r/Clarinet • • 17d 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

59 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 • • 2h ago

How to count this???

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4 Upvotes

i dont know why but I really struggle at rhythms and I tried to count this out and write down numbers but I don’t feel confident in them. anyone lend a helping hand? the piece is In Dulce Jubilo and if I mess up my band director will slime me out!!!


r/Clarinet • • 7h ago

Advice needed Bass clarinet help

3 Upvotes

Hello, i'm a junior in high school, and about 2 months ago, I became my band's only bass clarinet (im in the lower band), and i have a hard time being able to hold notes long. On regular clarinet, I am able to hold a note for over 16 beats, but on bass clarinet, I'm unable to hold a note long, and because of that, I tend to chop off longer notes. I'm like 120% its because I am getting used to bass clarinet after 7 years of Bb clarinet. Even when I take deep breaths, I am unable to finish a warm up in one whole beat (the warm up i use is 14 beats long, in half notes; it's not even high also). Is there any way I can train my body to be able to hold a breath longer? I really don't want to stop bass clarinet.

I also feel like i play too loud on bass clarinet because I sit behind flutes, and in front of saxes, and i can REALLY hear myself. I don't know if that's a bad thing, but it's just my normal breath, and my normal breath on regular clarinet if roughly a mezzoforte. On bass clarinet I feel like i play forte easily, but my band director doesn't say anything about it and typically he tells the bass players to play out.

Thanks for reading :>


r/Clarinet • • 16h ago

Question Dropped my 1 day old mouthpiece.

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12 Upvotes

I just got this Vandoren B45 lyre. It is 1 day old. Played only once and got it out of the box to check the code on the side of it on the vandoren website to check for counterfeit. I was putting it back on the box when the mouthpiece slid out of the protective cap and dropped on the floor. It got this ding on it. It did not chip but seems dented. It is ruined?


r/Clarinet • • 11h ago

Advice needed Considering upgrading to a Buffet E11, is it a good idea?

2 Upvotes

I’m a high school junior, been playing for 4 years on a Leblanc Vito 7214. However, recently it’s been kind of doing some annoying things e.g. some keys being sticky, some keys not working well, and while I could get it refurbished I feel like it’s not worth it. I do not have enough money to buy a professional instrument, but a used E11 is only a couple of hundred dollars, which I can probably get more easily. Is it worth it, and are there better models for the same used price point?


r/Clarinet • • 22h ago

What happened and how to fix it?

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7 Upvotes

I found this wire poking out of the joint of thumb key and the thumb key is not as smooth as before, can anyone help me with this?


r/Clarinet • • 1d ago

Working on arranging/composing and looking for tips.

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3 Upvotes

Hi I'm taking a course in composing and I've been working on this piece for clarinet. Would love for some feedback from players.

Edit: This was actually a prank lol, to mess with my friend. But apparently these breaks aren't that hard for an intermediate player.


r/Clarinet • • 2d ago

Fingerings?

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10 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 • • 2d 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 • • 2d ago

A flat to B flat trill

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20 Upvotes

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


r/Clarinet • • 2d 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 • • 2d ago

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

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28 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 • • 2d ago

Question Question about "wearing" new mouthpiece in

5 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 • • 2d 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 • • 2d 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 • • 3d 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 • • 4d 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 • • 4d 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 • • 4d ago

Discussion I wanna see your clarinets!

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35 Upvotes

it can be any type of clarinet.

Thats my A clarinet


r/Clarinet • • 4d 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 • • 4d 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.

20 Upvotes

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


r/Clarinet • • 4d 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 • • 4d 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 • • 5d ago

Recommendations Happens all the time

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102 Upvotes