 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Saxy Boy 2
Date: 2001-06-26 02:30
whats better to play contra or a bass clarinet. which one has more music written for it? what model should i use? any additonal info welcomed
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-06-26 07:55
The Bass Clarinet has far more music for it. The bass clarinet is used in bands and orchestras. The contra is used only in some bands, and rarely with an interesting line. You'll be stuck doing oompah oompah.
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Author: D. Pegel
Date: 2001-06-26 16:49
I'm a member of the odd bunch. I play two clarinets most of the time, standard Bb soprano, and Eb Contra-alto. I assume by contra you mean the Eb one.
I have to give Eoin credit for the fact that contras don't have as many parts and that they aren't as interesting. That also means that the parts are easier to learn. So contra's good to start with to get the feel of a very big single-reed instrument.
I'm personally the type of person who lkes the low rumble of instruments. The lower the part, the darker and deeper the sound seems to be. Contras are good for that satisfying low rumble, seeing how it goes as low as a tuba on some models. It's always a good idea to have at least one in a clarinet choir. (Which I am the lucky individual playing contra for)
But if you only like the low rumble and not the technique that contra parts have. (It's not always oompah oompah, though most of the time it is.) You can always go a step lower and pick the Bb contra-BASS, which has a few more parts written for it that involve more holding notes and bass lines. But those are harder to find.
I think that, if you're like most people, you should go with standard Bb bass.
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Author: AzureSon
Date: 2001-09-29 11:01
If you have the option, learn on the bass clarinet and play interesting contra clarinet parts that come along. That's what I did...but then I began to focus on the contra clarinet because it really is special and adds so much to an ensemble.
Some contra clarinets have more primitive keywork than bass clarinets, so you can't do certain trills and the altissimo may require special techniques. Better to learn on an instrument that has complete keywork...if you're really lucky, a bass clarinet extended to low C.
Otherwise, I agree with what D Pegel and Eoin McAuley said.
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Author: Lizzie McGuire
Date: 2002-01-19 06:21
I hate playing the contra clarinet because it has the absoulute WORST parts, and the only reason I play it now it because in high school the competition for bass clarinet would be too challenging, especially at the very talented high I am zoned to. The other reason I play it is because when I was asked if I wanted to play contra, I had absoulutly no idea how big it was. I hate playing a huge instrument such as that one. All in all, CONTRA STINKS!
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Author: Jenny
Date: 2002-01-29 01:40
I played the contra bass clarinet in HS.And I fell in love with it. Not only is it a rare instrument and a great way to get attention it also is very fun to play. With the low vibrating notes that seem to well up inside you as you slowly make the whole ensamble to come alive at the sound. I dont have one since they are sooo expensive but I wish I had. I loved playing it more then any other instrument though I can play many.And you can play it with music from almost any clarinet part as well as tenor sax parts..
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Author: Mary Gibbons
Date: 2003-02-28 01:04
I agree with Eoin that the bass clarinet does have more music written for it. However, the contra bass (In my opinion) was much more fun to play. The low vibration of the contra made the band sound a little bit more alive. I wouldn't worry to much on music becuase I use to play the bass clarinet music on the contra bass. Only I played a Bb contra Bass Clarinet. I would take it to contest and many college professors, and judges would comment on the one student that played a very rare instrument. Plus when you play a rare instrument such as the contra bass, many talent scouts will keep an eye out on you.
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Author: bassplaya
Date: 2005-12-18 00:07
i play the Bb bass clarinet and Bb clarinet. THe bass is real fun and many people comment on it, butthe parts aren't as challenging as i'm used to. I want to play contra because i like to stand out
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Author: bassplaya
Date: 2005-12-18 00:08
i play the Bb bass clarinet and Bb clarinet. THe bass is real fun and many people comment on it, butthe parts aren't as challenging as i'm used to. I want to play contra because i like to stand out
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