Our favorite student Bass Clarinet books!

So You Want To Play The Clarinet, by Paula Corley

This is a carefully sequenced book for beginner (bass) clarinetists that emphasizes good tone quality and phrasing. The range is moderate, from the lowest E to third line B-flat, so no low Eb — and definitely no low Cs! 

This is a good book if you are a private teacher and are starting a student with their first clarinet lessons. This is also helpful if you are a band director and want additional, specialized study for your clarinet section.

Finger Fitness Foundations, by Kristin Denny Chambers

Finger Fitness Foundations provides a fun way to tackle the most common clarinet finger obstacles. The 68 études feature the "68 Exercises in Mechanism" from the Celebrated Method for the Clarinet by H. Klosé. The études start very simply and progress - great for first and second year players and beyond - plus there are tons of practice tips and fingering guides included to help along the way.

This is another good starter book for students, and works well in combination with Paula Corley's book.

Finger Fitness Etudes, Books 1, 2, and 3, by Kristin Denny Chambers

Much of the melodic material is in the Chalumeau range with occasions for connecting the middle register. The music is in a "friendly" range for all clarinets, and is great for developing pre-college students. I love these because a) they're fun to play, and b) 10 of the etudes are specifically re-written for low C clarinets with additional low clarinet drills and exercises in the final section of the book.

These are not for absolute beginners, but are great for students who've been playing a year or more.

Introducing the Alto or Bass Clarinet, by Himie Voxman

This book is intended for students who are already comfortable with the Bb clarinet, and who are switching to the Alto or Bass Clarinet. While some of the content is a bit dated, it's still a viable source of information to students and their teachers. 

21 Foundation Studies for Alto or Bass Clarinet, by William Rhoads

These are studies for intermediate bass clarinet students. There is a fair bit of "over-the-break" work, including passages that start in the clarion register (on some of the more challenging notes, like Clarion A and B), but nothing goes into the altissimo. If you're familiar with Rose etudes, these are somewhat similar, but do not progress into fast finger technique like the Rose etudes do. Interesting side note: "Rose" and "Rhoads" are nearly homonyms.

35 Technical Studies for Alto or Bass Clarinet, by William Rhoads

This book of studies builds on the Foundation Studies. It covers patterns, articulation, crossing the break, pinky-finger usage, diminished and augmented chords, whole-tone scales, scale variations and technical facility, and includes two Bach Praeludiums.

18 Selected Studies for Alto or Bass Clarinet, by William Rhoads

You guessed it. More of the same. But still good stuff for your bass clarinet student who is tearing through their Rhoads and just can't get enough. What makes it unique? The 18 Studies includes one etude in each major and relative minor key up through four sharps and flats, from the clarinet repertoire by Lazarus, Rose, Demnitz, Rode, Baermann, Kietzer, Mazas, Muller and Capelle. 

Advanced Studies for Alto or Bass Clarinet, by Julius Weissenborn

Do your bass clarinet players think they're getting good? Want to cut their egos down to size a little? This is the book for you. These are the famous Bassoon etudes edited (by William Rhoads) for Bass Clarinet. 

Understanding the Low Clarinets: Etudes, Solos, and Detailed Information About the Alto, Bass, Contralto, and Contrabass Clarinets, by Richard Saunders and Edmund Siennicki

Here's another book geared toward moving existing Bb clarinet players into Bass Clarinet. This book has more information than the Voxman about reeds, embouchure, articulation, intonation, posture and hand position. It includes exercises for tone, articulation and finger technique.