The clarinet is a woodwind instrument with a pure and beautiful sound. Of all musical instruments, the clarinet has the widest range of pitches, which makes it one of the most interesting instruments to learn how to play. Whether you want to study for a school band or for yourself, it's important to learn how to assemble the instrument, hold it properly, produce a steady note, and start learning to play it properly.
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Part 1 of 3: Learning the Clarinet
Step 1. Use a clarinet that suits your purpose
If you're just starting out learning to play in a school band, it's common to rent them from your local school or music store. It's much easier to learn with a new, well-maintained instrument than one that has been in the attic for a long time and got moldy. It's also much cheaper than buying a new model.
- If you are a beginner, we recommend using a plastic clarinet. The Buffet B12 or Yamaha 255 are popular clarinet models, but stick with a plastic clarinet as your first instrument as wooden clarinets can be a bit more difficult to play and maintain. Generally people use a soft reed; sizes between 2 and 2.5 are usually fine.
- Avoid choosing an unbranded clarinet (from a lesser-known manufacturer). Professional clarinet players and repairmen generally don't have a good opinion of a clarinet brand they've never heard of.
- If you have an old clarinet that you want to use, take it to a musical instrument store for repair. You may need to replace the pads, to make sure the clarinet produces a clear tone.
Step 2. Examine the clarinet and learn the names of the parts
Most clarinets come with a carrying case, which has the right-sized pockets for each clarinet component. When they need to be removed and assembled, check the bag to make sure all parts are ready to use and in good condition. The clarinet parts are assembled from top to bottom, in the following order:
- The bell is a component at the bottom of the clarinet with a wide shape like a megaphone.
- The lower arrangement forms part of the main body of the clarinet, and has a joint cork at one end.
- The upper arrangement is the other part of the main body of the clarinet, and has corks at both ends. Align the straight metal joints on the two halves to position the clarinet barrel properly.
- The barrel is a short section, 7 to 10 cm long, with one end being larger than the other.
- The mouthpiece is the uppermost part of the clarinet, and is accompanied by a metal or leather ligature, which is used to hold the reed in place. Align the bottom of the mouthpiece with the long, straight section of the octave chord on the instrument.
Step 3. Assemble the mouthpiece and reed properly
Insert the reed between the ligature and the mouthpiece, with the flat side facing in. Turn the latch on the ligature until it fits tight enough. The mouthpiece can stretch if the ligature is too tight, so do it slowly.
- Do not place the reed higher than the mouthpiece, which will make it difficult to produce sound. The tip of the reed should be level with the tip of the mouthpiece.
- The tip of the mouthpiece is very fragile. So, make sure to cover it with a mouthpiece guard when not in use.
Step 4. Hold the clarinet properly
The clarinet should be held away from you, at a 45-degree angle, and the bell part close to your knee. Keep your head up and keep your back straight as you play. The clarinet should approach your mouth, not your mouth towards the clarinet.
- The clarinet must be held with the right hand at the bottom of the clarinet array, and the thumb resting on the thumb rest at the back of the array. The other three fingers are placed in the corresponding three holes.
- Your left hand should hold the clarinet at the top of the array. Your thumb is placed on the octave key on the back of the clarinet. The other three fingers are placed on the three primary keys at the bottom of the top array.
- When your fingers are not in use, keep them close to the holes for easier access to keys when needed. If you place it too far from the clarinet, it will be difficult to play fast-paced music.
Step 5. Wet the reed before you play the clarinet
If you try to play it with a dry reed, the sound will sound bad and there may be a frequent squeaking sound. Before a performance or practice session, place your reed in a small jar or wet it with your saliva.
- Try to start playing with softer reeds, between 1 and 2.5 in size. As your mouth gets stronger, you'll start to need harder reeds.
- You'll know automatically when to replace the reed with a louder one when the clarinet starts to sound like someone talking with their nose closed. Your teacher can also tell you if you need a softer or harder reed.
Step 6. Disassemble and clean the clarinet after each use
Each time you finish playing the clarinet, you should take it apart and clean it to prevent the inside of the clarinet from getting damp. You can clean the instrument quite quickly and easily.
- Most clarinets come with a cleaning cloth, which you can rub all over the clarinet after each use. This process only takes a minute, but will help keep your clarinet in good shape.
- Occasionally, you can also use a cotton swab to clean the area around the clarinet joint, which can be a place for small particles and spit to stick.
- Oil the cork regularly. Allowing the cork to dry can make it difficult for you to connect and remove the clarinet. After playing the clarinet a lot, you can oil the cork about once a week. If you oil it too often, the cork may shift.
Part 2 of 3: Playing Tones
Step 1. Place the clarinet in your mouth properly
Say "wi", and while holding this position, say "tu". Maintain this playing position (which is called a embossed) and place the clarinet against your mouth.
- Keep your jaw flat. Your upper teeth should be placed on the top of the mouthpiece, on the opposite side of the reed.
- If you just push the clarinet into your mouth and blow, the notes will be difficult to produce. It takes a little effort to shape your mouth properly, which is called an embossing.
Step 2. Close the corners of the mouth around the mouthpiece
If your lips are not tightly closed, air will escape and no sound will be heard. Try lifting the corners of your mouth to tighten it even more. Your tongue should be pointing at the reed as you play, and not touching it.
It may be difficult to get used to this the first time and you will probably learn it better by taking the course
Step 3. Try to produce a steady tone
With the right mouth position, try blowing it to produce a note. Experiment with different breathing strengths, and get a sense of how much it takes to produce a good-sounding note from the clarinet. This will take effort. Without the key being pressed, the key of an open G will be heard on the clarinet.
If the sound is squeaking, don't be discouraged. Getting used to the shape of the mouth for the clarinet is difficult. Keep trying, and experiment with different amounts of air that must be passed through the clarinet
Step 4. Keep your cheeks tight
The urge to puff out your cheeks while playing can arise, but you'll produce a more stable and consistent tone if you avoid it. Practice playing in front of a mirror so you can avoid inflating it.
At first, this will make you much more likely to produce a squeaky sound. If you make a lot of squeaking sound, check the position of your mouth on the mouthpiece. Make sure it is not too high or low on the mouthpiece. Your teacher can also help with this. Also make sure that your reed is positioned properly
Step 5. Try playing some notes
Press a few keys to try out different notes, seeing how that changes the power you need to blow through the clarinet. Try to feel what makes the sound sound higher and lower. Play around for a while.
When playing, always close the hole tightly. Otherwise, the notes will not be heard. Especially if you're using a register key, make sure all the holes are tightly closed
Part 3 of 3: Taking the Next Step
Step 1. Purchase a finger placement table
Revisit your local instrument store and look for the clarinet books for beginners available there. Some of the books that are commonly used are Band Expressions, Standard of Excellence, and Rubank Elementary Method. All of them teach you how to play songs and the correct finger placement for each note.
It can be difficult to become an expert at playing the clarinet without learning to read sheet music. The clarinet is a musical instrument with a treble chord that is within the range of a Bb chord, so you will need to learn the basics in treble chords to learn more about playing the clarinet. The best way to do this is usually by joining a school music group or taking private lessons
Step 2. Practice scale and arpeggios techniques
If you practice scales and arpeggios, your technique for solo play and other repertoire will be much smoother. Finger placement patterns are essential to playing the clarinet properly, and you can learn them quickly by practicing this process.
This technique will probably be taught by your teacher later, if you have one
Step 3. Learn the songs
As with any instrument, if you just play the clarinet for fun, start with what you know. There are lots of popular songs (which aren't too challenging) for the clarinet, especially if you like swing and jazz, which are more intuitive. Classic repertoire can be a bit more difficult, but there are songs that are easier if you work hard enough.
Step 4. Consider taking a private course
It is very difficult to learn the clarinet just by reading a book. It's better to start practicing with a teacher than alone so you don't miss anything or learn something wrong. Often times, music teachers in schools provide courses at a low cost.
Bad habits can develop unnoticed, which will make it difficult for you to reach certain skill levels. If you want to play the clarinet right now, take a course
Step 5. Join a school music group or orchestra
If you are really interested in playing the clarinet, find a teacher and join a musical group or orchestra.
Prepare yourself to train for a long time! You will not become a good clarinet player overnight. Start with the basics, then move on to the more difficult things. Playing a musical instrument is a lifelong learning process
Tips
- Always warm up before playing any song. This will prepare your mouth and fingers and help you make sure the reed is functioning properly.
- If you're not sure how to play a note, look up the finger placement chart for instructions.
- If you're not sure about buying a clarinet yet, renting one is an excellent option, especially if your local instrument store has rental-buy deals.
- You have to clean the reed frequently. Otherwise, the reed will be damaged.
- As with any instrument, you should have your clarinet checked at an instrument store regularly to make sure there are no problems with it.
- Be sure to keep your puff firmly-your jaw should be flat and your mouth should be tilted up.
- Listen to professional clarinetists play and try to sound and "flow" like them. Start by imitating it and slowly your own unique voice will develop.
- As you become more proficient, you may want to replace your clarinet with a higher-quality wood clarinet. Buffet and Selmer are very popular clarinet brands and sell many fine models of clarinet.
- Store your clarinet in a room at room temperature. If the temperature is too cold, the clarinet can produce a discordant sound.
- Don't blow too hard or pull too much of the mouthpiece into your mouth; it would make the clarinet more difficult to play and sound worse, not to mention the squeaky sound it would make.
Warning
- Never chew gum or eat/drink anything sweet before and while playing! Food can get stuck on the clarinet or your spit can dry on the inside of the clarinet and make it sticky.
- Do not bite the mouthpiece too hard. This can damage the mouthpiece and make your teeth hurt.
- The clarinet is a difficult instrument to learn to play properly without a teacher. It might be easy to get started, but if you don't want to be stuck at beginner level forever, you might want to find a teacher.
