Clarinet
Quick facts about the clarinet
The clarinet is a member of the instrument family known as woodwinds.
Other woodwinds include: flutes, oboes, bassoons, and saxophones. These
instruments are called woodwinds because their ancestors were once made
of wood. The clarinet uses a single cane reed to produce its tone. (Another single-reed woodwind is the
saxophone.)
How does the clarinet work?
Vibrations are created as the stream of air hits the tip of the reed.
The frequency of the vibration is determined by the distance the air
must travel before escaping from the clarinet. Tone holes are carefully
positioned on the body of the instrument to create the correct
intonation for each note. As each key is depressed, its pad (soft felt
covered with a thin skin) stops the airflow through that one hole. As
the distance the air must travel increases, the tone gets lower.
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There are different types of clarinets?
Although the Bb soprano clarinet is the most common
clarinet, clarinets come in a variety of keys. There is also the bass clarinet, the alto clarinet, and the contrabass clarinet, just to name
a few.
Another key difference is the material that clarinet body is made out of. Most beginner
clarinets are made out of plastic; this makes the clarinet more durable
and more affordable for the beginning student.
(Just a warning though:
some beginner clarinets are made of cheaper plastics and can break
easily. Because parts for these instruments are hard to find, these can be very
costly to fix.)
Intermediate and professional
clarinets are usually made of a high-quality, aged wood. Because of the wood, these step-up clarinets produce a richer, fuller tone that is
immediately noticeable. Advanced clarinets also require more air
to play.
It is generally recommended that a student steps up from a beginner to a step-up clarinet after approximately 1 year of playing.
More questions about the clarinet? Contact Amro's experts here.
