My bass clarinet has squeaked so much, especially above F (Top line of the staff). It makes the worst noise, it's so shrill...and this doesn't happen on my clarinet. Can anyone help?
Mine does exactly the same thing. I have tried everything I can think of. Changing reeds, changing ligature and the position of the ligature on the mouthpiece, changing my embouchure. We definitely need someone's help.
My bass clarinet used to do this too! one time it did it one of the springs had come off and another time one of the pads weren`t alligned. I would say have your director look at it or bring it into the repair shop.
I have had it checked over and adjusted by a professional repair technician. It still squeaks in the upper half of the clarion register.
It must be me.
I have just discovered that I can reach the upper C on the clarion register using a brand new number 3 reed, before it got too wet. I played the reed for about an hour then it went back to squeaking. It looks like drier reeds are the answer.
I'm a semi-pro clarinet/bass clarinet player with 30something years under my belt, I hope I can maybe help out a little here.
If you are confident you have the instrument, ligature and reed right then try relaxing your embouchure a little as you play the higher notes. Don't be tempted to try harder and harder reeds, you're just making it more difficult for yourself. Where your instinct is to tighten to get those higher notes you really need to chill out!
Contrary to popular belief the bass is not the same as the soprano clarinet, you need more of a saxophone embouchure (so make like a fish) and be sure to hold the instrument between your knees, no side-saddle here! Make yourself comfortable and bring the instrument to you rather than leaning forward to meet it and constricting your diaphragm.
Having said all that it does annoy me that some composers/arrangers insist on writing these parts so high. The beauty of this instrument is in its sexy, fruity lower register so make the most of it, baby!
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