The Difference Between Basset Horn & Alto Clarinet

The Difference Between Basset Horn & Alto Clarinet thumbnail
The clarinet and basset horn are in the same musical family.

The basset horn and alto clarinet are similar instruments, so much so that they can replace each other in musical groups. However, there are some distinct differences.

  1. Features

    • The basset horn has a metal bell instead of a pear-shaped contracted bell like the alto clarinet.

    Pitch

    • The basset horn is pitched in F, while the alto clarinet is pitched a whole step lower in E flat.

    Size

    • The tube of the basset horn is longer than that of the clarinet. It also contains four additional long keys, worked by the thumb of the right hand. The extra keys give the basset horn two more tones downward to F.

    Shape

    • The basset horn does not have a curved neck like the alto clarinet.

    Bores

    • The bore, or interior chamber, of the basset horn is wider than that of the alto clarinet.

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References

  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of The University of Adelaide

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