Bb clarinets have a rich dark sound. C clarinets are vibrant and happy. One takes your brain on a walk through the enchanted forest, and the other runs with you through a wildflower meadow in spring.
I recently got a C clarinet and I love it! Mine uses Ohler-Albert key system so coming from my oboe background, feels more like an oboe in my hands although I'm used to playing Boehm clarinets. I could see finding a Boehm C as a future next instrument because I like the brighter tone of the C instrument vs Bb.
@@BretNewtonComposer I appreciated the info in the vid, but I really didn't get why you didn't play the comparison pieces in the same pitch but on the different instruments - that seems to be the most interesting comparison. You wouldn't happen to be interested in doing a new vid comparing the instruments that way instead? :)
I think many of us, were expecting some serious transposition-wizardry.( To demonstrate the differences in timbre among the various sizes of instruments - /indeed a fact to consider
So a C clarinet will have 'easier' fingerings (like a descant recorder) when I try to play with other musicians where they are playing song in the key of G for example. I have a Bb clarinet and find some of the fingerings quite difficult as I just play by ear.
Was this used in domestic and church music? For domestic music the C-clarinet could play the voice part for songs, and in church could play the melody on hymns. The "melody" sax was used thus.
It's possible that it was, but unlikely. C Clarinets were never mass-produced like C Saxophones were. They were always seen as much more of a specialty instrument.
In some concert bands where they cannot find an oboe player, they will use the C clarinet for oboe parts as there is no need to transpose music written for the oboe.
@@BretNewtonComposer I think it would make more sense for them to use a soprano sax as the timbre is closer to an oboe. Transposing c to b flat isnt difficult. Transposing, imo, isnt hard in general.
I loved playing my Eb Soprano & Eb Alto Clarinets (I played them for hand therapy, because I have rheumatoid arthritis). I found them easier to play than my Bb Soprano Clarinet. Unfortunately, I don't have my Bb Sop or my Eb Alto anymore. The Eb Sop I have now needs some work on it, because my fingers got worse. I can't reach the 3rd left finger (C & G) or the pinky keys on both sides.
Totally agree with you. Aside being more prone to notice mistakes (as usually there is only one Eb player on a band), i find Eb easier to play than Bb. The high notes simply fly away with such ease. With Bb it isn't that easy, i prefer it for music sheets that have mainly lower notes. I never tried A and C, as they are quite rare to be seen around here (at least in 20 years on music world i've never seen one of them being played locally). Sorry to hear that you can't play anymore. The suggestion of Zachary is a good one. Using some sort of closed key to C and G like the #/b keys is not that hard to do with a good repairman. On the pinky keys, one just need to extend the keys further until you can reach them, that can even be achieved with a 3d printer.
Now a random question what the point or reason by why there is the barrel part of the clarinet, why isn't it just on piece in the upper joint up to the mouth piece?
The length of the barrel is still needed to keep the other notes in tune with each other, so that leaves you with the option of combining the barrel with the mouthpiece or with upper section of the keys. But what would the point be? Different barrels impart different tone and pitch to accomodate different players.
I have another question: we only have one oboe player in our band and she may leave soon. Would it be easy for any of the clarinetists to make the switch from a Bb to a C instrument to cover the oboe part?
the tonal difference is basically non existent. maybe live it might be different, but by the time it's passed through your mic, your daw/video recording software, rendered for youtube, and then processed through sound, they basically sound identical.
William Ridenour sells C clarinets that are made in China and adjusted by him after import. I have one, and it is pretty good for a Chinese import. About $1000. More expensive than a cheapie student model, but not as expensive as a professional grade model.
I found a C clarinet but in German/Oehler fingering - so approach it as a different instrument, i.e. if i were switching between clarinet to oboe or sax.
Ah, I see. If not a secret, from where did you get it from? There are not many places that particular flavour of the clarinet can be purchased from ...
Perhaps you should consider getting a smaller mouthpiece for the C clarinet and using German reeds. My understanding is that the Bb clarinet mouthpiece and reeds might be to big.
Some of the really old Pomarico mouthpieces use a smaller chamber size that works better. Personally I love my vintage using a very vintage D clarinet mouthpiece for Eb and C clarinets. Don't own either rn
Newer modern C's seem to use the same Bb and A mouthpiece but in the past the C used a different mouthpiece which is possibly why it fell out of favour. German reeds are just different/narrower - even for the German Bb instruments. Not sure they'd work as a substitute on a C.
I've changed my comment like six times now because I seem to have a pretty wacky C clarinet. I'm trying to get the fingerings figured out. I can't find a chart and it's not exactly the same as Bb. I'm resorting to playing with a tuner and making my own.
The Nuvo Clarineo has a more then 3 octave range and is a fully chromatic C clarinet at one third the cost of the normal C clarinet. it is MUCH easier to play than the B flat clarinet being less than half the weight. .
Nuvo Clarineo is good only for Indian fakir's snake charming purposes. Snakes cannot hear the horrible sound of the instrument, only feel some vibrations, and so they are spared the nuisance.
It's a specialty instrument. The characteristics of the B-flat won out for general use. If you want to write for C, go ahead, they're available to professionals. More often than not, when the C is called for in professional orchestras, the C is used.
Bandestration not really in symphony orchestras as the players will transpose C parts unless of course your using period instruments. Modern opera and ballet players will use the C more often as entire works can be on C like Verdi and Rossini operas for example
Bb clarinets have a rich dark sound. C clarinets are vibrant and happy. One takes your brain on a walk through the enchanted forest, and the other runs with you through a wildflower meadow in spring.
"Many people brought a C Clarinet. You can SEE (lol) this in..."
I recently got a C clarinet and I love it! Mine uses Ohler-Albert key system so coming from my oboe background, feels more like an oboe in my hands although I'm used to playing Boehm clarinets. I could see finding a Boehm C as a future next instrument because I like the brighter tone of the C instrument vs Bb.
I would love to see a scientific study on whether people can actually tell the difference between the sounds of the Bb and the A clarinets.
If i had an A clarinet I definitely would.
It sounds brighter on a C clarinet because it is being played in a key one tone higher.
Graham Lyons the actual timbre is hard to convey on the video, but when playing the same pitches it is markedly brighter.
@@BretNewtonComposer I appreciated the info in the vid, but I really didn't get why you didn't play the comparison pieces in the same pitch but on the different instruments - that seems to be the most interesting comparison. You wouldn't happen to be interested in doing a new vid comparing the instruments that way instead? :)
I think many of us, were expecting some serious transposition-wizardry.( To demonstrate the differences in timbre among the various sizes of instruments - /indeed a fact to consider
This instrument needs more love!!!
I used to play an Eb alto- lovely tone
Try out the F clarinet
This video answered a lot of the questing that I had. Thanks for making it!
3:24 Update, I have bought an Ab Clarinet.
Excellent Video. Thank You!
Wow just in time! I have been wanting to see a demonstration of the various timbres of clarinets in different keys.
Do go to the Ridenour clips I did on my website www.lesliecraven.co.uk I demonstrate bb c and A with 2 models of Ridenour bb - hope this helps.
Someday I will own clarinets in A, Bb, C, D, and Eb. I already have A and Bb
Nathan Hollis I have C
First one to get an Ab piccolo clarinet wins.
So a C clarinet will have 'easier' fingerings (like a descant recorder) when I try to play with other musicians where they are playing song in the key of G for example. I have a Bb clarinet and find some of the fingerings quite difficult as I just play by ear.
The fingerings are exactly the same.
I think I'd like a baritone clarinet in C, slightly higher than the bass. That might be a fun toy.
Those actually used to exist.
Was this used in domestic and church music? For domestic music the C-clarinet could play the voice part for songs, and in church could play the melody on hymns. The "melody" sax was used thus.
It's possible that it was, but unlikely. C Clarinets were never mass-produced like C Saxophones were. They were always seen as much more of a specialty instrument.
In some concert bands where they cannot find an oboe player, they will use the C clarinet for oboe parts as there is no need to transpose music written for the oboe.
I've never seen this done in all my years working with bands.
@@BretNewtonComposer I think it would make more sense for them to use a soprano sax as the timbre is closer to an oboe. Transposing c to b flat isnt difficult. Transposing, imo, isnt hard in general.
I loved playing my Eb Soprano & Eb Alto Clarinets (I played them for hand therapy, because I have rheumatoid arthritis). I found them easier to play than my Bb Soprano Clarinet. Unfortunately, I don't have my Bb Sop or my Eb Alto anymore. The Eb Sop I have now needs some work on it, because my fingers got worse. I can't reach the 3rd left finger (C & G) or the pinky keys on both sides.
I'm so sorry. Find a good technician that can modify those keys. Just keep playing!
Totally agree with you. Aside being more prone to notice mistakes (as usually there is only one Eb player on a band), i find Eb easier to play than Bb. The high notes simply fly away with such ease. With Bb it isn't that easy, i prefer it for music sheets that have mainly lower notes. I never tried A and C, as they are quite rare to be seen around here (at least in 20 years on music world i've never seen one of them being played locally).
Sorry to hear that you can't play anymore. The suggestion of Zachary is a good one. Using some sort of closed key to C and G like the #/b keys is not that hard to do with a good repairman. On the pinky keys, one just need to extend the keys further until you can reach them, that can even be achieved with a 3d printer.
Now a random question what the point or reason by why there is the barrel part of the clarinet, why isn't it just on piece in the upper joint up to the mouth piece?
The length of the barrel is still needed to keep the other notes in tune with each other, so that leaves you with the option of combining the barrel with the mouthpiece or with upper section of the keys. But what would the point be? Different barrels impart different tone and pitch to accomodate different players.
I have another question: we only have one oboe player in our band and she may leave soon. Would it be easy for any of the clarinetists to make the switch from a Bb to a C instrument to cover the oboe part?
Depending on how hard the Oboe part is maybe. Finding a new oboeist may be hard to do, so you probably should have someone switch to C.
Oboe range: Bb3-G6
C clarinet range: E3-G6
It must at least fit the range of the oboe.
man i want this now
the tonal difference is basically non existent. maybe live it might be different, but by the time it's passed through your mic, your daw/video recording software, rendered for youtube, and then processed through sound, they basically sound identical.
It's definitely different in person versus the recording/video.
Where can I find a C clarinet? If I search online I just get Bflat ?
Mine is an inexpensive Chinese made instrument that I got on eBay, but C Clarinets are not too difficult to find through various retailers.
Bandestration nice thanks I literally just called and they said they could of order one, so that's good news
William Ridenour sells C clarinets that are made in China and adjusted by him after import. I have one, and it is pretty good for a Chinese import. About $1000. More expensive than a cheapie student model, but not as expensive as a professional grade model.
I just got one from Amazon uk for £209 GBP
I found a C clarinet but in German/Oehler fingering - so approach it as a different instrument, i.e. if i were switching between clarinet to oboe or sax.
Try low-G clarinet; it definitely delivers something interesting.
I have one, but it's not a very usable instrument.
Depends on the music one wants to play, and will to experiment.
I just meant my instrument in particular. It's not a well-made clarinet.
Ah, I see. If not a secret, from where did you get it from? There are not many places that particular flavour of the clarinet can be purchased from ...
It's a Chinese-made instrument that I got off of eBay.
Perhaps you should consider getting a smaller mouthpiece for the C clarinet and using German reeds. My understanding is that the Bb clarinet mouthpiece and reeds might be to big.
I've thought about that. There are a few out there like the Grabner, but they're also expensive. If I played it on a regular basis, I would.
Some of the really old Pomarico mouthpieces use a smaller chamber size that works better.
Personally I love my vintage using a very vintage D clarinet mouthpiece for Eb and C clarinets. Don't own either rn
Newer modern C's seem to use the same Bb and A mouthpiece but in the past the C used a different mouthpiece which is possibly why it fell out of favour. German reeds are just different/narrower - even for the German Bb instruments. Not sure they'd work as a substitute on a C.
I've changed my comment like six times now because I seem to have a pretty wacky C clarinet. I'm trying to get the fingerings figured out. I can't find a chart and it's not exactly the same as Bb. I'm resorting to playing with a tuner and making my own.
How bad is your Chinese C clarinet?
Asking as I'm interested in buying one for the heck of it
Not bad at all. Plays perfectly well.
@@BretNewtonComposer how many C clarinet models are you aware of? I'm seriously considering getting one, maybe even one for my mother too.
The Nuvo Clarineo has a more then 3 octave range and is a fully chromatic C clarinet at one third the cost of the normal C clarinet. it is MUCH easier to play than the B flat clarinet being less than half the weight. .
Yes but unfortunately based on traditional views of performer's etiquette (music educators) the colors of the instruments stand out too much...
There is a black model. That's what teachers want the school to buy but the children get much excited by the coloured ones.
Also, can the stock mouthpiece be exchanged on the Nuvo instruments?
Nuvo Clarineo is good only for Indian fakir's snake charming purposes. Snakes cannot hear the horrible sound of the instrument, only feel some vibrations, and so they are spared the nuisance.
Ive only been playing my clarinet for about 2 weeks at time of this comment. Its easy to pick up... i have dyspraxia too!
What brand Eb do you use???
It's a cheap Chinese clone. I don't use it much.
Bandestration Do you recommend any particular real brands?
Buffet is probably the standard.
Buffet are good. The R13 Eb is terrible. Horrible intonation.
I love Patricola personally
Eb was slightly sharper than the C clarinet but I prefer C over Bb because I have a C clarinet 😅
That's good. The C clarinet is cute 💗
Why won't they bring back the clarinet C?
What do you mean? I literally have a C Clarinet in my hand in this video.
Like use it more often than the Bflat clarinet for being a non-transposing instrument.
It's a specialty instrument. The characteristics of the B-flat won out for general use. If you want to write for C, go ahead, they're available to professionals. More often than not, when the C is called for in professional orchestras, the C is used.
Bandestration not really in symphony orchestras as the players will transpose C parts unless of course your using period instruments. Modern opera and ballet players will use the C more often as entire works can be on C like Verdi and Rossini operas for example
Clearly clarinet is not your primary instrument
but that is not the point of the video...