r/Clarinet • • 16d ago

Monthly Clarinet Identification/Appraisal Thread

2 Upvotes

Please post in this thread if you'd like your clarinet identified or appraised for sale.


r/Clarinet • • Oct 17 '24

Resource Reputable clarinet brands to consider, updated 2024

55 Upvotes

At the suggestion of u/Claire-Annette-Reid, I have decided to make an updated list of reputable clarinet manufacturers to consider. Given the rise of poorly-manufactured, cheap instruments (also referred to as instrument-shaped objects) sold through companies like Amazon and eBay, this list will be especially valuable for first-time clarinet buyers. This list isn’t 100% comprehensive, but chances are if the manufacturer you are considering is not on this list, you should not buy from them. If you have the opportunity, you should try the instrument before you buy it, or have somebody you trust such as your teacher play-test for you. There are different philosophies to buying used versus new, but generally speaking, you may get a much better value buying a well-maintained used instrument opposed to buying new. If you are going to buy used, make sure to have the instrument looked over by a repairperson before purchasing, or buy from a reputable shop that will have already refurbished the instrument. TL;DR: TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.

Amati

Backun

Boosey and Hawkes

Buffet-Crampon

Bundy

Chadash

Dietz Klarinettenblau

Eastman

Evette & Schaeffer

F. A. Uebel

Hammerschmidt

Hanson

Jupiter

Kessler

Leblanc

Leitner & Kraus

Luis Rossi

Martin Foag

Neureiter

Noblet

Normandy

Oscar Adler and Co.

Patricola

Peter Eaton

RZ

Ridenour

Ripa

Rossi

Royal Global

Schreiber

Schwenk und Seggelke

Selmer Paris

Selmer USA

Steve Fox

Vito

Wurlitzer

Yamaha


r/Clarinet • • 19h ago

Fingerings?

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7 Upvotes

The image attached is a photo of a solo I have to learn for an audition (Allegro and Andante for bass clarinet) and I can't figure out a way to alternate left and right fingerings to make this work. I labelled the Eb/D# as R because that HAS to be right hand. Does anyone know what to do here?


r/Clarinet • • 19h ago

Question Reed help

4 Upvotes

So my band classmate recommended I start using vandoren reeds. I have been using Rico reeds at a size 3 since I started Bb clarinet three years ago. Now looking at the site, I’m not sure which I should get. Most I see in my band room are the blue or purple box traditional reeds, but should I use those or one of the others?


r/Clarinet • • 1d ago

A flat to B flat trill

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16 Upvotes

How do I do this? I'm a mere community band hobbiest getting back into it 22 years post high school.


r/Clarinet • • 21h ago

Vandoren BD6 HD vs Vandoren BD5 HD

3 Upvotes

Hello, I'm looking for a new mouthpiece. I'd like to share my background and some important points to consider.

  • I don't play classical music. I mainly play Latin styles such as cumbia, boleros, folk music, and similar genres.
  • I'm looking for maximum sound projection with minimal blowing effort, since I play in a large band that includes both woodwind and brass instruments. I also want something that is easy to play and doesn't cause excessive fatigue during long performances.
  • I have used a Selmer Focus mouthpiece (1.05 mm tip opening), but I felt it lacked volume and projection.
  • I have used a Beechler 9S mouthpiece (1.67 mm tip opening). With a Rico 2.5 reed it lacked projection, and with a 3.0 reed it became very tiring to play.
  • I have used a Beechler 7S mouthpiece (1.47 mm tip opening). The sound spreads out and doesn't project well.
  • I mostly play outdoors in open-air venues.

For those who have tried these two mouthpieces as well, please tell me what you felt were their strengths and weaknesses. What did you like and dislike about playing them?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hola, estoy buscando una boquilla nueva para mi, les mostrare mis antecedentes y puntos a considerar.

- No toco musica clasica, si no musica latina como cumbias, boleros, folklor etc.
- Busco maxima proyeccion de sonido con poco esfuerzo al soplar ya que toco en una banda grande de instrumentos de viento madera y viento metal y facilidad para tocar sin cansarme.
- He usado boquilla Selmer Focus (1.05mm) me faltaba volumen y proyeccion en sonido.
- He usado Boquilla Beechler 9S (1.67mm) con caña 2.5 rico le faltaba proyeccion y con 3.0 cansaba mucho al tocar
- He usado boquilla Beechler 7S(1.47mm) El sonido se esparse y no proyecta
- Toco al aire libre en espacios abiertos.

Diganme tambien los que han probado estas dos boquillas cuales son sus puntos buenos y malos que sintieron al usarlas.


r/Clarinet • • 1d ago

Recommendations PSA: you can use Bb reeds on a Eb clarinet

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23 Upvotes

I play Eb clarinet a few times a week, and Vandoren does not make the 56 rue Lepic for effer.

Backun and probably some others make Eb barrel with a notch to allow for a Bb reed.

Or you can use my McGyver solution: cut the bottom of the reed so it fits. I do them 10 at the time, takes 3 minutes and works very well. The width is similar.

Here pictured next to my good friend A clarinet.


r/Clarinet • • 1d ago

Question Question about "wearing" new mouthpiece in

4 Upvotes

I jsut got a new mouthpiece for my B flat clarinet. It is a Vandoren b45 Lyre. I got this new and the cork was pretty rough. I gave it a generous amount of cork grease and put it in the barrel using pressure. I had trouble removing it as it is too tight on the barrel. Is tbere something I can do to make it fit "better" in the barrel, meaning more easy to get on and off but not loose to leak air.

Thanks in advance.


r/Clarinet • • 1d ago

Question solo clarinet track

1 Upvotes

I'm looking for a piece for solo clarinet for my exam, which is of medium difficulty, advice?


r/Clarinet • • 1d ago

How do you divide practice time between A and Bb?

8 Upvotes

Do you practice your scales/etudes on both instruments or really treat the A as an auxiliary?


r/Clarinet • • 2d ago

Question lower pinky keys pads don't seal

2 Upvotes

The pads only seal if you press hard on the keys, is this a regulation issue or do they need new pads?


r/Clarinet • • 2d ago

Advice needed c/o ‘27 kid is STRESSED about auditioning for clarinet music performance

4 Upvotes

title ,, wow college auditions are a BEAST. any advice on literally any standard rep would be amazing. learning the standard concertos (mozart eugh) and literally any of the standard orchestral excerpts even i’m grasping at STRAWS.

for more context, i am primarily a bass clarinet player. i’m a completely self taught and i’m getting a clarinet teacher specifically to help with my auditions for college. i do not play Bb clarinet as often anymore (well until the past few months), and i also am a doubler in all my school ensembles so i jump around, primarily on bari sax, french horn, mellophone, and euphonium. weird combo.

with ever rising feelings of imposters syndrome and doubts about my abilities i would appreciate literally anything. i don’t really want to switch majors because a lot of the times music ed just requires your primary instrument and more and nothing else really peaks my interests. i just wanna know what i can do to help me learn my pieces better and some tips.


r/Clarinet • • 3d ago

Question How to prevent this key from getting stuck down

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13 Upvotes

When this happens it makes the notes come out horribly and im wondering if theres ways to prevent this because its an inconvenience when im marching.


r/Clarinet • • 3d ago

Discussion I wanna see your clarinets!

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34 Upvotes

it can be any type of clarinet.

Thats my A clarinet


r/Clarinet • • 3d ago

Advice needed 6 months of clarinet update

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10 Upvotes

Hey ! Roughly 6 months into clarinet. Feedbacks are welcome !

Starting to enjoy the higher registers.

Recorded in garage because reverb is sweet.


r/Clarinet • • 3d ago

Is there any measurable uptick of clarinetists among millennials? I (31) grew up watching SpongeBob SquarePants and wonder if Squidward playing the instrument made it more popular among young students in the 2000s.

21 Upvotes

I don't play clarinet btw I'm just curious


r/Clarinet • • 2d ago

Rechargeable Duster to Clear Spit from Tone Holes

0 Upvotes

Is there any downside(s) to using a small handheld duster to clear the top A tone hole?

Just swabbing my clarinet and mouth blowing the A tone hole does not always do the trick. If I use a Wolfbox 100 duster to clear the A tone hole from the outside, I get a wonderful clear tone.

Edit: I did two, one second blasts, of the A tone hole after swabbing and blowing failed to clear the spit. The sound of the duster is similar to a one second blast of compressed air. The result was a Eureka moment for me. I just figured there must be some negative reason this remedy was unknown to me other than my general ignorance.


r/Clarinet • • 3d ago

Advice needed When do you use these?

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7 Upvotes

When do you use these? I was looking for a cheap C-clarinet to easily play some duets with my mom who plays Flute, and came across these


r/Clarinet • • 4d ago

Recommendations Happens all the time

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99 Upvotes

r/Clarinet • • 4d ago

Advice needed Help with tarnish

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11 Upvotes

How would you recommend I clean the tarnish off of my contra alto clarinet?


r/Clarinet • • 3d ago

how important are ligatures

8 Upvotes

just how much does it affect the sound and feeling of playing. i already use a crappy, slightly torn, no name silver mouthpiece and i'm thinking of switching to a rovner which is like 30 bucks. is it REALLY that worth it


r/Clarinet • • 3d ago

appropriate time to be completely ready for all state 😊

3 Upvotes

When is it a good time to have your etudes rock solid and full/correct tempo. I play mine crappiky at half tempo. The audition is in a month so is it just part of the process or should i just give up at this point


r/Clarinet • • 4d ago

Question Keys stuck together

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4 Upvotes

So no further explanation needed, i assume this keys should not be stuck together, and when pressed should return normally, whats the problem here?

I discovered this now, when i started learning the scales, and for the first time used these keys.


r/Clarinet • • 4d ago

Advice needed High Eb trill

3 Upvotes

I’m playing clarinet 2 a piece called Russian Christmas Music that I have to play a high Eb trill for a whole note tied to a high F eight note. Any advice since the only fingerings I’ve found is the usual high Eb to high F and that is difficult for me to learn


r/Clarinet • • 4d ago

I want to learn to play properly

7 Upvotes

So i got a old clarinet from my grandpa, its a leningrad clarinet, i assume its a student clarinet because the body is from rubber, i restored it, cleaned the body, polished it, oiled it, cleaned the keys, and replaced the pads. I know how to play it, but i dont know any scales or anything, where to start, i only know how to play songs from clarified on youtube, but i do not know how to read notes from music sheets. Where can i listen and learn online about playing my clarinet?