Bass Clarinet

I've become totally obsessed about this instrument lately and I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience with it? The reason I'm asking is because I'm thinking of learning it.

A couple of random questions:

Will it mess up my trombone embouchure?

Will it perhaps benefit me?

Is it worth learning if I'm already playing another wind instrument? (Trombone)

Is it hard to learn?

Should I just pick up a normal clarinet? (I have never played clarinet seriously, mostly just picked one up and played a few notes.. mostly low)

Are there any other problems I might face?

Please share your wisdom!

Will it mess up my trombone embouchure?

The Answer is no, it may feel wierd at first but your embouchure will recognise you changed instrument, and go back to normal...I play it, contra bass clarinet, clarinet, and trumpet.....my embouchire is used to all of the instruments.

Will it perhaps benefit me?

Benefit on what?

it depends what you want to do?....its the same as all other instrument

Is it worth learning if I'm already playing another wind instrument? (Trombone)

If you like it a lot....hahaha, I play so many wind instruments, more than what I listed above....I would say go for it :P my favorite instrument

Is it hard to learn?

Well, I think learning clarinet first might be a better idea than just going straight to the bass clarinet....

Should I just pick up a normal clarinet? (I have never played clarinet seriously, mostly just picked one up and played a few notes.. mostly low)

that would be a better Idea first, and get used to that, and then switch to bass clarinet, otherwise it will mess up your embouchure.....it is much better to do it that way.

Are there any other problems I might face?

Not being heard....hahaha

even if you play Bass clarinet properly, bass clarinet is never heard ;)

Will it mess up my trombone embouchure?

YES

Will it perhaps benefit me?

NO

Is it worth learning if I'm already playing another wind instrument? (Trombone)

NO!!!

Is it hard to learn?

YES! Don't bother even trying.

Should I just pick up a normal clarinet? (I have never played clarinet seriously, mostly just picked one up and played a few notes.. mostly low)

NO!

Are there any other problems I might face?

YES! You play trombone! Don't switch. Ever.

• Will it mess up my trombone embouchure?
  - Probably not, as they're so different. At first, your face won't know what to think, but your muscles will figure it out with practice.
  
• Will it perhaps benefit me?
  - Perhaps. I expect the bass clarinet requires a lot of air and support. Would be beneficial.
  
• Is it worth learning if I'm already playing another wind instrument?
  - Just one more feather in your cap. Makes you that much more marketable. As a trombonist, bass trombone would be a more common double, but whatever. ;)
  
• Are there any other problems I might face?
  - Getting one...they're likely quite expensive.
  

My schools old bass clarinetist was a Trombonist also.....sooo, if she can do it, so can you ;)

(and she was bad at both instruments)

Will it mess up my trombone embouchure?

YES

Will it perhaps benefit me?

NO

Is it worth learning if I'm already playing another wind instrument? (Trombone)

NO!!!

Is it hard to learn?

YES! Don't bother even trying.

Should I just pick up a normal clarinet? (I have never played clarinet seriously, mostly just picked one up and played a few notes.. mostly low)

NO!

Are there any other problems I might face?

YES! You play trombone! Don't switch. Ever.

I wasn't planning on switching, I was just planning on doubling. :P

My schools old bass clarinetist was a Trombonist also.....sooo, if she can do it, so can you ;)

(and she was bad at both instruments)

Well, If I happen to suck at Bass Clarinet, I will always have the trombone to fall back on :P

Well, If I happen to suck at Bass Clarinet, I will always have the trombone to fall back on :P

True!

but you should try it out! ;)

I play a lot of wind instruments, plus percussion instruments....

but then again, I am a band geek....a very big one at that. :D

No, I don't think it would mess with your trombone embourchure at all. You've talked to to me before, you know how many instruments I'm playing/learning, and I don't have the slightest problem with getting the techniques and muscles mixed up. I play trumpet, horn, and tuba, and for woodwinds, flute, clarinet, and recorder, so there is a lot to get mixed up, but it's like learning how to drive different cars, they all have different feels, and you get used to each of them individually the more you drive them.

Will it benefit you? Of course. It's a completely different instrument, you'll get a completely different feeling with it. For instance, all the notes are right under your fingers, so you'll feel more free doing things on it you wouldn't normally try on your trombone, and thus expanding your musical vocabulary.

Should you go for soprano clarinet first? I'm not sure on that one. Would you learn bass trombone before tenor? Or tenor before soprano? Same idea, I would think. You can go straight to it, or you can go the long ways around. I really don't know the benefits of either way.

Any difficulties? Besides getting one, you'll have to deal with reeds. They aren't cheap (not that expensive, though), and you'll go through a lot until you find one that does what you want it to do, or more importantly, feels like it's more likely to do what you want it to do. Another thing you'd have to worry about is learning the embourchure. It takes a lot a strength to get a good sound out of a bass clarinet while still maintain a tight air seal around the mouthpiece. You would be getting used to this for well over a month, maybe several, while you strengthen the muscles you need. Dexterity is really the game here.

And I say, go for it! Bass clarinet rocks, and to play it in addition to trombone, you got yourself a respect among others. Overall, don't forget that it would take time. Don't expect to be ready for a gig in a month or two, it will take MUCH longer than that. By why not start now? :D

True!

but you should try it out! ;)

I play a lot of wind instruments' date=' plus percussion instruments....

but then again, I am a band geek....a very big one at that. :D[/quote']

I'm also a band geek. ^^ But this far i've only played trombone (excluding bass and piano) on concerts. I want to become proficient at another wind instrument too, so I don't feel so restricted. :P

Should you go for soprano clarinet first? I'm not sure on that one. Would you learn bass trombone before tenor? Or tenor before soprano? Same idea, I would think. You can go straight to it, or you can go the long ways around. I really don't know the benefits of either way.

I think as a bass clarinetist, he should play Bb Soprano first then move to Bass clarinet....it would be better for his emouchure

I'm also a band geek. ^^ But this far i've only played trombone (excluding bass and piano) on concerts. I want to become proficient at another wind instrument too, so I don't feel so restricted. :P

Learn it!

Will it benefit you? Of course. It's a completely different instrument, you'll get a completely different feeling with it. For instance, all the notes are right under your fingers, so you'll feel more free doing things on it you wouldn't normally try on your trombone, and thus expanding your musical vocabulary.

That's one of the reasons I want to play an instrument that has keys ;)

Should you go for soprano clarinet first? I'm not sure on that one. Would you learn bass trombone before tenor? Or tenor before soprano? Same idea, I would think. You can go straight to it, or you can go the long ways around. I really don't know the benefits of either way.

That is an interesting argument. If I wanted to play Bass trombone, I would've picked up Bass from the start to get the right sound and feeling. I believe that you should pick the instrument you want to play and learn it. :P

Any difficulties? Besides getting one, you'll have to deal with reeds. They aren't cheap (not that expensive, though), and you'll go through a lot until you find one that does what you want it to do, or more importantly, feels like it's more likely to do what you want it to do. Another thing you'd have to worry about is learning the embourchure. It takes a lot a strength to get a good sound out of a bass clarinet while still maintain a tight air seal around the mouthpiece. You would be getting used to this for well over a month, maybe several, while you strengthen the muscles you need. Dexterity is really the game here.

Dexterity is something I need to work on, but I have no doubts that I will benefit from the challenge.

And I say, go for it! Bass clarinet rocks, and to play it in addition to trombone, you got yourself a respect among others. Overall, don't forget that it would take time. Don't expect to be ready for a gig in a month or two, it will take MUCH longer than that. By why not start now? :D

I must aquire one first. :P

And while you're at it, see if you can't pick up an alto clarinet. You might be able to make some interesting sounds with a rather inexpensive model. I've have yet to see alto clarinet in jazz.... maybe it could dual and trade fours with an alto sax.

Or a bass clarinet dueling a tenor sax... still the same key and general range. My that would be interesting... :D

To start off I will tell you that I am a clarinetist who doubles on bass clarinet.

Honestly, it all depends what you want to get out of playing the instrument. If you just want to have it under your belt so you can add it to your resume, that's fine. In that case, you should start on the bass.

If you actually want to learn how to play the bass clarinet, then get a soprano clarinet. There's so much more to learn with the soprano, and once you have an understanding of it you can easily switch over to bass. It doesn't work the other way around. And, guess what: once you learn how to play the clarinet, you'll know how to play the saxophone (not like a pro, but you'll know how).

The bass clarinet is, first and foremost, an auxilliary instrument.

Honestly, it all depends what you want to get out of playing the instrument. If you just want to have it under your belt so you can add it to your resume, that's fine. In that case, you should start on the bass.

If you actually want to learn how to play the bass clarinet, then get a soprano clarinet. There's so much more to learn with the soprano, and once you have an understanding of it you can easily switch over to bass. It doesn't work the other way around. And, guess what: once you learn how to play the clarinet, you'll know how to play the saxophone (not like a pro, but you'll know how).

I agree!

I play Soprano, Alto, Bass, Contra Bass

and that is about it on the clarinets I play!

If you actually want to learn how to play the bass clarinet, then get a soprano clarinet. There's so much more to learn with the soprano, and once you have an understanding of it you can easily switch over to bass. It doesn't work the other way around. And, guess what: once you learn how to play the clarinet, you'll know how to play the saxophone (not like a pro, but you'll know how).

The bass clarinet is, first and foremost, an auxilliary instrument.

I do want to learn how to play, I might not play in orchestras and such but I still want to learn. The thing is that I don't really care for the soprano clarinet, I don't really like the sound of it, but I adore the bass clarinet. Will it just be a steeper learning curve or will it be downright impossible?

The genre I'm gonna experiment in is jazz and such, I think that could be an interesting combination.

Kinda like this:

Bass Clarinet - Now is the Time

I know nothing about playing it; the only thing I know about the bass clarinet is that it's a super awesome instrument, with a wonderful sound and great versatility. It's a great instrument for improvisation too.

The bass clarinet is, first and foremost, an auxilliary instrument.

This certainly doesn't need to be the case. I'm sure someone out there plays bass clarinet as their primary instrument. :whistling:

Will it just be a steeper learning curve or will it be downright impossible?

Shouldn't be any steeper than learning any other instrument. You'll get out as much as you put in. Practice....

And, don't use that 'Now's The Time' guy as your inspiration....try this:

Eric Dolphy - God Bless The Child

That... is... amazing! :D

This certainly doesn't need to be the case. I'm sure someone out there plays bass clarinet as their primary instrument

The bass clarinet doesn't have enough solo repertoire or respect to be considered a primary instrument. I wish it was, but the truth is you won't get anywhere just playing the bass clarinet. Anyway, that's beside the point.

I think it's better in your case, Franzman, that you just do as you want to. You don't need the approval of some people that you don't even know to start playing. Take initiative: rent it, get a teacher, whatever. That's exactly how I started, and it has worked out pretty well for me.

Oh and I've heard that "God bless the child" piece performed. It's really cool.

...I've heard that "God bless the child" piece performed. It's really cool.

You heard it performed? :huh: Live?

As a clarinetist, I say learn to play the Bb Clarinet first. Everything you learn on Bb Clarinet applies to Bass Clarinet.

Plus, you can get a cheap Bb Clarinet much easier than a cheap Bass Clarinet. If you don't like it, you won't be out much cash.

As a clarinetist, I say learn to play the Bb Clarinet first. Everything you learn on Bb Clarinet applies to Bass Clarinet.

Plus, you can get a cheap Bb Clarinet much easier than a cheap Bass Clarinet. If you don't like it, you won't be out much cash.

I agree....:thumbsup:

The bass clarinet doesn't have enough solo repertoire or respect to be considered a primary instrument. I wish it was, but the truth is you won't get anywhere just playing the bass clarinet. Anyway, that's beside the point.

Then I'll create a solo repertoire and gain respect. :thumbsup:

Nah, seriously, I just want a fun side project and it won't be anything too serious so I think i'll just go for bass clarinet, and if I don't like it I'll quit. Simple as that. :P But if it turns out to be my thing, I'll add it to my resume and as a secondary instrument incase my band needs something spicy. :toothygrin:

The bass clarinet doesn't have enough solo repertoire or respect to be considered a primary instrument. I wish it was, but the truth is you won't get anywhere just playing the bass clarinet.

There's quite some repertoire in contemporary music, you just won't find as much in the common practice period. But the same applies to tuba, (classical) saxophone, to a lesser degree the double bass, etc. In Paris you can even study the Theremin as your main instrument, and how much solo repertoire is there for it? If you play more unusual instruments you just have to get more inventive, search for the rare solo works, play transcribed stuff, or improvise. I do know people who play the bass clarinet as their primary instrument, so it is possible.

f you play more unusual instruments you just have to get more inventive, search for the rare solo works, play transcribed stuff, or improvise. I do know people who play the bass clarinet as their primary instrument, so it is possible.

And that's the fun of being a musician. :toothygrin: