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Re: Going high on a contrabass

Author: Shorthand
Date: 2006-02-18 22:55

Bari Sax reeds will work for EEb contra (though I would still recommend that you at least try contra clarinet reeds too), but for BBb contra you really need the big BBb contra reeds (or Bass sax perhaps). Bari Sax reeds are worth trying with the BBb, but you definitely need to see if real BBb contra reeds sound better.

If its metal, its probably still a LeBlanc. The stamp should still be there - top dead center like on a Bass.

If I heard you, I could probably tell you whether its a embouchure issue or a leak. With a leak, the upper register just won't sound unless you force a squak. With a leak, all you'll normally get is a wheeze with a small what I would call "continuious chirp" like when a reed chirps, but it just keeps going. An embouchure issue won't have so much chirp and it'll be less consistent - it'll be more associated with spontanous squaks.

It takes a while for the outer lip muscles to develop, even when swithcing from Bass it usually takes me a good month before my contra embouchure is back. (Though the differences between BBb and EEb aren't that huge.) Just like on the Bass, you can't pinch with your jaw to force a clarion note to come out - but more so (you can do this on soprano though of course its wrong), you really have to relax the jaw to make the clarion speak on a contra.

However, leaks are so common on these instruments, especially right as they're coming out of storage that that's where I'd start. Later you'll be able to tell the difference but for now you won't know which it is without some help - so get it - either from the local good repair guy or from a teacher or peer.

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