What are your doubles?

[RCNELSON]

We see a lot of "What is you setup" threads for the instruments themselves, so here is one for us multi-woodwind folks: What are your doubles? And as an extension, which combination do you use most often?

Here's mine
Flute, piccolo, Bb Clarinet, soprano, alto and tenor saxes. Have played bass clarinet a year ago for MAME but on a borrowed horn.

Alto, flute and clarinet historically wins for me but all the combinations keep me busy. I'm using the soprano more and more lately.

[Merlin]

I have at various times, played the following horns on gigs:

Piccolo
Flute
Alto Flute
Bass Flute
Eb Flute
Eb Clarinet
Bb/A Clarinet
Alto Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
EEb Contrabass Clarinet
BBb Contrabass Clarinet
Bassoon
Oboe
English Horn
Sopranino Sax
Soprano Sax
Alto Sax
C Melody Sax
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Bass Sax
Sopranino Recorder
Soprano Recorder
Alto Recorder
Tenor Recorder
Bass Recorder
Penny Whistles in F, Eb, D, C, Bb, G, low D
Pan Flute

I do own most of those.

[Groovekiller]

I like to think of myself as a tenor sax/baritone sax player. I wouldn't survive in this business without my doubles, however.

As a baritone sax player, I play clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute a lot. In my gig with the Palm Beach Pops orchestra, I play mostly bass clarinet and jazz tenor sax, doubling anything they throw at me. When they needed bass flute, I was surprised that I was the only one prepared to play the instrument, because the flute players were excellent.

As a tenor player, the usual doubles are flute and clarinet. No surprise there.

I'm not a great piccolo player, especially compared to several picc players with whom I often work. I own a piccolo but try to avoid the instrument. Sometimes I fail (!)

I double on bass sax whenever possible. That's pretty rare because the cultural climate of Florida resembles that of an iceberg off Greenland.

I guess Tubax and Soprillo are pretty much off the radar.

[Connical]

Sax (alto, tenor)
Clarinet
Flute - No piccolo !
Trumpet
Cornet
Baritone (Euphonium)
Keyboards (I'm not skilled enough to say piano)

[Carl H.]

Sax -SATB
Clarinet - Eb, Bb, A, Bass
Percussion - Snare, drum set, timpani, bells, xylophone, marimba...
Strings - Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Mandolin

(Red letters indicates the instrument is owned)

[fluteypiccolosax]

my main is flute

i double on picc and alto
i also borrow my friends clarinet sometimes.

[bpimentel]

Flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, saxophones. A growing list of folk and ethnic instruments, including various bamboo flutes (transverse and endblown), wooden flutes, recorders, whistles, ocarinas, panflutes, duduk...

My "main" instrument is still saxophone (got a bachelor's degree in it), and I find that's still usually my best way of getting my foot in the door for getting gigs. But once they know me, I usually end up getting called back to play double reeds.

Taking up oboe/EH was the best thing I ever did for my employability--I started getting gig offers almost immediately, despite my almost total lack of skill (improved somewhat now). Double reed players are just so hard to find. I think it not that there aren't any out there, it's just that they don't get connected to the gig network the way saxophonists do for jazz and rock/pop gigs.

Bret

[pete]

I think SOTSDO mentioned this on another thread: I don't think of myself as a "doubler", per se, because, in a lot of people's minds, that implies you're a jack of all trades and a master of none.

My "main" axe has been baritone saxophone since the mid-1980's. However, both before and after that, I played a capable Bb clarinet. Much after the 1980's, I developed into a pretty darn decent vocalist (bass, baritone or tenor II -- tenor one, if someone kicks me).

I also played, for a longish while, Bb tenor sax, Bb bass clarinet and Bb contrabass clarinet as my main horns. And not at the same time.

So, what's my definition of "doubling"?

How 'bout, "Being asked to play multiple instruments that you normally don't, but have a bit of facility on them that doesn't quite match your main instruments." If that's the case, I've doubled on Bb soprano sax, Eb alto and Bb bass sax. And singing tenor II. Hey, I used to be able to sing even some soprano II parts, in falsetto.

The most instruments I've played in a gig are Bb soprano clarinet, Bb bass clarinet, Eb alto sax and Bb bass clarinet -- I transposed some alto flute parts to clarinet and alto sax, too.

[RCNELSON]

Taking up oboe/EH was the best thing I ever did for my employability--I started getting gig offers almost immediately, despite my almost total lack of skill (improved somewhat now). Double reed players are just so hard to find. I think it not that there aren't any out there, it's just that they don't get connected to the gig network the way saxophonists do for jazz and rock/pop gigs.

Bret

Hmmm...I wonder if an old late-40 something guy like me could handle one more? I don't know anybody in the community theater circuit that I'm involved in that plays oboe. We usually play the oboe parts on clarinet,flute or soprano sax OR simply leave them out. Hmmm????

[fluteypiccolosax]

Hmmm...I wonder if an old late-40 something guy like me could handle one more? I don't know anybody in the community theater circuit that I'm involved in that plays oboe. We usually play the oboe parts on clarinet,flute or soprano sax OR simply leave them out. Hmmm????

GET on it!

:)

go buy an oboe and learn

it cant hurt
....
well it can:P

[Gandalfe]

go buy an oboe and learn

it cant hurt
....
well it can:PIndeed, in my case it would hurt a lot of people. :twisted:

[robertsax]

Went to a college jazz ensemble - salted with top-notch pro's - concert last Monday night and heard for the first time the 2nd alto player featured on English horn. She pulled it off and I found the piece very entertaining.

The lead alto, one of the pro's - Benny Golbin (http://bennygolbinmusic.com) - played a piece featuring him on EWI and he wow'd the audience. That's a doubling "instrument" I've not seen mentioned here.

[metbysax]

In score order:

Picc
Flute
Recorder
Alto Recorder
Alto Flute*
E flat Clarinet
B flat Clarinet
A Clarinet*
Bass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bass Saxophone*

*Instruments I have gigged on, but do not own.

I own an oboe, but have not gigged on it....and probably never will. That's probably best for everyone.

[RCNELSON]

GET on it!

:)

go buy an oboe and learn

it cant hurt
....
well it can:P

OK, now you've got me thinking. And since I'm thinking (which can be dangerous in and of itself), if I take this plunge, what make should I try/buy? I know about Loree, but my budget won't take that right now. I would want to start with the best of the least expensive brands.

[Merlin]

OK, now you've got me thinking. And since I'm thinking (which can be dangerous in and of itself), if I take this plunge, what make should I try/buy? I know about Loree, but my budget won't take that right now. I would want to start with the best of the least expensive brands.

Go buy a Fox Renard 330. If you've got a bit extra change to spare, get a Fox Model 300.

[bpimentel]

Agreed, Fox is the way to go. Be warned that they are more expensive than most "student" model oboes.

I think the only real "student" level oboes that are marginally playable are the lower-level Fox Renards and the Yamaha, but an experienced woodwind player will immediately begin to discover the limitations of these instruments (missing keys!). The Fox 330 is a good, reliable, nice-sounding intermediate-level instrument with complete enough keywork to play gigs.

The 300 is marginally nicer than the 330, but, in my opinion, not nicer enough to justify the price. Get a 330, and, if someday you want a better instrument, it will be time to bite the bullet and get a true professional model.

Bret

[saxmanglen]

Unfortunately, I don't really have any true doubles. :cry:

I'm pretty much a sax player even though I did buy a clarinet a few years ago and had intentions to play it in the big band I was playing in at the time. It proved to be a torture stick and I haven't put in the dedicated time that's needed to feel adequate enough to play it in public.

I don't think a wind synth counts as a double but I do dabble with a Yamaha WX5 and have played it in public before.

[Dave Dolson]

Glen: Years ago, I bought a clarinet and taught myself to play it, so now I consider clarinet as a double for me. No, I don't play it with the confidence I have on sop and alto, but I can play it on certain tunes - and I do.

Two things that really helped me play clarinet with some confidence was 1) finding a suitable open mouthpiece and reed combo for MY embouchure (not anyone else's embouchure); and 2) finding the proper length tuning barrel to allow me to play up to pitch without struggling with it. Once I put those factors into the equation (along with a wonderful clarinet, a Buffet RC Prestige), I enjoy the black-stick-of-death. DAVE

[WoodwindDoubler]

I play a lot of Tenor ....

...

Soprano
Alto
Bari
Flute
Pic
Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Contrabass Clarinet

Not a huge list yet, but I've only been doubling for 2 years so I think it's going well ;o)

[tenorsaxman90]

I play:
Fife(in Bb)
Recorder(Soprano)
Pennywhistle(in D)
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Alto saxophone
Tenor saxophone
^^I own these^^^

I've also played(or am currently playing), but don't own:
Alto Flute(for Once on This Island the musical)
Soprano Saxophone(also for OoTI)
Bass Clarinet(for school)
Bassoon(for school and church)

[Gandalfe]

At an intermediate level: Soprillo, sopranino, C and Bb sopranos, f mezzo, alto, C melody, tenor, bari, and bass saxophones.

At a less than intermediate level: C and Bb Sopranos, alto, bass, contra alto and contrabass clarinet.

So bad I shouldn't own one, but I do for noodling purposes: Flute, S,A,T,B recorders, octarina, guitar, bass, and piano.

[tictactux]

At an intermediate level:
Soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, C melody, tenor, bari, and bass saxophones.

At a less than intermediate level:
Soprano, alto, bass, and contrabass clarinet.

So bad I shouldn't own one, but I do for noodling purposes:
Flute, S,A,T,B recorders, octarina, guitar, bass, and piano.
Wot? No Blues harp? 8-)

Here it's Eb, C, Bb, Alto and Bass clarinet on a "productive" level,
Alto Sax on noodling and
Flute on "red face" level.

[tjontheroad]

Interesting thread :)

I've doubled in various settings and combinations on;

Electric and acoustic guitar
Bass guitar
Upright Bass
Piano/keyboards
Tenor sax
Alto sax
WX5/VL70m

My longest and still best instrument is guitar that I've played for 26 years. Although, now it's my secondary instrument as I'm focused these days on sax. I've also been playing/working more on my clarinet chops in hopes of getting out with that soon. Bass clarinet is on the radar too :cool:

[Heckelphone]

Here are the ones I've performed on, or would consider performing on:


picc/G treble/Eb soprano/C/alto/bass flutes
oboe/English horn/heckelphone
Bb soprano/alto/bass/Eb contra/Bb contra clarinets
bassoon (I've performed on contrabassoon, but don't own one)
sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, bari saxes (I've played bass, but don't own one)
Bb bass and Eb contra sarrusophone
trombone/bass trombone
classical/electric/12 string guitars
bass guitar
piano/fender rhodes (nothing too complicated)
garklein/sopranino/soprano/alto/tenor/bass recorders (also contrabass, but don't own one)
soprano/tenor crumhorns
soprano/alto/tenor shawms
bass cornamuse

The horns I use every week are the bass/Eb contra/Bb contra clarinets, and classical guitar. I spent last spring playing with an early music group, and played all the older stuff there. Tenor & bari, flute/bass flute when the dance band gets itself together. Used to play bari/bass clarinet/Eb contra sarrusophone in a jazz big band :-D

[stefank]

Saxophones:

S (not willingly, don't own)
A
T (main instrument these days)
B (don't own)

Flute (was originally my main instrument)

Recorders SSATB

Guitar (if there's not somebody better around, which there invariably is)

Tin Whistle

& I'm starting to dabble with blues harp.....

[kfrank1]

I picked up Tenor sax first quickly followed by Alto and Sop. I picked up Bari several years later.

I picked up clarinet a year after Tenor and then flute a year after that. Ever since I've been practicing sax, clarinet and flute equally, but most of my playing is on Tenor.

I played a couple of musicals at a local theatre in the last two years. One was on clarinet/flute and a bit of alto sax/bass clarinet, and the other was mostly flute and a bit of bari.

I got a bass clarinet a couple of years ago. Last year I bought a piccolo and plan to take some lessons to get a good sound, just like I did for bass clarinet.

I plan on getting an alto flute this year and taking lessons at the same time as for piccolo.

I've also been learning to play piano for a year but that is not for performing, but more for arranging purposes, and also for something different than woodwinds.

Out of all the woodwinds for me bass clarinet is the hardest to get around, especially for jazz improv, and piccolo is the hardest chopwise to get those high notes with a good sound.

Interesting, bpimentel your comment about getting more gigs after picking up oboe/english horn. Out of oboe, english horn, and bassoon which one would be more likely to get you gigs? I guess that depends on whether you prefer high or low woodwinds, but in my case I don't really mind either way.

[bpimentel]

Out of oboe, english horn, and bassoon which one would be more likely to get you gigs?

It has been oboe for me.

[eddierich]

picc
flute
alto flute
Bb clarinet
bass clarinet
soprano, alto, tenor, baritone saxophones
whistle (in D)
a couple sideblown wood flutes

I would consider myself primarily a tenor player.

[Al Stevens]

Piano, string bass, trumpet (cornet, flugelhorn), valve trombone, saxes (tenor, alto, bari). I used to play slide trombone but do not own one now.

[Aubstopper]

hmm..

Oboe: My primary instrument; have been playing it for 12 years; I have a Buffet model and never felt the need to get a Loree, because it plays beautifully :-)
English Horn: My favorite instrument to play; I own a $10K Loree rare model
Bassoon: I've played it in several community and professional orchestras...taught myself for fun at first...then got so many calls i just decided to buy one.
Flute: My first instrument, luckily enough...lucky since i don't have the embouchure problems that seem to plague the single reed doublers. Own a crappy student flute and a Gemeinhardt with a gold lip plate.
Piccolo: Played throughout high school in marching band.
Alto Sax: Own one...have a very nice (and expensive) jazz mouthpiece
Soprano Sax: Don't have one, but before I taught myself clarinet i used to play the clarinet parts on soprano.
Tenor Sax: Don't own one, but since i'm a double reed player it always seems to come up in the parts (so i borrow).
Baritone Sax: My main instrument that I play when I play jazz...unfortunately, i don't own one...I used a friend's, but he has since moved :-(
Clarinet: I own a nice wood Yamaha...it works for me.
Bass Clarinet: Don't own, but might invest soon.

I dabble on Guitar and Piano, but i don't say i can play them until i can play hard passages sightreading without trouble...

Most frequent is def just straight up oboe/english horn, because no one seems to play them, much less OWN an english horn.

[tenorsaxman90]

It's been a while, but I have added to my list of doubles:
Tenor Recorder, Alto Recorder, Sopranino Recorder, and Bass Clarinet... I plan on getting either an alto flute, English horn, E flat clarinet, and soprano sax next, but in no particular order.

[Oboeguy]

I got my Bachelor's and Master's in English Horn/Oboe Performance, but...

In Score Order...
What I Own-
Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
English Horn
Clarinet in Eb, Bb and A
Bassoon
Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophone
Violin
Viola

Don't own, but have access to-
Bass Clarinet
Bari Sax
Cello
Bass

Have played regularly, but don't own or really have personal access to-
Alto and Bass Flute


I think that's all that's in my 2nd bedroom without going in there. lol

[tenorsaxman90]

Here is an updated list for me :-)

Sopranino recorder
Soprano recorder
Alto recorder
Tenor recorder
Pennywhistle in High D
Irish flute in High Bb
Piccolo
Flute
Alto flute*
Clarinet
Oboe
English horn*
Soprano Saxophone*
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone*
Bass clarinet
Contrabass Clarinet in Eb*

The instruments with a * are ones I don't own, but have used in the past

[Notes_Norton]

Main instrument - Tenor Sax (also own an alto, don't bring it to the gig anymore *)

Doubles:


Wind Synthesizer - (Yamaha WX5 controller plus Yamaha VL70m and Yamaha TX81z modules)
Flute
Guitar
Vocals
Drums/Percussion (I only use a percussion controller on the gig *)
Bass (don't bring it to the gig anymore *)
Some Keyboards (don't bring it to the gig anymore *)

* Too much to schepp - I do one-nighters

♪♪ Notes

[tenorsaxman90]

I have really updated my collection over the past few months, and finally got my baritone sax before I turned 20 years old(only 3 months away); since that has been a goal for a while =]

*Fife
*Pennywhistle in D
*Sopranino recorder
*Soprano recorder
*Alto recorder
*Tenor recorder
*Piccolo
*Flute
*Oboe
*Clarinet
*Alto saxophone
*Tenor saxophone
*Baritone saxophone
*Bass clarinet
*Bassoon

[bobsax]

I finally got around to visiting my forums today.
It's nice to come over here and have a familiar layout after being over at SOTW.

Thanks Merlin , I used you a s a template.
I play these well enough to gig on;
Bb/A Clarinet
Alto Clarinet
EEb Contrabass Clarinet
BBb Contrabass Clarinet
Soprano Sax
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Sopranino Recorder
Soprano Recorder
Alto Recorder
Tenor Recorder
Trumpet
Eb Alto Horn
Tuba
Piano
Melodica
Chromatic Harmonica
EWI (old analog)
Snare Drum or any drum played with sticks , Timbales , etc.
Misc. Shaky Percussion
Voice

I play/record but would not gig on;
Accordion (maybe gig but I can't use the buttons)
Eb Clarinet
Trombone
Banjo
Guitar
Ukulele
Song Flute
Flutophone
Drum Set

I hope to learn in the future
Violin
Bass Guitar
Penny Whistle/Low Whistle

I'll never be able to play :(
Flute

I feel like I've forgotten something.:mrgreen:

[pete]

I feel like I've forgotten something.:mrgreen:
Oboe :).

[bobsax]

Oboe :).

And Bassoon :-o

I think I have a physiological disorder regarding double reeds :redface:

But I could probably get over it if a contrabassoon fell in my lap ;)

[SOTSDO]

...assuming you survive the impact...

[Jim]

I've played the following horns on gigs at one time or another:

Soprano saxophone
A Clarinet
Bb Clarinet
C clarinet
Oboe
Recorder
Alto saxophone
Eb clarinet
Guitar
English horn
Piano
Tenor saxophone
Alto clarinet
Bassoon
Baritone saxophone
Bass clarinet
Trumpet
Flute
Contralto clarinet
Trombone
Piccolo
Contrabass clarinet
Drums and percussion

The scariest was trumpet. Though I'd taken lessons for four years and performed a bit, I'd never played on a concert stage with an orchestra before, and wasn't ready for the acoustic difference between brass and woodwinds. On woodwinds, the sound tends to come out the entire instrument and sort of lingers all around you, so you get a good idea of how you sound. On trumpet, the sound leaves the front of the horn at 500 mile per hour and disappears somewhere far out there in the audience! You have no time to hear and adjust--you either get it right or you don't. I had two brief dress rehearsals for the part I as playing--doubling a solo with the 1st chair trumpet--for which the 1st chair trumpet did not show up! And I sounded awful both times because I felt so far out of my element. But come performance time, I--and the lead player who decided to show up--played the solo perfectly (I owe that to the power of prayer). Whew!

[Rob Dorsey]

Through the years and somewhat in chronological order:

Trombone
Tenor Recorder
Alto Recorder
Soprano Recorder
Bass Trombone
Oboe
Bassoon
Baritone Horn
Valved Trombone
Flugelhorn (brief period - chops)
Cello
Guitar
Banjo (5 String)
Renaissance Lute
Baroque Lute
Theorbo
Tenor Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
I'm now totally devoted to jazz and am doubling on Sax and Trombone.

-Rob

[Gandalfe]

Wot? No Blues harp? Actually I ordered a custom one that put me in a 18 month waiting list, but I forgot the maker now. Hope he doesn't forget me.

I'm now totally devoted to jazz and am doubling on Sax and Trombone.Trombone players are hard to find around here.

[catty]

Well, being an obsessed newb here, I'll resurrect another old thread. This one's interesting to me--having been in so many directions over the years. I've performed (from most recent to first):

reggae (keys, drums) current gig ... age 50
bluegrass (bass) also current
scandi (bass, bouzouki, guitar, mandolins)
cajun, & other American folk (fiddle)
salsa (bass)
jazz, and all other styles (drums) also current
contradance (bass, bouzouki, diatonic accordian, concertina, 4-str banjo)
dixieland-ragtime (tenor banjo)
country (pedal steel)
rock (electric guitar)
classical guitar
alto sax ... age 8

solo performing on classical, flamenco and fingerstyle guitar, 4 & 5-str banjo, fiddle, mandolins, accordians, concertinas, harp for the last 20 years or so. Oh, and singing. The only instruments I haven't gigged with are hammered dulcimer (too dam* heavy and cumbersome to tune on site--I play O'Carolan harp tunes) and horns--my first instrument.

I'm looking forward to playing out with woodwinds, my first love

[bobsax]

Hey Catty
Where you from?
I could use a player with your doubles:)

[catty]

That is to say, if I can get chops on the horns. I do play a few jigs and slides on Boehm flute--something my sister had arround 40 years ago--so I always could get a good sound out one...I was born in Clvd ohio, raised around det mich .. moved west and never been back

Now older age keeps me from playing the clubs--i try to avoid it..i'd love to just pack a horn instead of haul around a kit, amp, whatever.. i'm lazy. But there suren't as many horn gigs!

[catty]

Bob-

I notice among the old threads that you were getting into banjo (presumably bluegrass). How's that going?

When I was a kid (having fallen out of love with sax for electric guitar), I was obsessed with copping Jimmy Page licks. When zep gave it up around '73 or whenever, I went looking for something to fill that void. Earl Scruggs was very impressive to me, and so I started Scruggs-style picking. I didn't care much for bluegrass--being more into Mitch Ryder, MC5 and all that--but I liked that fancy banjo picking. Being a classical guitar player, picking it up was easy.

30 years later--after getting into folk music--I started playing frailing (clawhammer, rapping, etc.) and other fingerstyles on banjo.

These days, when I entertain at area nursing homes--something I regard as a human servcie--I present a whole "banjo show": starting with all manner of picking blues and bluegrass--then some Joplin rags, then switch to 4-string and more rags--Jelly Roll Morton, Ellington, standards from the early 20th c.

[Brian]

Bb Clarinet
Alto Eb Clarinet
Percussion (Snare, Set, Hand Percussion, Steel Drums, Marimba, Xyplophone)

Yah not extensive, but only in highschool so I have time ^^

[oboesax]

I only play flutes (c, picc, alto and recorders) but daughter plays

Oboe EH
SATB saxes
Bb, Eb and bass clarinet
bassoon
some flute and picc

--she makes fun of me because I can "only" play flute

[Notes_Norton]

Tenor
Alto
Flute
Wind Synth (WX5 / Vl70m + TX81z)
Guitar
Bass
Keyboard synthesizer
Drums
Vocals
Computer