The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: dansil
Date: 2011-05-05 14:20
Could somebody show me a/some link(s) to information which will help me to read bass cleff while playing bass clarinet. I'd like to get into the Bach cello suites (I have the Michael Bontoux edition and I've become very confused about whether this is transcribed up or not and what notes correspond to which key. I can't find any teacher who can help me with this!
Cheers, Danny Silver
a family doctor in Castlemaine, rural Victoria, Australia for the past 30+ years, also a plucked string musician (mandolin, classical guitar) for far too long before discovering the clarinet - what a missed opportunity!
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Author: Fishamble
Date: 2011-05-05 14:50
I don't have a document or link to point you to, but as a starting point I can offer you this: on bass, reading bass clef, middle C written is the C just above the break played. If I've expressed this clearly, then you should be able to work it out from there.
It takes time to become familiar with the bass clef, and I've never been called upon to read a bass clef part, so, quite honestly, the value of doing it is questionable.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2011-05-05 15:34
I would suggest that you buy the original parts and read from them. To familiarize yourself with the clef, just start naming the notes one by one. This will be arduous at first, but will solve the problem eventually.
If you want to speed up the learning curve, finger the correct notes as you say them.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-05-05 15:49
Bottom line G on bass clef is low G on bass clarinet and top space G is open G if playing straight from 'cello or bassoon (or other concert pitch bass clef) parts without transposing.
When reading tenor clef (and 'cello parts will often go into tenor clef), imagine it as treble clef Bb basso with the notes still in the same positions but take away two flats or add two sharps and adjust any accidentals as they turn up (pretty much as you'd do when playing concert pitch bass clef parts on bari sax or contra-alto clarinet - the notes remain in the same position on the stave but imagine a treble clef there instead and take off three flats/add three sharps and adjust any other accidentals as you need).
If you're reading orchestral bass clarinet parts initially written in bass clef (eg. works by Richard Strauss or Wagner and others), when it goes into treble clef you then have to play all treble clef notes an 8ve higher than they're written so all of it sounds a tone lower than the written note (on Bb bass).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-05-05 23:36
I suggest you get an intermediate bassoon or cello book and start with that to learn how to read bass clef. I'm not familiar with that edition but if it's the actual cello suites then you just read it as written, don't worry about transposition. No one really cares if it a step off, you're playing it on a bass clarinet. If there's a cello player in the audience with perfect pitch they probably won't be there anyway. If you don't want to start with an intermediate book begin with one of the slow movements and just plug away slowly. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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