Parts of the Clarinet and their Use
Currently, the clarinet generally made in 5 parts (or in smaller clarinets, or occasionally in large clarinets, the body is in one piece instead of the two joints). The mouthpiece, the barrel, the upper or left hand joint, the lower or right hand joint (the two joints make up the body) and the bell. These parts are connected through tenon and socket connections with lightly greased cork seal. The bore of the instrument (the inner hole of the clarinet) is generally made to be 1.5cm long (Bb) and the whole instrument 66cm long. Most of the clarinet is cylindrical shaped, however there are deviations at the lower and upper end for tuning purposes (in hundredths of millimetres) Form need to be carefully preserved.
- Mouthpiece: The mouthpiece is tapered on the upper side to fit the mouth of the player and a slot/hole on the bottom side (which is flat, called the table) of the mouthpiece for the reed to be placed and secured (ligature) and vibrates. The reed's vibration is constrained by the rails (side of the hole) The mouthpiece is very complex and key in the tone and the sound of the instrument. It have to have a precise and careful finish. Internally, the clarinet mouthpiece consists of a complex, wedge shaped tone chamber (opposite of the reed), where it makes the transition into the round, cylindrical bore shape. It is generally made by wood or ebonite. Variation of the mouthpiece determine the sound and tone-colour differences more than any other part..
- Barrel: The barrel is the short section of the clarinet that connects the mouthpiece with the upper joint (body) Why it exists is unknown because it's importance is very minimal, and is usually placed there for a more elegant appearance. It could also be a easily replaceable section in the clarinet to take the strain (cause of cracks) of contrasts in moisture and warmth near the mouthpiece. It also acts as a pitch adjustor, by slightly separating the barrel and the upper joint at the tenon.
- Upper and lower joints carry all the finger holes and keys along with most of the central bore. There are seven open holes and 17 keys on the standard instrument. The thumb rest is also located in the lower section of the instrument and it is where the weight of the instrument is taken by the right thumb of the musician.
- Bell: The funnel shaped bell is the last piece of the clarinet that serves to radiate the sound of the lowest of notes. Although through most of the notes, the sound is radiated almost entirely through the side holes than the bell.
Materials of the Clarinet
The clarinet is generally been made by wood, mostly the heavy African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), Grenadilla and Rosewood. However, currently, more plastic and composite models are also used, in which are less expensive, but lack the character of the sound that wood models have.
The Reed
The reed of the instrument is key in determining how the instrument sounds and works. Reeds are made from carving a cane (the type of cane varies in different reeds) to a certain thickness, depending on the reed "number". (changes in fractions of a millimeter) The thickness of the reed are measured by the "number" on the reed, and it goes from 1.5 to 5, in 0.5 intervals. The 1.5 reed is the thinnest while the 5 is the thickest. Generally, starting students would use either a 2 or a 2.5 reed and work their way up. The thicker the reed, the harder to produce a sound. General reed brands are Rico, Mitchell Lurie and Vandoren in Canada.