheap plastic one. Playing a bass instrument really lets you look at music from a different angle.
I have a couple of students who play bass clarinet and bari sax respectively. They take turns playing the bass lines and improvising solos over simple tunes like My Girl, Stand by Me, Chameleon, etc. It wouldn't sound nearly as good with higher pitched instruments.
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Author: kny
Date: 2001-12-04 10:01
I play both the bass and the soprano. Problems encountered in Bass may include alignment problems with the mechanism. I also noticed that by practicing running notes on the bass, you may end up improving on your running notes on your soprano
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-12-04 12:06
I am really surprised that nobody has mentioned the plateau key fingerings over high C.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-12-04 13:42
I've been playing bass clarinet since dinosaurs roamed the earth, and I'm still trying to figure out how to make a living at it....................
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2001-12-04 14:39
I have been playing bass clarinet for 17 years in a community band and love it. Have fun with it, but remember to keep up your soprano embouchure, because it is hard to get it back if all you have been playing is bass clarinet. I am still learning the hard way. I really stink at soprano, fingering is a breeze, but my tone is suffering.
SusieQ
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-12-04 17:26
Go bass clarinet! That's actually my primary instrument that I study in college. I the biggest difference I notice between bass and soprano is my embouchure. I tend to get really tired if I play my soprano too long. Maybe that's just me. As to making a career out of playing it, get back to me in a few years! :-)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-12-04 20:11
Mark P's comments, re: the plateau character of the bass [and ALTO, which I am now rediscovering is a worthy sibling!!] with its oboe-like-half-hole keying IS a major difference from our sop. Bb's, are well put !! I do agree that, with a "flexible" embouchure, a player can reasonably adapt from from the demanding sop. Eb to the more relaxed basses and play them all well, IMHO. Don
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2001-12-04 20:26
Playing bass is somewhat like playing eefer: you are one-on-a-part, always a treat. I sat in on bass clarinet in a bulgarian band last weekend and Everybody got a big grin out of it.
The keys are bigger, and therefore require a lot more care and caution. Since they are longer, they will be easier to bend and harder to get back into alignment. Your experience on bass may well be commensurate with your state of key regulation. Some years ago, a local orchestra hired me to play Nutcracker on their aging Buffet; after two pads fell off during the first rehearsal, I told them to fix it or find another victim. So they got the leaks down enough so that it would play, but it was about as fun as trying to hold onto a barrel of screaming felines. I got through the ballet OK, but then they didn't rehire me the next year, even though I had my own bass by then. Apparently they have less sense of humor than I do.
It may be helpful to find a store or mail order house that will let you try out mouthpieces to find one you like. You will probably initially use a different reed strength than on soprano clar. You address the mouthpiece at a more perpendicular angle, relative to your head/spine (there has to be a better way to say this..) Less bite pressure is required and you will push more air at lower pressure - rather similar to playing tenor sax.
Fingering in the altissimo register is different and a unique experience. (Caveat emptor - I have never had a lesson or seen a fingering chart.) The Left-hand Index Finger key has an offset pad to use for these notes. Some older instruments have dual octave keys, but I have never played on one of these. (I remember hearing Oliver Green of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra talk about this setup 15 years ago, but can't remember what he said.)
If you have never doubled before, this should be major fun for you!
Good luck!
Ralph
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-12-04 21:56
Very well said, with much humor, but very true, Ralph. The double register keying does make playing , particularly across the break, much more satisfying. Don
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-12-04 22:52
Thank you for the setup, Mark. I was thinking the same thing, about plateau keys and all. (I don't know if you were thinking what I was thinking about what needed to be said, but I have one small thing.)
Once you get into altissimo fingerings you don't see very often except in etudes or solos, you either have to half-hole or go by alternate throat+register fingerings which can turn into a pain.
go to <www.wfg.sneezy.org> for a detailed fingering chart of all clarinet systems and just follow the links to find what you need.
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Author: R Simpson
Date: 2001-12-05 02:20
Im in the 9th grade, and play on an 1180 buffet bass Clarinet. I find Bass Clarinet easier to play than Soprano. Some of the parts can be boring, but harder stuff (like all-region etudes) is challenging, but fun. The lower notes sound awesome on a good horn. If you use an old crappy one (Vito, Bundy--now Selmer USA), you will hate the bass with a passion.
Give the bass a try, and see what you think....
PS -- I use a Selmer C* mpc, Rovner Lig, Vandoren 3 reeds (make sure you use bass clarinet reeds...Whatever the salesman says, Tenor Sax and Bass Clarinet reeds ARE NOT THE SAME!!!!!!!!!!!)
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Author: kny
Date: 2001-12-05 10:10
I am currently playing a Buffet Prestige Bass Clarinet with the original mouthpiece. I'm considering a CXBB mouthpiece to replace the original mouthpiece. Does anyone know if this replacement is a wise choice? Anyway what particular mouthpiece are all of you using?
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-12-05 15:41
I don't know how WISE, but it's my choice--along with a Rovner or Peter Spriggs Floating Rail Lig.
Bob A
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-12-06 02:54
BTW I also use a Selmer C* and a Rovner Ligature. I use LaVoz 4 reeds, however. Their bass reeds aren't too bad. Plus, they're cheap. I find this setup easy to grow fond of.
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Author: Ted Donaldson
Date: 2001-12-06 12:25
I play bass... a fancy Walter Grabner MP, and a BG ligature, and a nice ol' king marigaux bass clarinet...
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Author: Juliet
Date: 2001-12-20 15:38
I play a Selmer (with low C) bass with a Selmer E mouthpiece and love it!!
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