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B flat

Author: Tina
Date: 2002-06-03 21:26

I play the bass clarinet in my school band and on the bass clarinet I have when I play the B flat just above middle C the sound always comes out airy and sounds slightly off. Does this happen to all B flat clarinets or is there a way to corect it or something like that?

Tina

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RE: B flat

Author: GBK
Date: 2002-06-03 22:57

Tina...There are a number of ways to correct the stuffiness of the Bb4. The most obvious way is to try (when the passage permits) the regular fingering of A4 + the second (from the top) side trill key.

You could also experiment with the various resonance fingerings to improve the response/pitch/intonation of Bb4.

Consult any of the standard fingering texts for ideas (Ridenour's is a good one, but there are others), or check the suggested fingerings on the Woodwind Fingering Guide site:

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/

As Bb4 is a note which normally needs help on bass clarinet as well as Bb/A clarinet, it is well worth the time spent learning which fingerings will help with your particular brand of instrument...GBK

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RE: B flat

Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-06-04 14:23

Tina -

In addition to GBK's excellent advice, you should check the register key mechanism, which gets out of adjustment very easily on bass clarinets. Usually, there are three separate holes operated by the left thumb lever: one for middle B through Eb (near the top of the upper joint), one for the notes E and above (on the neck) and one just for the throat Bb (about the level of the throat A or Ab key). (Some inexpensive bass clarinets and the older Leblancs have only a single register key, but even they have a separate Bb mechanism.)

For the throat Bb, it's important that the other two ("register") holes are completely closed. If they're slightly open, that spoils the Bb.

An easy way to check is to play the throat Bb and hold the two register keys closed with your right hand fingers. You may have to ask a friend to hold one of them for you. If the Bb clears up, you need to have the mechanism adjusted. This is really a job for a repair technician, since there are sliding contacts and springs that compete against one another that have to be adjusted "just so."

While the instrument is in the shop, ask them to clean out all three holes. If the bass you're playing is a school instrument, it's almost certain that crud has accumulated in the register vents.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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