 The Doublers BBoard
|
Author: abe
Date: 2026-03-12 01:08
Hello, I have lurked here for a long time but have not posted before. I am wondering if anybody has thoughts on covering tuba parts with a bass clarinet in a small band or wind ensemble. Can a bass clarinet put out enough volume to substitute for a tuba in a small group? I assume not quite as much volume or attack as for example a bass sax?
For background, the rest of the band consisting of flute, Bb clarinet (2), trumpet (2), horn, and drums for folk and dance music. I ask since the euphonist (Youffer?) is playing tuba, and I, more adept at the clarinet, am playing horn, trombone, or bass clef euphonium parts on an Eb alto Horn; we are both a bit bored playing downbeats and upbeats respectively and pondering if there is good strategy to swap roles for some songs. I would be sort of interested in procuring an old bass clarinet to have on hand anyway (never have before and would have to practice to get a decent sound I imagine) but perhaps would be better off just getting myself a tuba mouthpiece (an undertaking that in my mind would be a greater time sink than even the alto horn doubling).
I guess just curious if anyone has spent time covering tuba parts in a wind band and how much sound in the low register you can get out of a bass clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: davyd
Date: 2026-03-28 21:49
If you want to cover bass clef parts on bass clarinets, all the parts will need to be transposed. You must either write out the parts, or read everything down a fifth (or up a fourth) adjusting key signatures and accidentals as necessary.
A somewhat better choice might be a baritone sax. It has more power than a bass clarinet, and the transposition is simpler: read treble clef, adjusting key signatures and accidentals as necessary.
Or you might use a piano, or an electronic keyboard, reading from a bass part or a guitar part. This would require learning how to interpret chord symbols, which are generally straightforward when it comes to folk music.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: lydian
Date: 2026-03-30 22:52
Bari sax mentioned above is the easiest option. Pretending it's treble clef and adding flats works pretty well without much practice. But you apparently already use this trick on an Eb alto horn.
I cover tuba/bass parts on bass sax (same key as bass clarinet) in a 1920s dance band and transpose those parts on sight. Not knowing how to read bass clef or transpose on sight at first, it took me 4 months of serious work to learn to do it. First I had to learn to read bass clef. I primarily used flash cards for about a month until I could do it without thinking. Then I practiced the whole step transposition for a couple of months until I could do that without thinking. Then finally, I practiced actual parts until I could read them without mistakes. One additional wrinkle for me is that tuba parts sound as written. But bass parts sound an octave lower than written. So I have to take those up a step and down an octave. When I get out of my instrument's range above or below the staff, I have to deal with taking those notes down or up an octave. It was a huge undertaking for me, but it was worth it since it was for a steady, paying gig. Considering the amount of effort involved, I really can't recommend it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
