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My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!

Posted by Sea River ! on 3/23/2026, 5:03 pm

My Bass CL Player is flat really bad. I have given her a size 4 reed Vandoren and she is playing on a Vandoren Mouth piece can't get her in tune.
Help Please !!!

Re: My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!

Posted by Respectfully on 3/25/2026, 9:11 am, in reply to "My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!"

Make sure the ANGLE of the instrument is correct. Often, young bass clarinet players play with the instrument directly out in front of them, which with some (many) necks, especially on cheaper or older instruments, places the mouthpiece at a nearly flat saxophone embouchure angle.

Move the bell of the instrument under the front edge of the chair. To accomplish this, you may need your bass player to sit on the front edge of the chair and to lower the peg.

The mouthpiece should point "up" at about a 45-75 degree angle instead of being level with the ground. That makes a huge difference with bass clarinet tone quality and intonation. In other words - the bass clarinet mouthpiece should be facing nearly as high up as a soprano clarinet mouthpiece does, and you need to move things around to make that happen.

Re: My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!

Posted by Me on 3/24/2026, 9:58 pm, in reply to "My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!"

Get rid of the #4

Put on a 3

Align the reed and tighten the ligature properly. Screws should be tightened with the right hand 99% of the time

Build an embouchure. Keep the tongue up and get in tune. Match a drone on open G.

Do NOT “cover down” with the right hand on a bass

Re: My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!

Posted by BD on 3/24/2026, 6:40 pm, in reply to "My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!"

Make sure it is the correct neck. Check key height.

Also, make sure she is not double-lipping.

Re: My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!

Posted by me on 3/24/2026, 3:05 pm, in reply to "My Bass Clarinet Player if FLAT !!! HELP !!!"

Check to see that the height of the keys are correct as that affects the pitch.

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