Clarinet, bass
previous
next
The Bass Clarinet is one of the largest members of the orchestral clarinet family. However, it is not the biggest - the rare contrabass clarinet is even bigger. The bass clarinet plays notes one octave lower than the standard orchestral clarinet. It has a breathy, almost hollow tone - popular with jazz saxophone players who often use it as a second instrument.
| Family |
| Woodwinds |
| Pitch range |
| Approximately three-and-a-half octaves. |
| Material |
| African blackwood (a hard, dense wood from Madagascar or Central Africa). |
| Size |
| 4 ft (1.20 m) long. |
| Origins |
| The bass clarinet first appeared toward the end of the 18th century in Europe. It probably evolved to replace the bassoon in military bands. |
| Classification |
| Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air. |
| And also... |
| The bass clarinet is difficult to play well. Standard orchestral clarinetists may never touch a bass clarinet, leaving it to specialized players. |
