 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2002-12-26 02:01
I have been playing Bb clarinet for years, and now my college wind symphony has recently put me on the bass clarinet for the semester. Are there any suggestions on getting a better tone and feel for the instrument?
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-12-26 06:21
Practice long tones frequently as breath control, ie maintaining a proper column of air, to work the beast is more difficult than Bb.
Bob A
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Author: Willie
Date: 2002-12-26 06:56
It helps to take in a little more mouthpiece than you would on the smaller clarinet. Also the neck angle on most basses tends to be a bit too horizontal for most players. Try tucking the bell back a bit under the chair for a better angle if its an older one and not equiped with a "Bay" neck.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-12-26 13:14
I disagree with the recommendation to use a softer reed than on Bb clarinet, especially considering that most stock bass clarinet mouthpieces tend to have closer tip openings than probably they should. I personally use #4 reeds pretty much across the board from EEb contra-alto through Eb soprano, and recommend that approach to others. The most important thing is to keep the jaw dropped, keep the mouth cavity really open, and maintain that embouchure through all the registers --- avoid the tendency to lapse into the 'lazy' collapsed saxophone-type embouchure. Taking in more mouthpiece is also a good recommendation. And by all means have the instrument checked out by a good tech who knows bass clarinets to make sure there are no leaks and the register mechanism especially is properly regulated. Then, enjoy the best member of the clarinet family!
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-12-26 14:08
Another thing --- get a good mouthpiece! Highly recommended and relatively inexpensive, are the bass clarinet mouthpieces of Walter Grabner and Roger Garrett. Higher-priced and reportedly terrific are the b.c. mouthpieces of Clark Fobes.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-12-26 16:57
One thing Dave said is worth repeating. Make absolutely certain that there are no leaks and that the register key mechanism (which hopefully is the automatic double type) is properly adjusted. Even a minor leak or mal-adjustment can render a bass virtually unplayable.
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Author: jean
Date: 2002-12-26 22:14
Be prepared to count a lot of rests and then play a lot of exposed parts....As the bass clarinetist for our local symphony you will find it a much different experience than band. At times you play with the bassoons, then the cellos or string basses, and sometimes a clarinet choir. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. I think you will find it to be a very rewarding experience, depending on your parts.
You will need more air so open up the throat and mouth. Breathe from as low as you can. I have found being a bass clarinetist makes me a better clarinetist from an air standpoint.
There are several mouthpieces out there that can range up to 200 dollars. IF you can get your hands on a good one that will help a great deal. I have a Richard Hawkins which I like a lot but it is on the high end dollarwise.
As far as reeds are concerned my biggest gripe in playing in orchestra is that they dry out during breaks in the action. Seriously, I find myself resting a lot and need to pay attention to what is going on around me.
Enjoy it, you are in for a lot of fun.
Jean
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Author: William
Date: 2002-12-27 15:15
Better tone quality???--it's all about the mouthpiece. Check out the Walter Grabner ad in the classifieds. He makes mpcs the are identical in specifications to the one used by Laurie Bloom of the CSO.
As for reeds drying out during rests, again I will advocated "salival only" moisterization and the rubbuing of the vamp before and after playing. I practice this proceedure on all of my single reed instruments--clarinets and sax--and my reeds never dry out "on the gig." Even my soprano sax that "just sits there" while I play tenor, alto, clarinet and flute licks, is always "ready to wail" when it's tune is finally called. I used to soak my reeds in water and, consequently, they dried out all the time--even during short periods of rest. Something about saliva only keeps them moist throughout the gig--therefore, I never soak any reed in water, ever!! Saliva only, with sealing the vamp--no more reeds drying out mid-gig--works for me.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-12-27 17:43
Re reeds drying out: What William says makes sense. I never put my reeds in water--just wet them with saliva. And I always put the mouthpiece cap on when the instrument is sitting. The reed takes several hours to dry out. One more tip: close off any air-holes in the mouthpiece cap.
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