Help?

    
Help?    20:54 on Wednesday, November 21, 2007          

bandxgeek
(7 points)
Posted by bandxgeek

I just started playing the bass clarinet. Every note I play squeaks, and I can't go any lower then a Bb, or any higher then an A. Does anyone know how to make it stop squeaking? I've tried everything I can think of. Thanks :]


Re: Help?    22:28 on Wednesday, November 21, 2007          

eddiespect
(15 points)
Posted by eddiespect

try using a thinner reed.
maybe a 2?


Re: Help?    22:32 on Wednesday, November 21, 2007          

MusicalPanda
(267 points)
Posted by MusicalPanda

Make sure ALL the parts in the the correct place and pushed all the way in.

Make sure you cover the small hole on the left indexes fingers key, (Used for F#) And for E,D,C,B ect with the back key.

Make sure your reed is on correctly and soak ALL the parts of the reed.

Ajust the leg to a good height for you and make sure not to blow too hard or too soft.

Also make sure your not pressing down any keys that shouldn't be down. If your octave key is down it might squeek or if the leavers near the right hand are down, that will cause squeeking.

Any other questions you can PM me~

xoxoPANDA~


Re: Help?    14:33 on Thursday, November 22, 2007          

laeta_puella
(344 points)
Posted by laeta_puella

what number reed are you using?

also, where did the bass clarinet come from? if it hasn't been played in ages, or is a school horn or something, it may be a problem with the horn itself. if you know anyone who plays bass clarinet, see if they will play your instrument for you- then you know if the problem is you or the horn.


Re: Help?    20:30 on Thursday, November 22, 2007          

bandxgeek
(7 points)
Posted by bandxgeek

I play on a 3, which is the same strength I use for my Bb clarinet. It's a school instrument, I'm not sure how old it is, but some of the keys are really loose and they wiggle around.
I don't know anyone else that plays the bass clarinet :/


Re: Help?    17:34 on Sunday, November 25, 2007          

Nike_T
(3 points)
Posted by Nike_T

I use a 3 on my Bb clarinet, but on the bass clarinet I use 2.5, maybe you could try that


Re: Help?    17:17 on Monday, November 26, 2007          

bandxgeek
(7 points)
Posted by bandxgeek

I talked to my teacher about it. I told her that only a couple of notes would come out, and she told me to try the wooden bass clarinet. All the notes come out. So I guess it was just the clarinet or something. I'm happy that I didn't actually stink as badly as I thought I did. :]


Re: Help?    22:01 on Monday, November 26, 2007          

laeta_puella
(344 points)
Posted by laeta_puella

glad you got it sorted out :D
school instruments can be sketchy.

i think i've played at least two thirds of the bass clarinets my school has at one time or another, (we have a fair few, we're a big school) and all of them seem to have somehting or another wrong with them.


Re: Help?    20:16 on Tuesday, December 18, 2007          

trouthat
(56 points)
Posted by trouthat

IM playing a school horn that is at least 30 sopme years old and i hardly evere squeaked.


Re: Help?    13:30 on Friday, January 4, 2008          

katrina23
(1 point)
Posted by katrina23

I just switched to bass clarinet too and I am having less trouble with sound production and more trouble with reaching the bottom keys. Is it possible to be too small to play the bass? It ends up really hurting my wrists. Does anyone have any advice?


Re: Help?    16:16 on Friday, January 4, 2008          

laeta_puella
(344 points)
Posted by laeta_puella

do you use a peg, or a neck strap?

and if you have especially tiny hands, they might just be too small. one of my friends has tiny hands (technically they're supposed to be too small to play soprano clarinet easily, but she manages) and she can't reach a lot of the keys on my bass, especially pinky keys.


Re: Help?    17:25 on Thursday, January 10, 2008          

Scratchy2010
(40 points)
Posted by Scratchy2010

Hey I'm semi new to the bass too, and I know what you mean about sketchy school instruments, the one i play has to be at least 17 years old and my band teacher doesn't know how to fix the fuzzy sound that it makes when i play an E, left pointer and thumb no octave key, My section leader (there's 2 of us) and I can;t seem to figure it out. Anyone have any ideas because it makes it so we can't play in tune, all our other notes are right just not that one.. any insight would be helpful.... Thanks!


Re: Help?    14:43 on Friday, January 11, 2008          

laeta_puella
(344 points)
Posted by laeta_puella

it might be that something is leaking, though since no other notes are weird that seems unlikely. it's probably just a yucky note on that horn- i have issues with my Bb like that (yay alternate fingerings!) on a horn i played in the past, it was the Eb.


Re: Help?    20:49 on Friday, January 11, 2008          

trouthat
(56 points)
Posted by trouthat

that happens to me but its with the high c just thum and register key.and all that the sound i can make is a buzzing nois unless i come from g.


Re: Help?    20:09 on Sunday, January 20, 2008          

bandxgeek
(7 points)
Posted by bandxgeek

I really don't think I was meant to play this instrument. We're doing a piece called Solas Ane and I have a duet with a piccolo player. All my notes sound terrible...They're spitty and airy and sometimes my teeth vibrate and no sound comes out. Ick.
Any advice on how to make it stop being so...gross? Hah.


   








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