Balancing the bass clarinet

[mmatisoff]

I've been playing the Bb clarinet for a long time. A few ago, I bought a bass clarinet. Just one question: how do you balance the bass clarinet (other than the thumb rest) when playing the throat tones?

 

[Tony Fairbridge]

Hi Martin,
That's what straps and floor pegs are for.

 

[mmatisoff]

Hi Martin,
That's what straps and floor pegs are for.

Hi Tony. You doing okay? I use the floor peg. It only occurs when I play open G, A, and Bb. This isn't a problem with the Bb clarinet. It doesn't weigh much.

 

[Gandalfe]

I just don't remember that being a problem if you have a floor peg and strap. But then I typically don't have to stay on those notes very long. You could always slide your left thumb below the register key for more support?

 

[Mojo]

Floor peg, strap, right thumb, embouchure. These 4 points should steady it.

 

[pete]

You can also get the thumb rest moved to a more comfortable position, get a larger thumb rest, or have a second "hole" for strap hook added. I don't like the "move" idea because it leaves the screw holes there. Well, I suppose a sufficiently motivated repair tech could fix that. It's also possible to have some modification to the neck.

I switched between peg and strap for a long while and never became completely happy with either.