Buying a New Clarinet? Here are the Factors to Consider

An artistic clarinet is, indeed, a life-enriching investment for any musician. But with so many choices available around, purchasing the best items having the distinctive dark, earthy tones and a wide range of notes can be really challenging. While clarinet insurance can safeguard your instrument from a number of uncertainties, you should take preventive measures by considering all important factors before making the investment itself. Here is a perfect guide to get you started.

Types of Clarinet

There are lots of models in the clarinet family, which are categorized based on their sizes, styles, and tunings. Explore them to know about the playing situations where they fit in the best:

• Soprano Clarinets: This sub-family of the instrument contains multiple models with a long, thin body, which are usually different from each other in their tunings and sound profiles.

• Bb Clarinets: Being an instrument with a huge repertoire of music, it is considered as the most common choice for beginners. It is mostly suitable for jazz, swing, and Dixieland.

• Clarinets: Known as the favorite of classical clarinetists, this type of clarinet can supplement the Bb instrument too.

• Eb Clarinets: Bb and instruments are replaced with this one for playing higher notes. It is widely used by intermediate- and advanced-level players in orchestras and concert bands, who are ready to expand their skills through advanced fingerings.

• Bass Clarinets: This clarinet is larger than its counterparts with an upward-facing bell and a peg at the base for proper positioning on the floor. The deep, sweet tone of the instrument goes very well with classical, orchestral, jazz, and pop music.

• Harmony Clarinets: It is a rare category of the instrument, which produces harmonies instead of carrying melodies.

Features of a Clarinet

Once the type is chosen, look for the right technical specifications. Let us explain all the key features of a clarinet to make the task easy for you:

1. Body Material: For beginners and students, a clarinet made of ABS resin (hard plastic) or a rubber composite material is fine. It is lightweight, crack-resistant, and susceptible to thermal fluctuations. However, a pricier item made of Grenadilla Wood or African Blackwood is used by advanced students and professionals. Though it is heavy, fragile, and easily damaged by extreme weather conditions, it offers an enhanced tone with better resonance.

2. Keys and Plating: Typically, the keys on the instrument are plated with nickel or silver. Preferred by professionals and used by students as well as beginners, the nickel-plated keys are lightweight, durable, and somewhat shiny. On the other hand, the silver-plated keys add weight to the instrument, thereby producing a slightly darker tone. The super glossy appearance also gets ruined due to tarnishing and requires extra care.

3. Bore Design: The bore of a clarinet (the inner dimension from the mouthpiece down to the bell) comes in a variety of sizes and styles. Students and beginners can go for small or medium-sized bores to keep in tune while professionals can easily manage the flexibility of the pitch delivered by larger bores. Similarly, the sounds produced by cylindrical-bore clarinets are large with great volume while those created by poly cylindrical-bore clarinets have superior intonation and greater ring.

4. Reed Strength: Beginners should always start on softer reeds and move onto the harder ones gradually as they build up strength. Also, inexpensive regular-cut reeds are good for most students and amateurs while advanced clarinetists like the quick response of French-file reeds.

That’s all. Now, make a wise decision and pick the right instrument for yourself. Also, do not forget to buy reliable clarinet insurance along with it to stay prepared for unpredictable disasters.