It's always nice to see the alto clarinet get some respect. I hope it can become common again someday, because I find scoring for clarinet section much more satisfactory when alto clarinet is included.
I'd say contrabass clarinets are in a much better place than altos, at least: when ensembles don't have a contrabass, it's not because they don't want one, while altos...they don't think they want. I have no doubt contrabasses will continue to grow in popularity, but the future of the alto is uncertain.
I actually play contrabass clarinet in my concert band and I've also played bass clarinet and my school has a few alto clarinets. Let's just say, clarinets are awesome
Maddi Paige and Sophie Marie Vlogs It's really cool that your school still uses Altos! I'm jealous, I've always wanted to try a contrabass...I've played contra-alto but I wanna play the big granddaddy lol, not even a paperclip model, a real one :)
Alto clarinets have a distinctive voice; rather like cream in coffee - silky but with a 'kick' in the mix. Mozart's favorite, the Basset-Horn, springs to mind.
I play alto clarinet and am the only one in the school too, I love seeing other people play and own them. It’s called useless but I love playing it, even though I play Eb Bari sax music most of the time 😂 it makes me insanely happy when my band director chooses music that has an alto clarinet part.
I love my tenor sax my tenor sax is life I can’t play my bass clarinet because I don’t have a mouth pice that fits 😭 (just got my bass 3 days ago waiting to get my mouthpiece recorked)
My school actually has 2 altos, but both are in bad shape (1 has a sticky register key and 1 is very stuffy). Bought my own over the summer and plays like a charm. It's an open holed Bundy, but plays extremely well. And we're we're playing Lincolnshire Posy this year, so I'm very excited
Thank you for showing us a comparison of the two. It helped me decide to pursue learning to play the alto. As I'm an older person the bass might be a little much for me, and I'm wanting to move beyond my Bb.
I got my first woodwind when I was 58. I had played brass keys, and strings for 50 years. I purchased a bass clarinet on a whim. … and The bass clarinet player in me came out and I actually was able to understand the instrument. I bought a few clarinets and a few alto saxophones , and a tenor sax. Never knock those 15 $Clariphones.( you didn’t) I bought 2 of them and my son and I played around with them and I could hear he had a better grasp- that’s when I got the saxes - he’s now a sax player and I’m bidding on an alto clarinet. I enjoyed your presentation and I’m glad to see a person whose fave instrument is a bass clari. It’s the mellow counterpart to the baritone sax.
Thanks for this video. It was very helpful. I'm not musical, but my son plays clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass and alto in his h.s. band. I didn't really know the differences, so your review helped!
I find it quite interesting that here in the comments, some people's teachers don't allow alto clarinets?! When I first told my band director that I wanted to switch to alto he was ecstatic!
Great presentation on the two clarinets. It’s cool seeing a male play these instruments because in my country growing up, boys would be teased if they are caught playing them. It was looked upon as a “girly” instrument, especially the common soprano clarinets. Childhood sucked in that part. Kudos to you young man for sharing your talent and explaining the difference. Keep doing your thing.
Thank you :) the first year I started there were a couple comments about it being girly but people got over it, especially when I went to bass clarinet in 7th grade.
Steven Shockley I didn’t learn about the bass clarinet until I reached the 7th grade myself. By then, I had already moved to the brass family. I think certain things happen for a reason. I’m now capable of playing both instruments.
Hello Steven! Nice video! I also watched your comparison between the e and b flat clarinets. What is the difference between all those four clarinets (E flat, B flat, Alto, Bass)?
i’m in my school’s highest band this year and i’m gonna be playing alto, bass, and contra clarinet (switching off between songs and with the other low clarinet player) i auditioned on my alto and i apparently did well (:
I play bass clarinet, but my old primary schools music teacher played alto clarinet when she was in school. I'm the only bass clarinet player in my highschool band- I've been on bass since grade 5-
My music teacher doesn't allow alto clarinets only bass clarinet, in a few weeks I'll be starting to play bass clarinet if I'm able to purchase one, wish me luck. 😂
Hi Steven, thanks for the demo. Can you please post a video playing some more of the Alto clarinet, I'm thinking of buying one and would love to hear more! Much appreciated
I always cringed at teh thought of never havign an alto clarinet because you really can hear when it's playing because of how unique its tone is. It oculd be me intentionally earing in on it but it really feels like it adds a fair bit of depth to the sound when its utilized.
Would you consider doing another video just on the alto? And play a bit more so we can get a better feel of the range it covers? Also I've always heard the top range is pretty difficult. Do you find that to be the case? I certainly do. Maybe it's a bad pad?
Kirby Fan I think either way you go is fine :) they're both great. Just know that if you do, you'll have to build up your lung capacity and such since it's so huge haha
That sounds accurate, the only thing that prevents that is that the G clarinet is never used, at least in my part of the planet, so alto sorta has to do both. I think a Basset clarinet in Bb would make an awesome alto instrument with its lower reach.
@@stevenshockley4237 I just started clarinet so I don't have much experience, but I love the sound of the basset horns in the videos. The G clarinet seems to be going through a bit of a renaissance in Europe, so Boehm system clarinets are becoming more common. If I keep playing clarinet I'm planning to get one in a few years.
So I want to save up for a new instrument next year since I will get my first real job, I play Bb Clarinet and Alto saxophone. Should I get an Eb Clarinet, C Clarinet, Alto Clarinet, or C melody saxophone? They all seem pretty fun to own so I'm not sure which one I should get, I have awhile to decide though.
Matt Weiman Depends on what you're doing. If you plan on using it in band then you'll want a Bb, Eb, Bass, maybe an alto haha. If you're just having fun, go crazy and get whatever you want, be different :)
I recommend Alto Clarinet. Honestly, I think it's the best Clarinet out there. It kinda sounds like.. I dunno how to explain anything about the Alto. It's so different, I guess. ;-; But, you do you. If you find something else interesting that you like, then noice. 👌 I'm not forcing you to get an Alto. ^^ (Also, I'm not super experienced with it. I'm in 6th grade, so I kinda just started Alto.. but I've had Bb Clarinet since 4th.)
Thanks! I've been playing since 6th grade, so I'm on my 4th year of playing Bb. So far people have told me to go with alto, so I might do that, but I've got a lot of time to think about it.
Question, is it hard to play the bass clarinet? And does it have almost the same notes as the normal Bb clarinet? I ask this because I play the Bb clarinet and I want to learn how to play the bass clarinet.
Yes it has the same notes.....all clarinets have the same notes. I went from Bb to Eb Alto Clarinet and I was fine with the notes So yes they are the same
RedFox Cat I'd cry. It's a happy medium between a Bb and a Bass. The Bass sweetens up the low section, they should let you use the alto to sweeten up the alto parts (if you're able to comfortably do the 2nd register on lower clarinets)
i am thinking to change from b flat to alto or tenor, i just looove how rich it sounds and i dont fancy to go up in octaves anyways. can the alto play cello parts too or is it too high still?
Lemmings The alto unfortunately doesn't go low enough, but the bass pretty much has you coverex. The only thing is, most student models go down to an Eb, and the Cello goes another half-step down to D
i really dont want to annoy you but what made you move to a bass clarinet instead of a deeper saxophone? was there ever the question of trying a tenor/barritone sax? i somehow am really interested in why and how you picked your instruments :D
I have a left pinky key for low D crammed in with E, F, F# etc, but other than that, all 3 lowest notes are on the bottom, close to the bottom strap button. I haven't played it in a couple years so the exact location is a bit fuzzy but I think most low C basses have them in the same place. But yeah, better ones have a right pinky low D, not sure why Accent hasn't, it can't be too expensive lol
@@stevenshockley4237, well I've seen different configurations. Some have C/C#/D in the back, others have C/C#/Eb instead. Some put them on top another (so slurring from the 1st to the 3rd is impossible), others put them in a triangle (so that you can slur from any to any). Thx!
Pros and cons of alto and bass clarinets please. Embouchure, transportation, costs (for rental), if a 7th grader could play it, height, other “accessories” for it eg. neck strap, and other things you can think of.
I just got my bass clarinet 3 days ago and the mouthpiece isn’t quite big enough to fit in the neck its in the shop to get new cork in the mean time I’ll just keep playing my tenor sax 🎷
I play bass clarinet and am trying out for my symphonic band and I'm very good at, I tried contrabass clarinet and I have to wait till next year to get a mouth piece and I'm thinking about asking my teacher if I can try alto clarinet
I asked my band teacher about the alto clarinet and she said it was too off tune all the time. I am a clarinet player and my friend is a bass clarinet player.
Its Vocaloid my dudes Depends on the particular instrument honestly. I mean, Eb clarinet is known for being out of tune but those are really common in orchestra and even some bands. I love alto, it's a nice mix of bass and Bb.
@@stevenshockley4237 I orginally wanted to play Bb clarinet at my old school but they didnt have anymore so I played trombone I was 1st chair by my second year of playing. Then I moved at my 7th year end and my new school said I could play Bb clarinet but asked if I wanted to try bass clarinet (I had no clue what it was) I said yes and that's the story of how I now play bass clarinet and it's my 2nd year now and I'm trying out for All-State Iowa. I'm probably not gonna make it but it's too late to back out and I want the experience
Well... For My Bass Clarinet I Play On A Vandoren B50 Bass Clarinet Mouthpiece/Vandoren Black Mouthpiece Patches With A Vandoren M/O Black Bass Clarinet Ligature And Vandoren Traditional Size 4 Reeds & For My Clarinet I Play On A Vandoren M30 Clarinet Mouthpiece/Vandoren Black Mouthpiece Patches With A SilverStein Black Clarinet Ligature And Vandoren Traditional Size 3 Reeds.
My sympathies, but you have only yourself to blame. Next time, make it clear that you charge to recycle these horrible things. Used plutonium disposal is about $30,000 an ounce do deal with, given the comparable acoustical harm done by alto clarinets, you should expect to be paid similar.
That's the closest the comparison will get. The lowest note on a low C bass is a step below the lowest on a lot of baris. The lowest note on an alto is a step below the lowest on a tenor.
@@stevenshockley4237 Clarinets should be called alto clarinets while alto should be tenor and bass should be baritone clarinet but it doesn’t sound good
I like to be thorough. I made sure to give a good comparison of the pitch difference as well as the technical side, that's all I really wanted to do in this video.
@@olavtryggvason1194 You're totally fine, if you don't like the video you don't like the video haha I'm not the easily offended type that takes criticism as bullying haha I did talk a lot in the video, I could have played more, but it was 2 years ago so I'm stuck with the way it is :D
