 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jim A
Date: 2002-10-09 03:44
This year I have switched to the bass clarinet and so far, I really like it. It has been, however, a fairly frustrating change.
The instrument that I have available is a Vito resonite, and it seems to be in reasonable working order. I am trying both the Vito mouthpiece and a Vandoren B44 plus a variety of reeds.
Everything works fine and sound good up to the middle line Bb. Above the register however is a different story. I can generally get the notes up to D above the staff to sound, but they are very stuffy and sometimes difficult to play. Also I am rarely able to start any notes above G or A. A pipe cleaner test on the register hole shows it to be clear.
I have been hoping that I can find a combination of mouthpiece, reed and embouchure that will make this work, but so far it has been disappointing. I would welcome any suggestions.
Thanks, Jim
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Author: Willie
Date: 2002-10-09 04:50
Sounds like you have a small leak somewhere. Bass and Contra clarinets get very fickle even with the most minute leak. I would start by checking all the pads and also the register vent (key) system. I think yours has the double register set-up and it would be best to let a tech poke around with that as you might just make it worse if you don't know how to adjust it.
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Author: Charles
Date: 2002-10-09 14:07
I agree with Willie about checking for leaks - I had a slight twist in one of my B/E pads and it made it unplayable (my fault for being careless with the key work)
I have just got a Graebner mouthpiece (Graebner is a sponsor of the Sneezy.com site) for my Selmer 1440 and it makes an obvious difference to the sound in the clarion register and I think my lower notes are cleaner and louder - for US$95 it looks like a very good investment to me.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2002-10-09 14:08
Do you have a friend or colleague that also plays bass clarinet and is able to play the notes on his/her instrument that you are having trouble with? If so, have him put his mouthpiece on your instrument and try it. Likewise, you can put your mouthpiece on his instrument and try it. This will give you a good idea if the problem is with the instrument or with the player/mouthpiece/reed.
Another thing you can try that doesn't require a bass clarinet-playing friend, but just a friend, is this. While you are trying to play one of the troublesome notes, have a friend individually press down on each of the pads that should be closed. If his pressing makes the note sound, you know where you probably have a leak.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-10-09 14:48
The two notes that you describe (G & A) are the "problem" notes that defeat most prospective bass clarinetists. Interestingly, my old college clarinet professor once told me that "you can pretty much tell how (good) any bass clarinetist is by asking them to play a staccato G#." Leaks are always a problem with basses, but so is the quality of the instrument itself. My old Bundy Resonite played remarkably well in the clarion register, but my new Buffet Prestige (selected from six others) plays effortlessly "up there." I therefore think that it has to do with the accoustices of the particular instrument--some are better than others.
As for stuffy high D, here are some alternate fingerings I have dicovered that seem to help me:
High C#--octave key and first finger (no thumb)
High D--octave high only (overblown second-line "open" G)
High D# (Eb)--octave key and Ab key
In using the "traditional" clarinet fingerings for this high register, be certain to keep first finger without covering the small hole--this is a vent.
Hope this helps--bass clarinet is a wonderful/fun instrument to play.
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Author: Curt at MusicMedic
Date: 2002-10-09 15:23
Sounds like a lot of good advise here. In my experience, the leaks are usually what keep these tones from sounding. To add to Don Poulsen's reply, remember that leaks are also cumulative. If you find a leak by pressing the pad cups you know have a leak. If you don't find one this way, you may have many tiny leaks.
Good luck!
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Author: Kay
Date: 2002-10-09 17:59
Are you playing a school owned instrument? It's very likely the instrument (especially if it's been school maintained) is in need of adjustment. Our experience has been that the school bass my son plays is a bit more fickle than his soprano clarinet. Consequently, one contribution I've made to the school music program is to maintain the Bundy bass clarinet he plays. When he started, we had several pads replaced and the instrument adjusted (cost ~$80.00). Approximately every 6 months we take it in to have keys adjusted (when the upper register becomes flakey). That costs ~$20.00 each time. I save the receipts, get the band director to sign them, and it's considered a tax deductible contribution to the school district.
You really can't learn to play the bass well if the instrument is in need of adjustment. If you can, get it to a tech and have it checked out with a leak light. They should then be able to give you an estimate of what it would cost to get it in top playing shape.
Good luck!
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Author: Jim A
Date: 2002-10-10 02:54
Thanks very much for the help. Despite what I hope may be minor problems, I am really enjoying playing the bass.
There is a good tech in Seattle who worked on my Bb, and I am hoping he will be able to look at the bass too. Hopt to get it down there soon, but probably after the holidays.
Thanks again,
Jim
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Author: Andrew E.
Date: 2002-10-11 04:46
Jim,
Check that you are covering the hole in the key that is covered by your left hand index finger. I have a friend who had the same type of trouble as what you described and when I watched her play, she was not covering that hole. When she covered the hole, she was able to get a good tone on notes that had been barely coming out before.
This hole in the left hand index finger key should be covered on all notes up to C above the staff, on altisimo notes opening this hole makes them a lot easier to play. However, if it is open on notes below the altisimo register, they will sound stuffy or they will barely sound at all. I hope this helps, if I am wrong please correct me.
I would also stronly advise having a friend try to play your bass clarinet.
Good Luck
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Author: Jean
Date: 2002-10-11 12:31
What sort of key register system does this instument have? It sounds to me like the key on the neck (if it has that type of system) is not closing. When that happens with my bass the b, c, and c# won't speak well.
Jean
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Author: nick
Date: 2002-10-11 16:36
Hi,
depending on the year your bass was built, sometimes the inherent register-key system makes the upper register playing quite difficult because honestly it rarely works properly. A mouthpiece that plays normally in the low should normally also respond correctly in the high register, so that's probably not the problem. Unfortunatly, most basses are tough to play if they are not of good quality, but biting and to much mouthpiece in the mouth are often causes of the symptoms you are desrcribing. Leaks in the pads seems to be the most likely answer though, especially in the upper joint. The smallest leak in the smallest pads very high on the instrument can stop you from producing any sound unless attacked from lower notes, wich is what you were saying.
Hope this helps a bit,
Regard,
Nick
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