 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claire Inet
Date: 2014-01-12 16:38
I'm maybe 8 weeks into my 'new' bass clarinet after a 35 year hiatus from soprano in school. Having a blast. Clarion notes are getting a bit easier, but now I'm struggling with the throat A the last 2-3 practice sessions. It just doesn't come out. I'm blowing and nothing. Same issue I was having at first with the clarion. Taking a bit less MPC in seems to help a bit. I know I've been easing up the air on the throat tones some, as they tend to sound loud compared to the other notes. Maybe I'm overdoing this subconsciously? I do mostly double lip, as this feels more natural to me; but, this problem isn't any different if I drop my teeth onto the MPC. It does seem worse later in the session, maybe it's just embouchure fatigue.
I'm using a Rico 2.5. Considering trying a Vandoren 3.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-01-13 13:47
I must admit I've never heard of this problem in all my years of teaching. It's either that the reed is so soft that you're closing off the reed without realizing it or there's a leak in the G# throat key or one of the top trill or register keys. I can't think of anything else it could be.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-01-13 19:05
What make and model is your bass?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2014-01-13 14:37
Rico 2.5 and Vandoren 3 is a significant difference. Vandoren 3 = Rico 3.5. But what reeds are you using on your soprano? That might be a reference(in some ways only).
Well by experience, the throat A should have been one of the easiest notes anyone can play. Since it is a single-piece key, malfunctions should be quite rare. Try to press the throat A key without playing, and see if the linked hole(the one at the very top) opens. If not, something must have been seriously wrong. Then you will have to take it to the technician.
Another simpler reason is that the instrument is still in its breaking-in period. Play adequately(but not overplay!) and the note shall come up in a matter of time.
Josh
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-01-14 09:10
When you encounter the problem, try this:
The moment it happens, stop playing but don't move or change anything. Not your mouth/lips/jaw and not your fingers. Try to have everything stay the same. Try playing the note again, is it still problematic or does it suddenly come back from the dead?
If it's the latter, then either it is an embouchure problem, or you did move something, or what needs to be moved to fix the problem is so small that you can't really control it (e.g. the throat A causes the mouthpiece to move slightly to create a leak in the tenon, or something like that).
If the former, use the farther down part of your left hand first finger to hold the throat G# key open (which is already open by the throat A key). Let go of the throat A key, so now the throat G# key remains open, but other than that everything is exactly the same. Play the G# note. Does it come out, or is it dead like the A note?
Then try the same with other random notes. When you have the problem, keep everything exactly the same, carefully and slowly change the fingering to another note and try to play it. If another note work, keep everything the same and try the A again.
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Author: BobW
Date: 2014-01-14 21:30
I just started playing bass clarinet, I have played clarinet for many years.
I noticed sometimes my throat Bb was good and sometimes it was not, it was fuzzy. After paying close attention, I realized my left thumb was accidently
partially closing the thumb plate at times making the note fuzzy. I would check to make sure you are not accidently closing or opening any other keys
Just a suggestion
I hope it helps
Bob
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-01-14 22:10
Depending on the make and model, most student level basses have the throat Bb/speaker mechanism linked to the left thumbplate.
When the left thumb is raised, the lower vent (throat Bb vent) is free to open when the speaker key is pressed. If it's out of adjustment it could be opening along with the thumbplate while the speaker key remains untouched which can cause the notes from open G to A to be weak.
On Leblanc basses, the speaker mechanism is linked to the throat A key, so when both throat A key and speaker key are held down together, the lower vent opens for throat Bb.
Pro level basses have the speaker mechanism linked to the throat A key as well as the RH3 fingerplate, so the lower vent is open when the speaker key and either the throat A key or LH3 are held down (the vents switch over when RH3 is released).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: claire Inet
Date: 2014-01-15 02:55
Thanks for the tips. It's a used Vito. No clue on a model number. I think it's in fairly good adjustment. I don't find evidence of a leak, but I certainly understand how much of a challenge/problem this can be with the bass. I bought the bass from a service tech, so I have that going for me. Oddly enough, the last practice session, no problems with the A at all.
I'm going to chalk it up to the learning curve, easing off the A due to the loudness, and lastly - embouchere.
Clarnebass - the note is there if I just play it. The problem is during a passage and it's not there.
HANGERDUDE - I may have mislead in my post. I haven't touched a soprano or bass in years. No reed strength reference point there.
Post Edited (2014-01-14 21:57)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-01-14 22:24
> the note is there if I just play it. The problem is during a passage and it's
> not there.
Any specific sequence of notes? I mean, could it be possible that one of the pads used for the other notes takes a bit longer to "sit down", staying longer open than necessary and create a "temporary" leak? Any sluggish keys somewhere?
--
Ben
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