The clarinet certainly does have its fair share of pieces, equipment, and accessories. Here’s everything you need to know to properly assemble your clarinet:
Parts of a clarinet from top to bottom
Mouthpiece (with ligature and reed)
Barrel
Upper joint
Lower joint
Bell
Steps to assembling a clarinet
Lay the case on a stable, flat surface and ensure that the case is not upside down before opening
Attach the bell to the lower joint, being careful not to press any keys (silver parts)
Attach the upper joint to the lower joint, being careful to not press any keys with excess pressure
Make sure the bridge key is aligned (this connects the upper and lower joints and is on the right side)
Attach the barrel to the upper joint (the wider opening attaches to the upper joint); make sure the logo is in alignment with other logos
Attach the mouthpiece (without reed or ligature)
Carefully loosen the screw(s) of the ligature and lower it over the mouthpiece, taking care to not chip the mouthpiece
Slide the reed between the mouthpiece and ligature (avoid touching the fragile tip of the reed). Use your thumbs adjust it to its proper placement
Cover the mouthpiece with a mouthpiece cap until you are ready to play
Disassemble your clarinet: After swabbing, remove these pieces in reverse. Carefully remove the pieces, beginning with the reed, ligature, and mouthpiece and working down to the bell.
Proper reed placement: the reed is not too high or lowand should sit symmetrically on the mouthpiece
Tips
When assembling a clarinet, use gentle back-and-forth twisting motions. Do not push the pieces together.
Don’t be afraid to use gentle pressure (you won’t break the wood or plastic), but do not force the pieces together. Use cork grease if you are having difficulty assembling any pieces.
You can bend keys during assembly if you’re not careful. The keyboard is the most fragile part of the clarinet, which is why you should avoid pressing or holding it as you assemble your clarinet.
Put the reed in your mouth while you assemble the rest of the instrument to save time. Be sure to wet the entire reed.
Make sure the logos are aligned on the front of the clarinet
Clarinet care & maintenance
Wash your hands and brush your teeth before each time you play the clarinet.
ALWAYS swab your clarinet after every use. If you are playing for a long time, swab it at least every 30 minutes.
Change your reeds regularly to avoid fungus and mold. Reeds can last anywhere from a day to a few weeks if cared for properly.
Use cork grease as often as necessary (at least once a week).
NEVER leave your assembled clarinet resting across a chair – always disassemble it or leave it on a clarinet stand (with the mouthpiece cap on)
NEVER leave the mouthpiece on a music stand
Clarinets are not toys! Don’t spin, fight, throw, or juggle your clarinet.
Equipment recommendations
Use a plastic mouthpiece cap instead of a metal one (plastic is less likely to break the mouthpiece or chip the reed)
Don’t use a swab with exposed metal (it will scratch the interior of the clarinet)
Don’t play on broken or chipped reeds (replace damaged reeds immediately). Here are more ways you can avoid chipped reeds.
Don’t use key oil yourself – leave it to a professional repair technician
Optional accessories that make a big difference
Reed case to hold multiple reeds
Clarinet stand so your clarinet is protected when you’re not playing
Thumb cushion (you can DIY with pencil grips)
Teeth guards (I like EZO denture cushions)
Mouthpiece patch
Tuner
Metronome
Other posts you might enjoy:
The great singers (and how singing can help your clarinet playing)
What do the Weber concerti and Brahms sonatas have in common?
Books Every Clarinetist Should Have on Their Bookshelf (Or Kindle)
Applying and Auditioning for Music Degrees - Timeline and Checklist
So You Want to Play an Auxiliary Clarinet?
2 Comments
Andreas Buehler
August 19, 2021 at 14:15 Reply
Thanks for your tips on assembling the clarinet! On the top part, seen as I am autodidact, I was missing the part on how often the joints should be greased, You mentioned the greasing part later on. Thank you! Purely by coincidence I traveled the Faroe Islands on the internet 3 weeks ago because that region fascinates me, In Kopenhagen I’ve been many times. I’m Swiss and studied aeronatical engineering in Stockholm, Sweden. I allways stopped for a day or two in Kopenhagen, when traveling beteewen Switzerland and Sweden.
jennyclarinet
August 19, 2021 at 15:44 Reply
I’m glad that you found this article useful, and what a coincidence that you visited the Faroe Islands on the internet recently! It’s such a beautiful location, and I hope to return there one day! Happy practicing!
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About Jenny
My name is Jenny Maclay, but my friends call me Jenny Clarinet. I created this website to celebrate the clarinet and its repertoire, history, and the community of people it brings together from around the world.
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Páll Sólstein – It’s lonely out in space
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqqedf-L1v4
Joseph Rheinberger – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 105a
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqbIeW7khSA
Rheinhold Glière – Concerto for Coloratura Soprano, arr. for clarinet, theremin, and piano Arr. for Theremin, Clarinet and Piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXMN38M1vEc
Germaine Tailleferre – Sonata for Clarinet Solo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWWIk5mJ86M
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