The Clarinet |
Listen to the sound of a Clarinet
|
The clarinet is a woodwind instrument with a single reed and long cylindrical body.
The clarinet produces a fluid sound when air is blown between a single reed and the mouthpiece. Up and down the surface of the body are holes through which air can escape when left uncovered. Using levers and keys mounted on steel rods, the player covers and uncovers different sets of holes to produce all the tones of the scale while blowing air through the clarinet. |
The clarinet family comprises of a number of similar instruments but of differing sizes such as the piccolo, soprano, alto, bass and contrabass clarinets. There are also instruments of the same size which have tubes of different length. For example, there are various types of soprano clarinet in use including the Bb and A soprano clarinets (the most common types seen today).
Clarinets come apart into five pieces: mouthpiece, barrel, upper joint, lower joint and bell. These pieces must be fitted together in precise alignment for proper playing to be possible. |