How to get a good sound a Bass Clarinet (or clarinet, or sax, or...) 

His tone is so ridiculously good and I used to say “Oh I have good tone” until I saw this guy. His tone is just booming and it’s so steady and beautiful.

I honestly wish I could learn from you. In literally the couple hours I've spent watching on and off, I have learned more tips than I have in my seven years of playing. :)

Outstanding! Really excellent instruction. Can you please make a video explaining the "warm" air vs. "cold" air, and air "volume" vs. air "speed" concepts"? This has always confused me, yet they're discussed in a lot of woodwind pedagogy.

my band instructor always nagged me about how I have to hold my breath for longer after I breath in, this should help me a lot thanks.

Thank you. I just learnt more about the alto saxophone than from any other You Tube video. Also spent 15 minutes trying your slap tonguing approach. Haven't got it yet but tone improved suddenly and dramatically.

Hi, i must say that i am really glad that someone out there is making these kind of videos, thank you so much for your work its really apreciated. I am not a clarinet player (i play the oboe) and still i come here to use some of these techniques to improve my playing, thanks again for the videos and sorry for the bad english :)

This is actually a really common exercise for vocalists in (good) choirs. Great to see it being taught to the wind instruments as well.

I was taught to blow up a ballon as fast as could then repeat a few times, then go to the instrument play low Eb and sustain it as long as i could

blow into the instrument I am *dying animal sound* what the heck was that *more dying animal sounds* I quit

Such a good teacher. Love the picture of Eric Dolphy in the background.

I've been looking for a lesson video on different bass clarinet orchestral excerpts, and from what I've seen you are by far the best teacher (and player) I've come across. It would be totally awesome if you could do that!

I miss playing the bass clarinet. Mine was provided by the school when I was in band. I enjoyed it very much. I need to invest in one and get back to playing. Thank you for this video and the inspiration!!

Great Stuff Mike. I remember when I was starting out I used to do this sort of exercise while I walked to the bus in the morning. 8 counts inhale, 8 counts hold, 8 counts exhale.

Excellent lesson and practice method. I particularly liked the feeling the breath was going towards one’s back. When I was practicing blowing really long notes I knew that when my back muscles started ‘shaking’ I was really pushing the air through.

How are there less than 3000 hits here, Mike? This is golden - these principles work for anyone who puts air through any instrument. Thanks for the excellent video lesson on how to fill up efficiently and manage your stream. Well done. Will share.

Thank you *so* much for this. I really struggle with being able to feel my core muscles due to EDS, but your tip about it being like half a sit up has just transformed everything for me. Suddenly I can get through the entire phrases of the Bach Giga in one breath. Genius, thank you!

Thanks you

Thank you I’m 11 years old and just started and was having a bit of trouble

You are absolutely amazing. Every video helps me improve one way or another. Thank you to the heavens and back

I absolutely love your shirt in this video man

Wow! I think that it's kinda cool how he is doing the breath in for ten breath out for ten thing because my band teacher does that with us for warm-ups sometimes.

You should not create any noise when you breathe in unless it is a quick breathe. Always breath starting from the bottom and work your way up. Do not breathe with your shoulders. Sit up, support, and blast away.

Already done as part of the "Sarabande and Bouree" video. I've put the link to that in this video's updated description. ^^

I am a horn player This is freakin' awesome I'm gonna show this to as many people as I can!

Thank you soooooooo much this is a fantastic exercise!!! Improved my tone drastically!

Thank you for this in going to play the bass clarinet

Thank you for this! Now I know why my tone is awful!

Such a great geeky t-shirt

Where is the double like button? XD

I did 30 beats the time you did 21 first try this breathing technique is really useful thanks

Thank you so much-very useful.

Search " How to do a sit-up" on You-Tube (I can't post a link in the comments unfortunately). You'll see what I mean.

So, don't breath, inhale, through the nose?

i wish you were my band teacher because all mine does is scold kids for not playing the right notes.

Thank you so much for this video it really helped me ALOT😁🙌😃😄

You are so helpful. All region Saturday and I have to play Rose #2 ah

I've been playing the clarinet for a few years now in band at school (I'm in 7th grade now). I just switched to the bass clarinet a few weeks ago. What are the most important things I should practice to become a successful bass clarinet player?

This really helped me thanks

Recently saw Patrick Sheridan work with a high-school honor group, discussing the importance of good breathing and running them through exercises for quite a long time. It really helped keep the students focussed, both in tone and mentally. He and Sam Pilafian produced the "Breathing Gym" DVDs and books, with daily exercises that every wind player should be familiar with: www.patricksheridan.com

Hi! Could you make a video for bass clarinet articulation? Thankyou! Really need it foe my copertition!

Super helpful! I know this isn't intended for brass, but I used this to get a good sound out of my trombone, and since I've started doing this two of my teachers commented on how my tone has improved. Also, where did you get that shirt?

Nice Tshirt!

As a section leader, I find this so helpful TTuTT thank you sir

Thank you Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ㅠㅠ

I honestly care more about proper embouchure because it changed from soprano to bass. I need help with holding a G for 4 measures. Not the G he was playing, the one below it. My main problems are embouchure changes slightly when I play it, I need to put more air into it, and I just need to breathe right before I play it because I breathe 2 measures before it and I can only play 5 measures apparently without breathing and at the 5th one, I lose my breath quickly and start to “collapse” because my lungs haven’t much air.

How do I find the next video that you mention at the end of this video?

I am a doubler. Clarinet is my instrument. I am getting a good sound, but those big interval jumps are so difficult for me on bass clar. Especially from upper to lower register. Tips?

god i love you man:)

Earspasm music today is my first time on the bass clarinet i came here because i came from Bb Clarinet so I came here to get a low sound because every time i play i get a high note instead of a low note.

I didn't understand the "sit up" thing ... you know... english is not my native language so I really didn't understand it even though it was probably well explained. Could you use easier words?

I have a question when you do it do you want to play loudly so that it doesn't get airy?

How do you do this when playing quiet? I have an audition tomorrow that is mostly pianissimo and my tone is terrible when I play quietly, it sounds really airy.

I really need help. i cant play any notes higher than A. (the a after open G, or the second A from the lowest note)

Hi Master! Thank you for all your videos, helped me a lot. I have some questions: I'm a beginner (playing clarinet for about a year) and I wanna know if it is normal to feel my muscles tensing when my air is running out while playing long tones...Any tips to avoid that? I usually practice 12th long tone from low E/B to F/C one octave above. Also, I'm curious about my resistance in long tones, because some days I could last +20 (s) playing a note, and some other days barely reach 16 (s). I haven't discovered the reason of that. About the "sit-up feeling", It's normal to feel some tension in the lower back also? I've had a little bit of pain in my lower back by trying to keep my "diaphragm" firm and hard. Sorry for my english ajajaj Regards from Chile :)

First thing i noticed was the shirt. End war is what it means for those of you who don't know.

We breathe in 1 out 16

I play the bass clarinet and I kinda suck because I started late December

i just started today and i really need help getting a sound because i cant get a sound please help i am tring what you are saying but i dont understand exacctly please help me i really do need it

the bass clarinet is a tenor saxophone with anorexia.

When u breath for 1 beat j can last to 10 beats

I made it to 18 when I breathed in 1 beat

I play high notes when im trying to play low notes PLEASE HELP

How to get viewers: I am learning bass clarinet (aka unlearning sax stuff) and awaiting cataract operations. I misread your title as "(or clarinet, or sex, or...)"

You are constricting your breath when you breath I shouldn’t hear the breath

Thank you. I just learnt more about the alto saxophone than from any other You Tube video. Also spent 15 minutes trying your slap tonguing approach. Haven't got it yet but tone improved suddenly and dramatically.