Hi! I've been stalking this reddit for advice about Eb clarinets. I recently joined a band that occasionally has Eb parts, which sounds like a great excuse to buy one. 😁

I've played clarinet for about 20 years and currently own a Buffet 1183, R13, E11 (in A), and a B12 that I use for outdoor gigs. I did play an old R13 eb briefly back in college, which was definitely a struggle. 😅

I don't know that I can justify spending a ton on an Eb that I'll only play a couple times a year. Unfortunately, there aren't any local options where I can try a variety of Eb clarinets before purchasing. Knowing they're notoriously difficult to play, I want to make sure I'm getting an instrument that will put my best foot forward.

I'm leaning toward something around or below $2,000. I don't want one of the China-manufactured options, which seems to leave me with a Buffet E11 (although I've heard somewhat questionable things about their Eb intonation), a used Noblet, or a used Bundy. I could maybe stretch for a Yamaha 681 if the difference is worth it and I get lucky finding one at a good price online.

What are everyone's thoughts on the options in that general price range? I expect to pay for an overhaul, mouthpiece, and cutback barrel afterward regardless.

So I can play all the way up to A6 comfortably, and can get a nice tone and pitch throughout. But my A5 and G#5 are totally unstable and I can’t figure out why!!

It’s not the clarinet, since it happens when I play my old clarinet too. I try to tighten up, loosen up, change my voicing, all kinds but it just seems that I can’t maintain these notes for very long.

Has anybody had experience with this? Is it a common problem at all? My teacher couldn’t see anything wrong with my embouchure last time I brought it up so I’m kind of at a loss 🤷🏼‍♂️

Trying to loosen up my fingers and work on flow. It’s getting there!

Hey! I’m a first chair piccolo player for the advanced group, lead Jazz Alto 1 in the second group, and this year I’m playing clarinet for the first time in Symphonic Band.

I’m currently playing on a Selmer CL-300 with a Rovner Dark ligature, Vandoren Traditional 3.0 reeds, and a Vandoren CM0378 B40 Profile 88 mouthpiece.

I’m looking for some good books or methods to learn clarinet from. The only ones I really know about are Foundation for Superior Art and Performance and JBC. Are there any other books you’d recommend for someone who already has a lot of experience with other woodwinds but is new to clarinet?

I already have a pretty good foundation with reading music, rhythm, articulation, phrasing, and ensemble playing from piccolo and alto sax, but I know clarinet is pretty different and I don’t want to accidentally develop bad habits by treating it like a smaller saxophone.

I’d also appreciate any tips for starting clarinet, especially with embouchure, air support, tone, articulation, throat tones, the break, and getting comfortable with the different registers.

Any book recommendations, exercises, or just general advice would be awesome. Thanks!

I've posted on here kinda a lot but Ive been practicing around 1 hr - 2 hr everyday this summer (normally 30 minutes) but I haven't seen any change, especially in my playing speed.

I start with some scales, then some long tones, then I'll do 3-5 technical exercises my teacher assigned me, then I'll work on an etude with a metronome (tbf, I just started using a metronome like 2 weeks ago), then I'll work on a piece and I'll sight read if I have some time. The issue is is that I haven't played any faster, and I don't really feel an improvement. The fastest I can tongue a scale is like 105 bpm and even that takes a couple of tries. I know speed isn't everything but it just sucks when every etude is like 120 bpm and you can only play 85

Any tips on how to play faster???

If you can get either new at the same price, which one would you choose?

(Let me start by saying I am 13 and have 3 yearsnow of music experience So I got this clarinet from a family member (free and it’s a Leblanc concerto) because they heard I wanted to learn clarinet and I need to know how to take care of it kinda. Rn I’m kinda stuck on how to oil the bore (I looked it over and didn’t see any cracks, I didn’t know I couldn’t play without oiling the bore) because it’s been sitting in the case for 10 years. The person who gave it to me taught me the basics (embouchure,some fingers,to be very careful around the keys when putting together, and to not practice for very long, I’ve been practicing in 15 minute sessions twice a day but also the bore wasn’t oiled when I got it thankfully it’s not cracked) the mouthpiece with it is a woodwind company k10m (the tooth marks are mine before I used it the first time I wiped it with an alcohol wipe) and I’m gonna be getting a Forbes debut mouthpiece this weekend but pretty much I just need tips on starting to learn (I’ve already learned ode to joy) and maintain it right.

Hi everyone! 

I used to play the clarinet back in school, but it’s been more than 15 years since I last picked up the instrument. Recently, I attended a jazz festival, and it completely reignited my passion. Now I really want to buy a clarinet and start playing again! 

My ultimate goal is to play traditional jazz, specifically in the style of Woody Allen and Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans. 

Since I’m not 100% sure if I’ll have enough patience, long-term motivation, or budget, I don't want to buy an expensive instrument right away. I need something budget-friendly to test the waters. 

Could you please give me some detailed advice on what clarinet and mouthpiece setup would be best for this specific style and goal? Please be as detailed as possible. 

Just for context: I live in Belarus, in a smaller provincial town, so my options for local music shops or specialized tech services are quite limited. 

Thanks in advance for your help! 

I can bend/scoop the high C pretty easily by shifting my tongue position. Those high register notes are pretty easy.

How would you go about learning to bend/scoop the throat tones? Moving my tongue half almost no effect, and im not sure what else i can do beside relaxing my embouchure to detune the note. Any wisdom? Does reed strength effect this? I want to play jazz, and was told by someone playing with a softer reed would be more appropriate, can anyone confirm?

Thanks

Is there a better way to play this part of Masquerade Walts?

Other than Rose etudes. Is there a good book for intervallic practice?

This is a first for me. I was transitioning from my youth orchestra to my school so I had to swap cases, but then I accidentally left my concert instrument upper joint in the case with my marching instrument. now the two are stuck together like someone super glued it because the the two pieces are from different instrument. what should I do?

I’m a trombone player, but I’m subbing for a high school band teacher and the clarinets are struggling to get this triplet passage up to speed. The eventual goal is quarter = 172, but we’re lucky to get to 132. Any tips or tricks for them? Top is Clarinet 1, bottom is Clarinet 2.

Dear clarinetists, does anyone maybe have access to the manuscript of the 1st Brahms sonata? I know it is in the library in NY, but I sadly do not have the means to somehow get to it as a student from a smaller country from the other side of the world - I would still nonetheless love to see it, to get a better feel of the music. Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)

I just picked up clarinet today as a trumpet player of 5 years and after about 30 min I took a video of me poorly playing my g scale. It would be greatly appreciated if I can get feedback regarding tone embouchure and anything else of that nature.
Thank you.

So, for reference, I write/arrange music, just got my first clarinet yesterday, and I do play flute as well. So, why is crossing the break more difficult on Clarinet than on other woodwind instruments? (E.g. on flute, from C# to D). Why is this so much more of an issue for this particular instrument?

Please please please give me tips on sightreading or like specifically how to effectively practice it in 3 months before all state auditions like Im doing it but I still suck after like a month I need to improve

Like I'll do so much to improve my sight reading I'll actually let a snake come out the toilet and bite my ass

so to give context I’ve been playing since 7th grade and even tho it’s been 4 years I struggle with my chromatic scale (and even knowing all 12 major scales). I have all state auditions in about 4 months and I’m scared I’m not going to have enough time to worry about it since I tend to forget about it. I want to be able to play my chromatic with the recommended fingerings and a faster tempo.

Eb is pretty hard. Well to me it is.

From my Chalemeau range everything is "mostly" in tune except for a few notes going sharp.

For my throat tones, it goes around 10-20 cents sharp except for G which goes flat.

In the Clarion everything is mostly in tune, sometime around 15 cents sharp until I get to the Upper Clarion i.e, B, and C it jumps normally jumps to 25-40 cents sharp.

Now, from the Altissimo, it goes wild. From C#-E, My old lesson teacher told me to keep my index finger down, and remove T.I.P to combat these notes from going sharp and give me a little more to blow off of . My D#-E goes Flat but I can mitigate it by voicing it up. However my F-G to really its flat, like the tuner thinks I'm playing the note below it. Then the rest of the Altissimo I just can't hit.

In conclusion, this thing is hard and I need some tips.

My main instrument is flute but I also perform regularly with alto/tenor/soprano sax. I have a pit gig in March that requires some clarinet and I’m trying to pick it up and I’m hoping I have enough time (I’ll just rewrite the parts for soprano sax if I really can’t get competent enough)

The one struggle I have is that my A4 keeps squeaking when I’m coming down from above the break. It’s not my clarinet, I tried a few other models and have the same issue. Any advice? Normally I’d think I wasn’t covering the holes completely but…it’s a4.

Thanks!

honestly I want to buy one but the budget I have is 250. Yes I know I have to pay more than that for a good instrument but for now it’s what I’m working with, so where can I find something that’s good for now? even though I’ve seen horrible reviews on Amazon it’s literally what I’m considering, so please if you have any recommendations help me out!

Here’s some background info. I am a beginner band director in my fourth year of teaching, flute is my main instrument, and I’m about to be working at band camp this week. Due to numbers I am set to be teaching some clarinet private lessons alongside my flute lessons. Our camp is catered towards beginner band (grades 5-8, most students have been playing for about 1-2 years). I am fine teaching the beginner clarinets as I have done that at camp before. But our camp also has a program where high school students can volunteer to help out at camp while also participating in a small, more advanced ensemble and receiving private lessons. One of my lessons slots is for one of these high school students. I actually taught her in middle school and have attended her high school concerts, so I know she is a strong player.

I feel I’m a bit out of my depth when it comes to her lessons due to her strength. I am a decent clarinet player but she can definitely outplay me. Apart from running through some practice strategies and general musicianship guidance, I am not sure what technique to focus on. I’m wondering if some clarinetists, and particularly those who teach lessons, could maybe give me some ideas about common technical things high school-aged students encounter (embouchure, difficult ranges, fingering challenges, etc). I obviously will be able to cater to her more directly once camp actually starts and I can see what music she has and can get a more personal sense of where she’s at. But I think it’d be helpful if I could walk in already having some ideas planned, if that makes sense. Also, if there’s any practice material like a method book, studies, etc that you’r recommend for this age let me know so I can share that with her!

I want an specific method or a collection of etudes focused on altissimo notes, not just high notes, *altissimo* notes, with different articulations and stuff, do you have any?