Well pretty much i mastered 2nd and 3rd registers on my Bb clarinet but I`m having a lot of trouble doing high notes on my bass clarinet, I know they are possible to do but I always make those squeky noises. So far I can do C and B without trouble and up to G when I play them legato and smoothly as possible. I really want to know how I can improve those notes as I have to play notes above the staff in "RIVER OF THE ANCIENTS".

The place to start is to find a good clarinet technician to get rid of any leaks. There's no sense in banging your head against a wall -OR- trying to play the high registers on a leaky bass clarinet.

Teehee.. aren't bass clarinet players normal clarinetists who failed 1st, 2nd and 3rd?

*Chuckles* Sorry, I couldn't help it - I have a sad tendency to tease bassies..

first of all, to the previous post, what do you know? i started out playing bass clarinet in elementary and now i'm a performance major in bass clarinet in univeristy. so no, there is no such thing. the bass clarinet is actually quite complicated and if you would try playing it, you probably would have trouble! high notes are hard but remember, try to be very relaxed and don't pinch or tighten. make sure your mouth is in an oooooo shape. try practicing by playing the lower octave first and then slowly pressing the octave key. hearing how they sound is important and remember, practice A LOT!!!

^ It was a joke.. as in "haha oh that was my cue to laugh". Sheesh. Uptight or what? I played the bass clarinet for 2years until I wanted something more challenging - the bassoon. Good change.