So I’m a freshman in high school right now and I’ve been playing clarinet since I was in 4th and Bass since 6th. I started using 3s in 6th grade and have been finding them relatively easy to play on. I’ve got an upcoming scale assignment in which I have to play a 2 octave C scale without slurring which I have found to be a challenge on my current reeds. I was wondering what you guys would recommend to do if I should stick with 3s or buy a box of 3.5s.

I've played saxophone my whole life and I impulsively bought a clarinet recently, how hard is it to make the switch? Should I get a beginners clarinet book or should I skip ahead a little bit?

So I've recently been having a really rough patch with my lower altissimo notes. Particularly the notes between Eb -> F have felt exceptionally unstable and prone to squeaking/grunting, with E being the worst offender. Occasionally D and F# also have these problems, but it isn't nearly as pronounced. Weirdly, my upper altissimo notes from G onwards are feeling more stable and have better tone than ever. C# also never has given any problems.

I've been playing for 15 years at this point and I am getting very frustrated that it seems like I suddenly just can't play what I've been able to play readily in the past.

Generally if I play the notes in context of a passage, they come out fine, but it still sometimes feels like I'm just a tiny adjustment away from a squeak! This has dissuaded me from using techniques like vibrato and bends on those notes, which has hampered my ability to be musical when playing. If I sit down and just try to play an E, for instance, that is when the problem is the worst.

I've been throwing myself into long tones exercises, playing all my scales through only the altissimo octaves, and doing some interval exercises as well, but I haven't been able to find any improvement even after several weeks. It seems like I can make any adjustment to my air support, tongue position, chin, corners, amt. of mouthpiece, angle of instrument, etc. and I still have the same problems.

I am getting really discouraged since I was able to sound these notes fine, and it feels like I just can't do anything to be able to do better again. I'd really appreciate if anyone had any thoughts on either the cause of this situation or any strategies I could use to find my way back to competence.

As a side note, I took a week or so off of playing before this problem happened because I had my wisdom teeth out. I'm wondering if the procedure changed the geometry of my mouth enough that the way I was playing those notes just doesn't work anymore? This feels like a stretch, but IDK

Hi I am a composer.(a beginner) I am composing pieces for clarinet. I was just wondering if clarinet plays in any key. If not, what are the keys clarinet plays comfortably? Thanks!

I’m a hobby bass clarinet player who has had various respiratory infections for the past month and was wondering if anyone has advice or tricks for playing with the aftermath of a respiratory infection. I’ve tried a few times and it feels painful with the sore throat and makes my throat dry up after, so I’ve already had to take two weeks completely off of practicing. I’m feeling less sick after a few days of antibiotics but the sore throat is kind of hanging around and I’d really like to be able to play again!!

hello, so i just bought a new clarinet a couple of days ago and could play it normally in the shop (like go over the break and everything) but right now as im trying to practice, i can barely make sounds. like i struggle so much with just trying to play a low f when normally i can play it with no issues. i think it might be the ligature but im not sure. can someone help please?

My high school band teacher has claimed that he can play literally anything on the clarinet and I would love to prove him wrong. But sadly no matter how hard I try he just keeps playing the what pieces I give him flawlessly. So I just need the most difficult stupidly hard sheet music you can throw it him.

Hello clarinet enthusiasts 👋🏻

Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking about learning to play the clarinet. However, money is a bit tight since I’m currently a student. I’ve been looking into a few clarinets, but I haven’t been able to find much information about them on YouTube or elsewhere. I’m hoping some of you might have experience with these brands:

• Grassi CL200L Master Series
• Chateau C01CL-TF470NIF Bb Clarinet
• Thomann CL-17BB CG Bb Clarinet
• Roy Benson CB217 Bb Clarinet

I know the Buffet Crampon Prodige Bb Clarinet and Yamaha YCL-255 S Bb Clarinet are highly recommended, but I need to save a bit more before I can afford them. The four brands above are within my current budget, so I’d appreciate any feedback or advice on those!

Thanks so much for your help! 😊

Hi

I'm a professional sax player that ended up doubling a lot on Clarinet on a cruise contract recently. I did get into a practice routine on the ship and it was actually quite fun being challenged with developing a new sound.

Just a question I want to ask the community, If you where to give practical advice to your past self in learning the Clarinet what would it be?

I'm trying to practice really high altissimmo (mostly on bass clarinet but also on soprano clarinet) but I can't really find any altissimmo fingering charts that go past altissimmo G. Can someone please send me one that goes higher than than?

Uhhh idk what to write here, I just really like my clarinet. After a whole year of not being able to play one I am so happy I’m back to it. EUGHHH I LOVE MUSIC

Like the title says. I have about three weeks to get my chops back before I have a public thing I have to do. I haven't played consistently since 2020 and it's been at least a year since I've played sporadically. I used to know how to do this but good ol' long covid rotted those brain cells away so I'm hoping this sub can help me out.

So. How would you approach a practice regimen meant to resurrect endurance? Thanks!

Whenever I practice in the morning before school starts my tone sounds amazing and my articulation is a thousand times clearer. However, when I practice after school I sound far worse. Especially my state etude and long tones. I don't feel tired when I get home. Is this weird? And is there a way to be better consistently?

I really like pieces written in romanticism and later, just finished rabaud solo de concourse and now i gotta choose my next 2 pieces (1 piece with more melodical stuff and second one more technical) for the slower one i chose poulenc sonata 2nd movement, for the faster one i cant think of anything, i really wanted to take on messager but teacher said that its a little bit too hard for me now ( im in 10th grade) any recommendations? I would love a cadenza too P.S. sry for bad english lately i started writing like a 5 yo

Hello! I have a chairing assessment for wind ensemble and I have a high D and E in it. I’ve been struggling with reaching it and when I try playing through it, it squeaks a lot. If I stop and just play the note D or E it sounds fine to me, but every once in awhile it does squeak. The due date is coming up really soon (so tips/tricks that could help me get it asap would be great), and I’ve been trying very hard to get it, but I’ve just been struggling a lot with it, especially because the tempo is supposed to be faster. I’d also like to mention when I try slowing it down it does help a bit, but it’ll still squeak sometimes.

I’m sure it’s something to do with my embrochure, but I’ve always sucked at trying to follow what people say, so if you’re going to comment something about it please dumb it down and explain it to me like I’m 5 😭

If it matters I’ve been playing on a Selmer CL301 and a Buffet Crampon R13 (it’s newer though so I’m still getting used to it) and I’ve found it easier to play on my CL301 for some reason. I’m also on a Vandoren reed with a strength of 3. The song is titled “Second Suite for Military Band in F major” and it’s at part B on the first part specifically.

Thank you for any suggestions and assistance I greatly appreciate anything!

I'm a composer and am planning to use a B flat soprano clarinet in a piece which would make use of quarter tones. I've seen some contemporary music which used quarter tones in the higher register of the clarinet, although I know it's uncommon. I'd love to know which notes in particular can be used, and if there's any particular difficulties there, such as in intonation. Thanks!

I’m working on Webers clarinet concerto 1 and was wondering if anyone had their own favorite recording of the piece, I’m trying to learn the style and would love to hear different clarinetists perform it.

The solo piece that I was set on for solo + ensemble contest got taken off the list. Any suggestions for a level B piece or C with a challenge? I don’t know where to find any and my director isn’t helping me.

So, I have this problem where all the reeds I put into my reed guard becomes black. Does anyone else have this problem? The reed below is new, and I just put it in and it became black. The top reed has already been in the reed guard for quite a while already. However, I don’t have any problems with the playing, just that it feels disgusting, but it tastes okay. Is this fine or will i get like paint poisoning from this?

I’m in a dilemma. I did play clarinet for 3 or so years and could play “over the break” no problem even after 2 years of playing bass clarinet it’s almost impossible to hit a note above C above middle C. Any advice/tips?

Hello I switched to vandoren 3's in november half a size down from my Rico 3.5's cause I heard they were tougher. Latley after playing through almost the entire box I relize on how much more fatigued my embouchure gets. I have also relized more spit getting into my instrument, that airy sound is coming back, and I am constantly out of tune no matter what I try any help? (I have been playing for four and a half years currently a sophomore in high school)

Beginner here, just learning. Per my book, I’m covering the TH and LH1 holes, which should produce an E, but my tuner app is registering a D. Then if I just cover the TH, I’m getting an E instead of an F. I admit that I have an Amazon ISO, but didn’t think it would make that big a difference. (also, just the mouth piece and barrel produces the F# like it should). Any suggestions?

Edit: I went and downloaded a clarinet specific tuner, and it’s registering as it should. Still a long way to go to produce a good tone, but that’s what learning is all about. Thank you guys again for the comments.

I'm playing Recitative and Polscca from Concerto No. 2 by Weber. And I'm struggling to get a clear transition from the high notes to the low notes as seen here in measure 18 and 19. Any tips?

I'm (a pianist) looking for a clarinetist to play Bartok's "Contrasts" with me and in this piece you need to change from A clarinet to Bb clarinet. The question is, is it something that is a bit unusual and I need to mention it to the potential clarinetist, or is it a typical situation for clarinetists to have two instruments on their hands?

For those of who you started one instrument as a kid, and picked up a new instrument(s) as an adult (wherever clarinet fits into that), how was the experience of learning different as an adult? I'm talking more the process, benefits of age on your approach, etc. More so than being a full-time working adult and finding time to practice, which I know can be super difficult :-)

It is a Leblanc clarinet (E79310).

I know it's pretty old but it's in great condition so I am looking to sell this thing.

I also did some searching on E-bay but couldn't find out its price.

Help me guys!