Bass clarinet? hello,
I was thinking of trying the bass clarinet ( not as a main instrument, just for fun ). I think it sounds eldritch in the chalmeaux register, and very beautifull in the clarino register. It's the clarino register I really like. But I have some reservations because I've heard:
It's clarino register is weak.
It's clarino register is smaller than the higher clarinets.
It's clarino register is always out of tune; it's used mainly in the chalmeaux register.
Is this true? Any info from the clarinet players here?
Thanks
Re: Bass clarinet? From what I've heard the altissimo register is the one with the most problems. (A quote from a friend (regarding the use of plastic reeds, but still relevant here) "They aren't very good for the high notes, but the high notes are f***ed anyway".) The written range of the bass clarinet in textbooks is never as high as that of the soprano.
Re: Bass clarinet? OK, clarino register isn't as powerful as the chalmeux register. However with enough puff it can sound quite well - you'd need a decent instrument though really. As for altissimo, you'll be lucky to get an instrument that speaks in that register, let alone sounds any good!
I have to say though, that the best bcl for altissimo that I've used was surprisingly a basic student, old wooden Noblet that has seen better days. I was expecting it to be really awful (it belongs to the county music service and i played it in one of their bands) and it actually played amazingly well! I could get top, top G to speak staight away without even having to un up to it!
Back to the topic ... you need some puff to be able to make bass clarinets hold their own, however it's well worth it. It sounds beautiful in the first two registers, and if you're lucky it might even play the altissimo notes. Have fun if you do have a go at it
--- The difference between an amateur and a professional: the amateur practises until it's right; the professional practises until it never goes wrong.
Re: Bass clarinet? It seems to me that it is only really the soprano A and Bb clarinets that have a good, strong tone over their entire range. The others seem to have major weaknesses in their upper registers.
--- Breathing is important! If you don't breathe, your sound will deteriorate, your phrasing will suffer, and you will die.
Re: Bass clarinet? Except Eb soprano although that's just criminal in its upper register. Not half as criminal as a top B on pic though!
--- The difference between an amateur and a professional: the amateur practises until it's right; the professional practises until it never goes wrong.
Re: Bass clarinet? Ah, seems we posted near enough simultaneously before. I think Eb soprano is the most annoying.
--- The difference between an amateur and a professional: the amateur practises until it's right; the professional practises until it never goes wrong.
Re: Bass clarinet? Well if you've heard it in any pieces it would probably have mingled in with the flutes. It usually doubles their parts.
--- The difference between an amateur and a professional: the amateur practises until it's right; the professional practises until it never goes wrong.
Bass clarinet?
although that's just criminal in its upper register. Not half as criminal as a top B on pic though!