This video really helped me, I’ve played Bb Clarinet for 4 years and decided to changed to Bass Clarinet for Jazz Band after Marching Band season today is day three of playing it and the first two days I couldn’t play a high note on the Bass but after this video I played it and they came out almost perfectly thank you so much.

I did this, a LOT of years ago but still remember it vividly. Actually, I played Bb soprano grades 6,7,8- then was put on Bb CONTRABASS clarinet for concert season 9th grade year. That thing was a beast, a stovepipe for which they had to make a special stool for me as I was 5'5" at the time! I was switched to bass clarinet for 10th grade and never looked back. Made All-State Band, LOVED the melodic parts which are very similar to what bary sax plays- and after playing contrabass BOY did I have some wind-once counted playing 40+ measures without a breath on a Bb soprano clarinet... lol

I play Bb clarinet and I would love to double bass clarinet, especially since I saw Backun is going to release an affordable bass clarinet soon made of the same material of their Alpha Bb clarinet. I love the bass clarinet sound more than the tenor sax sound, so I really hope I can play it one day.

Thank you a ton for this informative video! Keep on bringing more of it!!!

Good job including the tip about tenor sax reeds. There were a couple of occasions where I couldn't find a bass clarinet reed when I needed it and knowing that I could substitute a tenor sax reed saved me.

I used to transpose bassoon music on the bass (shortage of bassoon players) Just used saxophone fingerings (mostly). Double major on BC & BSN in college.

Good video! If you are playing Bass Clarinet, you don't have a choice but to play B Flat Clarinet music. There just isn't alot of music written specifically for the Bass Clarinet. Another benefit of playing a bass in not having to be so precise in covering the key holes since they are covered similar to a Saxaphone.

Great information. Although the part about not putting the bass clarinet to the side like a saxophone and not using a strap....well that depends on the player. In the end as long as you don't accidentally cover or open any keys a great player can do whatever they want to get the best results.

Perfect post !!! You answered all my Bass Clarinet questions.

0:55 i played that for all region on Bb clarinet 👁👄👁

i switched from Bb to bass clarinet a few months ago and this helped me so much. thank you sooo much and you are awesome! :)

Brilliant video. Wish I could attend class or practice with you, wonderful energy imparting the reward playing this instrument. Thanks for sharing your expertise with such warm generosity!

Thanks for this wonderful, informative video! I started on the soprano clarinet, but in 7th grade I added the bass clarinet to my musical "portfolio" and enjoyed playing it and continued to play both (although taking up double bass caused this stringed instrument to occupy more of my time until it was essentially my "primary" instrument). Fast forward some 50 years, and after retiring, I decided to "get back into" music in earnest, but concentrated on brass, which was new to me. I took out my clarinet again, and then expanded on it, getting an Albert system soprano clarinet (which requires a few different fingerings), and then a "contra-alto" clarinet, which makes me want to say "nyah-nyah" to the bass clarinet players, but of course I still get "humbled" by the contrabass clarinet, in which case I resort to playing one of my tubas. Seriously, I enjoyed playing the bass clarinet, and in addition my best friend sat next to me playing bassoon while his wonderful older sister was on the other side of me playing the school's other bass clarinet. The bass clarinet I played didn't have a supporting rod at the bottom, and frankly I can't recall if I held it up (maybe with a strap) or rested it on the floor. It only went down to the written Eb, but I found that if I put the cover of the mouthpiece into the bell, it would sound a written D instead when that "5th key" was pressed. Therefore, I was amazed to learn in your video that some instruments are capable of playing down to a WRITTEN C (sounding Bb)--reminding me of the low-C extension that I sometimes wish I had on my double bass. (FWIW, I wish my contra-alto could play a low concert F--I guess I'll have to try the trick with the mouthpiece cover!) When I got my contra-alto clarinet, I quickly realized that using the octave key results in the other keys playing the same pitches as the lower range of the soprano instrument, due to the combination of the octave key actually raising the pitch by a 12th, which is precisely the difference between the Eb and the Bb of the octave above. I've also noticed that when the ring finger of the right hand presses on the appropriate key while the octave key is also pressed, the hole on the neck is closed but another opens on the upper joint--I can't recall this happening on the bass clarinet, but I assume something similar would also happen on the contrabass instrument. One suggestion--considering that your video compares two instruments both of which are pitched in Bb, it seems a bit silly to keep referring to the smaller instrument as "the Bb clarinet" rather than simply calling it the "soprano clarinet". I realize the soprano instrument is available in other pitches, but I'm quite certain Bb is the "default" pitch for this instrument, and is generally assumed, especially after you've mentioned Bb as the pitch of the instrument you had at hand near the beginning of your video.

Shhhhmmm I can't get a bass for another 2 years. Dont get me wrong I love my b flat soprano so dearly. Buuuuuuuut I wanna expand in the clarinet family. Especially the BASSSSSSSSS. I always get so jealous when I see someone with a bass

I needed this reassurance as I’m switching from b flat clarinet to base for marching band

Thanks so much! I was really worried I was going to have to re-learn everything

Wow, what a wonderful introduction to the bass clarinet. I am right on the verge of deciding to invest in one, as my 15 years of b clarinet (german) feel like a plateau. I had many questions regarding the bigger instrument and most were answered here. Thanks for that!

Thank you so much for this information! I would’ve never been able to find another video as good as this one!

This is extremely helpful and you are very underated. Keep up the good work!

oh my gosh thank you so much goning into 7th grade and moving up to bass after playing Bb since 4th grade was making very nervous and we are having a new band teacher so that adds on move but this has made me way more confident because we are a small school like 125 students in total band is like maybe 15 20 pole and now we will have a little more but ill be the only bass clarinet because the other graduated so yeah like I said this has made me so much more confident in doing this I might even do a solo this year to so thank so much

fantastica!!!!! ....amo il clarinetto basso .....

been thinking of switching

This was very helpful thank you🙌

Thank you for the informative video. My daughter plays the clarinet in school and spoke of her interest in switching to bass.

best clarinet youtube channel

On my wish list!

I started practicing bass clarinet with the Mozart clarinet concerto even in high school...Even after switching to bassoon in 2004 in high school to bassoon, I still kept up the bass clarinet and bassoon and double regularly on them now years later

Thank u so much this was so helpful pls do more like this! ❤

I love my bass clarinet but I went the wrong way. I went from flute to bass clarinet and that was tricky for a while but I got it! I love the cello sounding voice

I’ve been playing bass clarinet for 4 years and Bb clarinet for a year before that. I thought the highest note I could consistently reach with a good tone was the high D, but I didn’t have my first finger down since the fingering chart doesn’t show it. I tried putting my first finger down for the altissimo notes and slurred all the way up to F# almost G! With a decent tone as well! Thank you for mentioning that, it makes altissimo easier and it sounds better as well!

I’m needed this, I’m switching from a standard Bb clarinet to a Great bass clarinet ( Eb contra bass or contra alto), and it’s been pain lol

Very nice , I played clarinet through middle and hs , was never in orchestra band though due do sports schedule etc . But I happen to find a decent bundy selmer at a garage sale and picked it up . Little dinged up but overall functional , need to order some reeds . Thanks for the vid ✌️

Thx 👍🏾

The bass clarinet I have, Barry sax reeds work well too. Thing is it's a little longer so I have to deal with that

Nice Video! I primarily play the Bass Clarinet and most of the music I play is for the B Flat Clarinet. Sometimes I will think to myself; this piece would be alot easier on the B flat! So like you comment about not just playing music strictly for the Bass Clarinet.

I switched to bass clarinet in 8th grade because my dinky school band didn't have any bass instruments that year and I loved it (aside from carrying it, LOL). I kept playing it all through high school rather than switch back.

I was just like that lol I did not think anyone was like that I just asked my music teacher what the name was now I play it🤣

Hi there I’ve been playing Bb since 1988, now 2022 I’ve purchased a bass clarinet. I’ve just viewed this video it is very helpful. I am finding the seating position for bass quite different, I feel like I want to sling the B-clarinet on the side like a sax, but I do not. The note pads are taking a little getting used to as they’re flat not open like a Bb nor a slight depress like the pearl notes on a saxophone.. so a little getting used to for me. Thanks for posting

I've been owning a bass clarinet for 15 years and just learned about the little hole that should be left free for altissimo... Thanks ! By the way, the video would look better if you looked straight into the camera, not on the control screen on the side 😉

I got my bass clarinet years ago now. Basically in the band program where I live you start band in grade 7, but in grade 8 you can audition for one of the instruments they don’t have in grade 7 (percussion, saxophones, bass clarinet). I auditioned for saxophone but said I wouldn’t be against getting the bass clarinet (I didn’t have a clue what it was 😂). It worked out though I switched from Bb clarinet to bass clarinet and was disappointed that I didn’t have the melody for a while but then eventually realized my parts are no less important. Fast forward to know I’m in high school, still playing bass clarinet. I also play a lot of jazz music in school (jazz band plus there’s also a jazz course I took). I went from not being able to sight read above a C (middle of staff) to now feeling comfortable sight reading up to a high C or even D above the staff (we had to do all 12 major scales along with Dorian, mixolydian, and blues). Worked out for the better to not get the saxophone then! Because my band teacher asked me in the late fall if I’d want to join a jazz ensemble he runs that has post secondary and high school students, and he gave me a tenor saxophone as well. I’m still playing my bass clarinet in that band currently until I feel really comfortable playing it on the saxophone. It’s challenged me to learn more notes and just feeling more confident in my playing overall just from taking the jazz class and playing in the school jazz band and the other jazz ensemble. It worked out really well and made me a more confident player. Another reason playing the bass clarinet made me more confident even before I got comfortable playing higher or playing jazz, is that I was the only bass clarinet. Throughout junior high I was the only bass clarinet out of 60-80 people, when I played clarinet I used my ears just as much as I would try reading it and if someone else messed it up I would think I also messed it up (wasn’t sure who was right). Anyways I became more independent as a player and as a person through the band program. Especially with the last year with jazz, it’s started to effect me even more than before. I’ll chat with people about music and since I take solos in the school jazz band now I’ve had random people I don’t even know the names of but I recognize from the jazz band call me by name. I feel like I’ve put myself out there more in the last year and it’s really done well to my confidence.

This was great. I'm an amateur but can only afford a student model like the Yamaha 221 or Kessler. Can you please talk about the alto if you can? I think that one is neat too. Thank you

Hi, Katina. Can you please expound on the differences between student model and professional model bass clarinets? Attempting to teach myself on a student model, and the clarion register is very difficult to respond/articulate.

well i need this since i got placed as first chair in the top band for bass clarinet in my school. i play Bb clarinet and i'm a freshman

thanks so much- i’m going into sophomore year and i’ve been playing b flat since 6th grade and just found out i’m marching bass and i’ve never played it before 😂

THANK GOD

Right now, in my nieces 6th grade band, she told me about bass clarinet. I guess they got one. So whoever's wants to try it can for the chance to be the only bass clarinetist

Thank you I was switching next school year in 8th

bass is a blast to play . what mpc do you use?

Have you seen Björk’s video for her new song “Atopos”? Bass clarinet group play (I’m not sure of their name but I think it’s “Murmuri”).

What about the Contrabass and ContraAlto?

any tips for gettings those B and C notes in the staff?

I am a beginner bass clarinet player, and i was wondering how often is upper register used in bass clarinet music? thanks

I switched to bass clarinet a several years ago how do i go back to b flat

I know your video is about the Bass Clarinet, but I wanted to ask you about the Eb Soprano. I bought an Eb Sop Cl for a type of therapy for my fingers/hands (I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands/wrists/fingers). I loved playing my Eb Sop, but I can’t reach D/A or C/G (LH) anymore. I really want to get back into playing it again, but I don’t know how with my hands. Do you have any suggestions? P.S. I’m a brass player (Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone & French Horn).

What is the hole in the top key for? Tuning? Thanks.

That moment you switched from flute to bass clarinet

Looking for a jazz cafe channel with bass clarinet

Hi, I am a frequent bass clarinet player, and I am a bit surprised by some of your advises, such as : - Don't play it "like a saxophone" Well the angle has to suit the player. I also have a Selmer, but for me the angle is too small, so I HAVE to tilt my instrument forwards in order to be comfortable. So what, what is the problem if the clarinet is not vertical ? - Don't play it sideways. Have you ever tried yourself to play your bass clarinet standing with a neck stripe ? In this position it's a lot easier to play it sideways, and no, it's not a problem at all. Maybe you are right, but in that case I would have appreciated a better explanation than just "that's not how we are supposed to play", which is not very convincing. - Don't throw your clarinet case on the floor. Sorry, my mistake, I didn't realise that your videos are addressed to 8 years old kids ! Otherwise, believe me, when you spend several thousand euros to get your music instrument, believe me you don't want to throw it on the floor ! Especially if you use it for leaving. Maybe you should consider that you are speaking to responsible people in your videos ?

"Not the way you're supposed to play it ....." As long as the mouthpiece enters the player's mouth at what, for that player, is the best angle and as long as your fingers sit comfortably on the keys and can operate them freely the instrument is being held correctly. Holding the instrument at an angle may bring the right hand keys into a better position and, with a Selmer style neck, bring the mouthpiece to the mouth at an angle similar to the angle of the Buffet mouthpiece.

"still be a treble clef" Tell that to all my band directors pls

Trial by fire works great >:)

Because it's al the same fingerings as a Bb Clarinet (there are also Bb Basset Clarinets which are extended range Soprano Clarinets that go down to Low C or sometimes Low B depending on the Model) you can play the same Music such a this one:kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b5qooaSLxLaopYE.html

I went straight to contrabass. It belonged to the school. What is “altissimo?”

I just did it like I just started playing

I only play bass clarinet and I can’t play soprano it’s different

Thought I broke it, turns out I didn’t

You sound like you recorded your video in Atmos

SHE IS LIFTING THE BASS CLARINET BY THE UPPER JOINT

Missing a little bit of demonstration ….sound…

Wait why am I watching this? I play trombone.

A bass clarinet is $10 000 and more. So I don’t know about that😅