Hey, I play bass clarinet, contra bass clarinet, and Bb clarinet....Bb is my main instrument, followed by bass, then the contra. I`m trying out for All-State in less than a month on bass clarinet. I`ve been playing for 7 years. I`m section leader of the clarinets in the marching and concert band at my high school and I`m also getting to attent honor bands in West Virginia and Virginia. Band is awsome and Clarinet is the best...no matter what kind it is.

I have played the bass clarinet for 2 years. It is the best one out there, I tried the others, and nothing matches the bass clarinet. I am in marching band, concert band, and a Jazz stand in when they need a bass. I cant remember a time when I thought that my bass was a pain, it is my favorite instrament, and I play 6. If you get a chance to pick one up and play it, DO IT!!!! It is the best wood instament out there. BAND RULES!

I have played bass clarinet, but it is not my main clarinet. It is much more enjoyable 2 play when ur stuck in a very slow progressing band which plays music much below ur level. Its fun 2 play, and since my school had no actual bass players, i got all the solos.

I play bass clarinet and i love it! But the sad part is in most of the songs my band plays all i have is whole and half notes . I also play saprano and alto, but i crave to play the best clarinet of all contra!

I play Eb, Bb soprano and Bb Contra in wind ensamble and clarinet choir and i have to say being in 11th grade and playing contra is awesome...but the contra is the hardest instrument to play and usually in the soprano i play with a size 4 reed but with contra i play with a 1.5 but its still cool

AnD tHiS oNe TiMe At BaNd CaMp . . .

I have played a bass clarinet and an alto clarinet and they or both really great. We actually have a solo for bass clarinet in concert band this year.

Hello,
I`m a clarinetist at Stetson University in FL. I`m the Contra Clarinetist in the Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band and Clarinet Choir. I`ve played Contra for 8 years, Bass for 6, and Alto for 3. I`m a specialist when it comes to the lower clarinets. My SR recital had a Contra solo in it.
I can answer a lot of questions based on the lower clarinets and can tell you that the lower of the family is more extended than the Contras!!!
LeBlanc designed 1 OctoContraBass clarinet (plays 1 not below the last key of the piano) and 3 OctoContraAltos! The bass is in the LeBlanc museum in Paris and nobody truely knows where the contra altos are. I`m still researching on them.

The bass clarinet is a FANTASTIC instrument! It is one of the most diverse of the family. BUT, the contra clarinets are actually easier to play because their more open and put less pressure on the pallet when playing them.

On contrary to the Alto being rarely used! The alto is an excellent addition to a band. Many directors don`t have it because they are very tempromental and need adjusting regularly, and they aren`t cheap. Many band pieces will have an Alto optional part and the Sax will cover for it if not availible. THe alto is the original instrument for this part.

Our high school has 2 alto clarinets and 2 basses and 1 contra(that I play and broke lol)

I`ve played bass clarinet since 8th grade and its the greatest. I`ve even had solos in band one in africa by robert w smith, thenutcraker suite and apiece called imani. i`vealso gone to district band were I`ve placed 3rd,1st and 2nd. i`ve also gone to regionals were i got 2nd. i`m now experiencing tone quailty probles and any advice would be appreciated. also what kind of reads do you use?

I have played alto clarinet and am the only one in our band. My band director was not sure that he would want me playing it but gave in. It is hard to keep in tune and is very difficult to play. It is hard to find someone to give you lessons because not many people play it. I have been playing for seven years on alto, eight years on B flat and have learned many instruments. If someone lives in the Bethlem area of Pennsylvania and knows a person that can give private alto clarinet lessons please let me know.

I play bass clarinet in my local youth wind orchestras. I also play alto in NYWO (I love the alto), there are loads of solos for bass and if u want 2 gd solo pieces with piano try Intoduction and Allegro Spiritoso by J.B. Senaille (intermediate). Or if u want to play something difficult then try the last movement of Sonata for Bass Clarinet and Piano by Colin Cowles (it was composed for the bass clarinet player in the royal philharmonic orchestra, 4 flats and lots of semi-demi quavers at crotchet=120).

I think clarintes rule!! Its all bout Trojan marching band and chino High school

hey! this is soo cool. i didn`t think so many people played the bass clarinet. I started playing it in the 7th grade after my brother recomended me to ask my teacher if he had one. He said I was a good enough student to try to play it. I dont really think it takes that much more effort to play the bass, but it is a lot more fun! At my school now (grade 9) thye only have one bass clarinet and so every day my friend and i have to alternate between the soprano and bass. i also play the alto for a senior band () In junior high i had tons of solos. it was great. but now in junior band there are solos, but it is for the whole bass section (tuba, trombone, trumpet, french horn and bass clarinet) not that good, but still cool to be the only bass clarinet in the band I`m practically just getting started with this whole musi thing, so if any one wants to give me some pointers or any thing, just e-mail me (sno_chicki1421@yahoo.com) i was interested in finding out what size reeds most people play. my teacher told me higher is better?? okay, well i talk to much :P so if you want to talk more, e-mail me.