Bass Clarinet High Notes: How to sound better in the clarion register

[@camronthomas4140]

I think the most annoying thing so far on bass clarinet is not technical or anything, it's the fact that I have a bass that only goes down to low Eb instead of low c.

[@phoebegunawan1727]

there are bass clarinets that go all the way down to low C they’re just really expensive

[@rutcimmusic]

bro same 😭

[@raenastra]

@@phoebegunawan1727 The Kessler low C isn't too expensive. It's great if you're looking for a good, affordable bass with a low C

[@gyxirl5781]

Yeah i only have e flat too

[@lamaspacos]

By far I prefer the short bass clarinets.

[@dennispilkington956]

Consider yourself blessed with professional setup and bass clarinet with a throat key. I've done very well in contests, scholarships, and large ensembles. All on second and third hand student bass clarinets. Owning a pro instrument with thoughts of how much better a wood instrument might change things was just that, dreaming. Thanks for your website and what might have been. Continue to spark those that love the bass clarinet!

[@MagneideaP5]

I am former clarinet player waaaay in middle school)… and just from hearing you play an A’ (clarion above the staff). I was able to play an A. Just relaxin’and playing what I heard helped out a lot. That exercise is practical. Thank you Cally. Keep it up.

[@callyclarinet]

Thanks!! Our ears are our best teachers sometimes 🙂

[@krisyallowega5487]

Man, I used to love playing clarinet. When school got out, I would race home to play. I even owned mouthpieces to alto and bass clarinets. I would ask bandmates if they were not practicing I could borrow their alto or bass. Every now and then we would practice together too. Just to go through the scales to drive our parents batty. Sadly, the thrill of play disappeared as High School came to an end. But from the age of 11-17 it really did bring me some joy. Maybe one day I will open up the clarinet case. It has been over 35 years.

[@espr7564]

Awesome sound Cally 👍🏻👍🏻

[@BJ_The_Musician]

how important is it to have the dual register vent system, the instrument that I currently play has only one vent and I struggle to play the clarion high b and above

[@callyclarinet]

A dual register vent system definitely makes things less stuffy up there and more in tune, but it should be manageable without

[@callyclarinet]

I don't remember if I mentioned this in the video, but one issue I have seen when people struggle with high B's and C's is that they bite to keep the instrument from slipping out of the mouth, and end up closing off the reed. So try not to bite and close off the reed, and make sure you have a good tooth guard on the mouthpiece. And maybe make sure the instrument is balanced when standing on the peg so it doesn't fall forward. Hopefully that helps!

[@BJ_The_Musician]

thank you so much!

[@iky914]

Is there any way to prevent squeaking/accidental altissimo when playing from high G up?

[@callyclarinet]

Make sure the pads are in good condition/ sealing, and make sure your index finger of the left hand is covering the tiny hole on the key. If those things are OK, then (in many cases) it’s a matter of making sure you are not tensing up when playing in the upper clarion.

[@mieyahmeyers3930]

I was struggling getting up there and I took a bigger breath and all the high notes spat out 😂❤

[@callyclarinet]

Yayy!!!!

[@joeg46Highlands]

VOICING seems to be a specifically American term which my (English) teachers taught as part of the embouchure. An embouchure/voicing exercise: remember, there are no even numbered harmonics on clarinet. Finger a first register Bb. Play that Bb (fundamental/1st harmonic} Then use only your breath/embouchure to produce the note on the next lowest harmonic (probably an altissimo D on the 5th harmonic - missing the clarion F which requires a register key) Raise it to the next harmonic (7th?) - giving an out of tune G#; then the next (9th?) giving a C an octave above the clarion; then the next (11th?), giving a D#. Good luck on getting higher. Go up and down the series to get used to the changes jn embouchure that may be required until you can do it without thinking.

[@joeg46Highlands]

Other than the 7th harmonic these notes can all be altered by progressively opening tone holes above or closing tone holes below to give chromatic scales running from the low altissimo C# to the high altissimo D# a ninth above.

[@Yoko85673]

I have tried many of these strategies and thank you so much for giving them. But for some reason i still cannot play higher than high E. It squeaks when i try high F and ive tried tightening and giving more or less reed.

[@johnpainter4563]

THANKS for this! I am an extremely part time clarinet player (it's my 10th instrument?) that has to grab a Bass Clarinet every now and then (I know...) I thought my Bass Clarinet was broken today. (I was broken).

[@Jxo-th4by]

very late comment but i’ve switched to bass clarinet back in march of this year and haven’t got much time to work on the clarion range/over the break notes and concert season is starting right now… my mouthpiece tends to slightly slide off the neck so the mp tends to point down… and i was wondering if that’ll effect how the notes over the break will come out?

[@callyclarinet]

If the mouthpiece and/or neck or any part is not fully sealing with the corresponding tenon socket, then yes, it would have an impact on sound

[@audreyisthename-2319]

Is there a difference between a b45 and a b40 mouthpiece? because right now I’m playing on a vandoren b45 bass clarinet mouthpiece.

[@callyclarinet]

Hmm, I think I've only tried a B40, B50, and BD5 for bass clarinet. Not sure what the difference is... maybe someone else reading this can comment?

[@afonsoaires4393]

A little bit late, i did try the b45 however i felt it was a little bit closed for me. I eventually changed to the selmer Focus which cost me a kidney, although its not for everyone it suited me really well.

[@giovannikrebs4774]

I’ve always had trouble playing in the upper range, but even with a new reed and new mouthpiece, I can’t play past a D. I’ve followed everything I can, even the E Eh Ah Uh. Please help :)

[@callyclarinet]

Could your bass be leaking a little?

[@espr7564]

I get my high notes by saying Ohhhhh which relaxes the chops, 🙂 works for me never give up !!!