 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2011-10-22 19:48
So, a few days ago I played a low C bass clarinet for the first time. It wasn't an outstanding instrument, plastic double-register bass from a somewhat unknown brand called Accent. I was just playing it for fun, basicly. But the keywork on the low, extended notes was extremely awkward, slow to sound, and hardly worth the trouble. I doubt I could ever play the notes in tempo to any piece, let alone a chromatic scale at my usual speed. The low C, C#, and D keys were right below the thumb rest, with another alternative for the D on the left hand side where all the other (I think they call it fork?) keys are. I'm just wondering if all low C basses are this awkward and clumsy or if it's just an Accent thing. Do you get more use to it over time as you familiarize yourself with the keys?
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Author: davyd
Date: 2011-10-22 19:56
A Leblanc low C BClar that I was once loaned had 2 low D keys: one for the RH pinky (for a total of 6 on that side) and one for the LH pinky (for a total of 5). Low C# and C were operated by the right thumb.
Quite likely the keywork on your instrument is out of adjustment. The more keys there are, the more likely it is that something need tweaking. Whether it's worth the work is hard to say.
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Author: DNBoone
Date: 2011-10-22 20:50
Selmer Keywork is as follows
Low D on Left and Right hand keys
the low on the left hand is next to the F/C key
the right hand one is on the top stack on the bottom, above the low Eb.
The thumb operates C, C# and Eb
Buffet Basses
Low D on left and right like selmer
Thumb keys are C, C#, and D.
They both have the Ab/Eb key above the left hand E/B and F#/C# keys.
I find on my selmer they easily go out of adjustment, but the selmer has many adjustment screws I can use to fix it quite easily. It also helps that when I go to play a low D, C#, or C to push down the low E or F key as well since then the one key isn't having to push down all the pads by itself.
I did get more use to it over time, but I find that fast chromatic things are still awkward, and thankfully, rarely encountered. If I do come across heavily chromatic passages, it is usually slow.
Post Edited (2011-10-22 20:52)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-10-22 21:08
My old model 31 Low C Selmer Bass is the same way with no rollers on the three keys, I have no trouble with them. There were some models of Selmer's with only two in the thumb and then with the three with rollers and instead on one under the other one of them was to the side. They've changed it several times over the years. Mine only has 5 low pinky keys in the RH, the latter ones have 6, so I had a low D built on in the LH because I didn't have one there. I think I've used that one once in the 49 years I've been in the BSO. Anyway, it is possible to get used to them and remember, you don't usually have to play them at a fast tempo. I can't recall ever having anything really quick between those lowest notes. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-10-22 23:58
C, D and maybe some E series Selmer low C basses had the extended keywork arranged like their basset clarinets and basset horns - an arrangement unique to Selmer.
On the LH keys you had:
C#/G#
F/C/low C* and low D** just below it
E/B and F#/C#
Ab/Eb
* the LH F/C touch operated the bell key as well so a low C-Db trill could be done
** the LH low D touch closed all the keys for that note, so it could be used alone instead of in conjunction with the low Eb key (so G to low D could be played just by operating the LH D lever). Most basses have this feature apart from Leblanc, Amati and German/Oehler system low C basses.
On the RH keys you had:
(upper level)
Ab/Eb - F/C - low Eb
(lower level)
F#/C# - E/B - low C#/Db*
* the low Db touch closed all the neccessary keys for this note.
The thumb had two touches:
low D
low C
Both thumb touches closed all the neccessary keys for their respective notes.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-10-23 04:55
The bass clarinet you played was probably a Chinese one and I think I remember two types of low C ones as far as the low note keys. I thought some were ok and some weren't so comfortable. IMO some bass clarinets have comfortable or at least decent low note keys. I like most of the new ones with some being very comfortable. I do sometimes play them a lot, fast, slow, etc.
>> But the keywork on the low, extended notes was extremely awkward, slow to sound, and hardly worth the trouble. <<
Just the opposite for me. Very useful, use them often, no problem with slow to sound, etc.
> I doubt I could ever play the notes in tempo to any piece, let alone a chromatic scale at my usual speed. <<
I use these low notes often, many times in parts thta re not slow at all. Just tomorrow I'm playing something which has a pretty fast low Eb-D-Db-C-D#-E. This is done more or less by sliding the thumb down on the thumb keys. It wouldn't be as comfortable on all low C bass clarinets though.
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