1. Preparing to Play the Clarinet
The clarinet is a reed
instrument that is
part of the woodwind
family. To learn how
to play this popular
band instrument,
begin by opening the
clarinet case and
take out the two
largest sections of
the instrument,
which are the upper
and lower sections of
the body.
2. Upper and lower sections of
clarinet
With the upper section of the
body in your left hand and the
lower section in your right
hand, gently press the tone
hole keys of the upper section.
If the tone hole keys are not
pressed while assembling this
part of the instrument, the
keys may become bent. The
tone keys are the keys that
are the circular open hole
keys. Use a back and forth
twisting motion to put these
two sections of the body
together. If the cork on any of
the pieces of the instrument
seems dry, you will need to
apply some cork grease by
massaging the grease into the
cork.
3. Assembling the upper and lower
sections of clarinet
In order to align the
two sections that
you have just
assembled, ensure
that the bridge
keys of the upper
section fit into the
small groove of the
lower section.
4. Assembling bridge keys
Next you will need
to assemble the
bell. With the body
of the clarinet in
your left hand and
the bell in your
right hand, gently
twist on the bell,
again using a back
and forth motion.
5. Assembling the bell on to the
body of the clarinet
You are now ready
to attach the barrel
to the mouthpiece.
Again, use a
twisting motion to
assemble these
two sections.
6. Assembling the mouthpiece and
barrel
Attach the barrel
and mouthpiece to
the top of the
instrument. Be
sure that the hole
in the mouthpiece
is lined up with the
register key on the
back of the clarinet.
7. Attaching the mouthpiece and
barrel to the body of the clarinet
The last step in
assembling the
clarinet is attaching
the reed to the
mouthpiece.
8. A clarinet reed
Before attempting
this step, you will
need to wet the reed
by carefully placing
the thin end of the
reed in your mouth.
Keep the reed in
your mouth for a
couple of minutes.
Since reeds are
extremely thin and
fragile, be careful not
to chip the end of the
reed with your teeth.
9. Wetting the reed
Loosen the screws
of the metal
ligature. Slide the
ligature over the
mouthpiece. .
Ensure that the two
screws of the
ligature are to the
right side of the
clarinet, and are
facing the back of
the instrument.
10. Placing the ligature on the
mouthpiece
To secure the reed
to the
mouthpiece, carefu
lly slide the reed
under the ligature.
11. Positioning the reed under the
ligature
Place the flat side of the
reed against the
mouthpiece, centering the
reed on the hole of the
mouthpiece. Without
touching the tip of the reed,
move the reed down very
slightly so that a hairline of
the tip of the mouthpiece is
not covered up by the reed.
Be sure that the ligature is
approximately half way
down the reed, just past
the “U” shaped part of the
reed. Tighten the screws
of the ligature to hold the
reed in place however do
not over tighten the
ligature.
12. Reed placement on the clarinet
mouthpiece
After assembling the
entire instrument,
remove the
mouthpiece and
barrel in order to
practice your
embouchure (the
position of your
mouth). Stretch your
bottom lip like you
would if you were
putting on Chap-
stick. Part of the
bottom lip should be
covering your teeth.
13. Stretching the lip over the bottom
teeth
Keeping the chin flat put
about half a centimeter
of the reed and
mouthpiece in your
mouth, and set it on the
flat part of your bottom
lip. Place the teeth on
top of the plastic part of
the mouthpiece. Close
your mouth around the
mouthpiece so that it
makes a seal and so
that no air escapes. Be
sure to maintain this
same embouchure each
time you take a breath.
14. Clarinet embouchure
Place the mouthpiece and barrel back on the
body of the instrument and you are ready to
learn hand position and your first note on the
clarinet.
