Alrighty so I've been playing the Bb clarinet for like...two years [ima sophomore]. So this year I decided to switch to bass clarinet. Buuut I'm kinda not good at it.
Not like omigosh-switch-back-now-bad, but like I can't get the notes above the high G and sometimes it feels like the class is going too fast. So does anyone have advice? they kind of threw the instrument at me without saying anything to me...they did that with the Bb clarinet too so I've really just been figuring this out by myself...@_@ [im a horrible figure-outter]

also, on the clarinet I played a Vandoren 5 and now I'm playing a 3 1/2, could that have anything to do with the squeaking?

first of all, get yourself a lower reed. the bass clarinet already has a lot more resistance than the soprano, so that's probably part of your problem. I recommend getting a 2 and a half or 3... or get one of each and try them out, if possible. as for getting those high notes... work up to them. practice scales, adding notes to the top. practice slurring up to a note, then tongueing up to it, then playing it without preceeding lower notes.

the best advice i got when i switched to bass clarinet (wow, that was a long time ago, i just realized) was:

it's a compliment for the director to tell you you're playing too loud.

we can never be heard. so if it says forte, it means it! play out with a full, strong sound. (unless it says piano, in which case don't be quite so loud )

good luck! have fun! bass clarinet is amazing!

Yep. Vandoren 3 is as high as you need to go. If you have a big, funky ghetto mouthpiece, you'd wanna play an even softer one.
Your problem is normal on bass clar. The high notes have to be "voiced" inside your mouth. Just practice 5 or 10 minutes a day working up to high notes with register slur exercises and you'll have it going well in a couple weeks. You probably don't have too many high notes in band music, so you have to practice them on your own time. Also, don't "bite" on the mouthpiece at all. Good luck!

ooo i thought of another tip! you know those soft rubber patches to put on top of the mouthpiece? i recommend getting one. it really helps the vibrations not hurt your teeth, and your teeth not hurt the mouthpiece, and just makes playing more comfortable in general.

Definately a 2 and a half! Remember you are just learning and reed strength has nothing to do with how many years you've played or how good you are... Its comes down to the mouthpiece you have (what strength of reed the opening can support) and personal preference. I've been playing for 9 years now, am majoring in Bass Clarinet performace at the U of Calgary, and I play a three! My mouthpiece only supports a 3 and a half reed because of the large opening at the tip...And who wants to sound like they're frying french fries...HAHA...
The reason why you are not getting the high notes is prob. because of your tongue placment, the amount of mouthpiece you have in your mouth, and because, YOU"RE changing your embochure when going high...in other terms pinching.
Try playing the lower notes and pressing the octave key with your right hand quickly, without thinking about your mouth... Keep doing it until you get the hollow rich sound you are looking for. Say oooooo to center your embochure.

Matt

I completely agree with register slurs. When I started bass clarinet, I took it in baby steps -- first, just doing the register slurs, then trying to re-articulate the top note, then starting the high note by itself. It took a couple of weeks, but it worked wonders for my control. I think the best advice I ever heard was this: a bass clarinet is not a clarinet; it's a bass clarinet. Definitely don't try to make the bass feel like your soprano -- you'll squeak all over the place. Good luck! Bass is tons of fun!

2 and a half? thats crazy lol... k i'll try...dang lol thats tiny

New to bass clarinet,register slurs?
Is this the same as octave slurs on the sax.
Where you can jump from the low register to
the high register without the octave key.
(using your throat like in the overtone series)

Register slurs are playing the low note, and the adding the register key to produce the upper note. Don't play around with the throat. Unlike in sax, the throat should ALWAYS remain the same as is normally (except for the slight expansion that results from the back pressure.)

If you've played sax before, don't use your sax embouchure. Bass clarinet embouchure should basically be a more relaxed version of the soprano clarinet embouchure (but keep the upper lip firm). There is some difference, but it's much closer.

Thank You, It works

i found that going up scales helped me when i switched to bass clarinet from Bb clarinet. Start at a high b, then go up, (c-d-e-f-g-) pause at the g and hold it for while. Long, high and slow. Getting to certin notes just takes time and practice. Email me if you need ANY help, or have ANY questions. harmonic_divine@yahoo.com

A Vandoren 5 when you've been playing for two years? You must have a strong embrochure...that may be your problem. Remember, loosen your embrochure, out more of your mouth on the mouthpiece, get a much softer reed, and PRACTICE! Yes, I just said PRACTICE! I wouldn't be surprised if your squeaking is a result of all of these factors combined. The bass clarinet, and pretty much all of the other clarinets, is different from the soprano.