Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-07-18 20:10
If you play tenor sax, the embouchure won't be the same for bass clarinet simply for the fact it's a bass clarinet and not a sax. So use a clarinet embouchure for bass clarinet - firm and stable but not biting.
You can use tenor sax reeds on bass clarinet, but chances are you may need to use a much stronger reed on bass (depending on the mouthpiece facing) and you could end up playing a reed on bass by as much as 1 to 1.5 stronger than you use on tenor sax.
Aim for a full bodied, solid and centered tone on bass instead of an unsupported, buzzy, spread and thin tone. Rich and round up top and with plenty of fatness and reedy presence low down. Bass clarinet has a character of it's own, so exploit that character (just as bari sax has compared to tenor sax).
You may experience some inconsistency in the tone and tuning in the upper register and some notes may not speak easily - that's more down to the instrument and you will have to find your best way to master those built-in problems. On my bass I find the upper register F# is a really bad note which is mainly due to the position of the speaker vents (or lack of an extra vent as it only has the two).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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