Learn to Play Bb Clarinet
Simple lessons for learning music
Welcome to choosing the clarinet!
You have your clarinet, now you need some reeds. This is the thin, material (usually wooden) piece that will be kept on your mouthpiece with a ligature. The ligature is the round piece that goes over your mouthpiece and tightens to hold the reed in place. When you blow into the mouthpiece, the reed vibrates to produce a sound. Reeds vary in thickness. The higher the number, and thicker the reed, the harder it is to produce sounds. Beginners should start with a lower, thinner reed until able to comfortably play on the thicker ones. Each one will affect your sound. There are different brands of reeds as well. Just try different ones, to see which is best for you.
Here is a site I found that gives more information on choosing a clarinet.
http://www.clarinetcloset.com/choosingaclarinet.html
Maybe it was a difficult choice for you to choose among many different instruments for just the right one that fits. Perhaps a family member played a particular instrument and passed it down. You could even already know how to play another instrument and now want to expand yourself to the clarinet. Whatever the reason, playing clarinet is awesome!
There are several things to consider before actually attempting to play notes on the clarinet. If you don’t already have a clarinet, there are many different brands to choose from. I’m not familiar with a lot of the brands, but you could research which one fits best for you. I was passed down an old, used plastic Vito clarinet and I still play on it today. I’m currently saving for a professional wooden clarinet. You have a much better tone with wooden. I’ve done well with my plastic one all these years, though. If you’re joining marching band, a plastic one would be better to not get ruined in the outside weather. For a concert setting, I suggest switching to a wooden clarinet if available.
Here is a site that will give more clarity on reed options.
http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Reed-for-a-Clarinet
Now, you have everything, how does it all go together? When put away in its case, the clarinet is separated into several pieces for safe storage. This is NOT my personal clarinet, but it shows everything labeled and put away in its case.
Click on the picture for a link to another person’s great blog website about music!
PLACING THE REED ON THE MOUTHPIECE
Slide the reed out of it’s thin, clear case and place it in your mouth. You’ll have to wet it first, for easier play when it’s on the mouthpiece. Especially, if it’s a new reed you’ll need to break it in first. Carefully, place it on the flat side of the mouthpiece and slide the ligature over both the reed and mouthpiece together. Make sure the top of the reed is aligned with the tip of the clarinet mouthpiece. Tighten the ligature just enough to keep the reed in place. Don’t tighten it too much, for it won’t allow the reed to vibrate the way it’s properly needed.
KEEPING GOOD POSTURE
I have to admit, I’m pretty bad at good posture. It helps to sit up straight, don’t rest your arms on your lap. Also, don’t hold your clarinet out or up too far. Keep the bell of the clarinet out just enough to maybe line up with your knees, or a little above. Your elbows should be held out just a little, and not resting on your sides.
BREATHING TECHNIQUES
It helps to have some breathing exercises before playing a wind instrument. Sit up straight, but not tense, and take some deep breaths. Trying breathing and using your stomach muscles. They should be deep breaths. A helpful tip is holding the side of your hand in front of your mouth and taking a deep breath. You should hear a very clear breath taken. Breathe in for four counts and let out slowly to about eight counts. Do this again, breathing in for three counts and letting out the same. Then two and one counts for breathing in and letting out to about eight. You might feel light-head at first or even yawn, but with time this will help to relax you and prepare for breathing into your clarinet.
Before blowing into the whole clarinet, try blowing into the mouthpiece with reed attached. Your top teeth will fit on the outside part of the mouthpiece tip: Not the very tip, but with enough comfortable space in your mouth. Some newbies will start off only putting a tiny piece of the mouthpiece in their mouth, and others will take too much. Maybe I’ll make some videos to go with this sometime, to properly show. Curve in your bottom lip on the reed, just a little. The reed will NOT be touching your bottom teeth at all. Practice getting this placement correct and try taking a breath on the mouthpiece. If you think you’re ready, then try to blow on it. It’ll make a very high-pitched sound, and try holding this sound out for as long as possible. It’ll be great practice for when your clarinet is finally all put together.
PUTTING CLARINET TOGETHER
With the mouthpiece together, continue to place other pieces together. The barrel attaches to the mouthpiece and the left-hand upper joint goes next. Carefully, push the cork of each piece together. If it’s difficult to push pieces together, then try using some cork grease, only on the corks. This moistens the corks and helps preserve them. If you try to push them too hard, without proper care, the corks can get damaged. Therefore, you’d have to have the clarinet repaired with new cork. Over time, wear and tear will happen, and eventually it will help to have this done regardless. Only halfway put together, continue to place the right-hand lower joint to the upper joint and finally place the bell at the bottom. Make sure everything lines up like the picture shown.
I’m so excited! Now, we can finally try blowing into our fully put together clarinet! Place your right thumb under the thumb rest on the back side of the clarinet. Keep your right fingers over the holes and keys of the lower joint piece. And, keep your left fingers over the holes and keys of the upper joint piece. For starters, don’t press any keys or cover any holes for an open G note. How did you do? Sometimes, a note is not produced, but a squeak instead. You've probably overblown the note. It’s OK, and try again. If you got a nicely toned sound, then great job! You’re on your way to becoming a musician with the clarinet!
PUTTING AWAY YOUR CLARINET
Now that you’ve started playing the clarinet, keep up the great practice time. When you’ve finished playing, carefully take each piece apart and place back in the designated areas of the case. If your practice session ran for awhile, then you’ve probably accumulated some spit in the clarinet. This can be gross, but it comes with the territory of playing a wind instrument. Take the reed off the mouthpiece and place back in its thin, clear case. Then each piece should be wiped off with a soft cloth. There are also cleaning cloths that have a string and weight to help get inside and through each piece. This helps to clean off a lot of spit that builds up. Just drop the weight and pull through, leading the cloth to help keep the pieces dry from saliva. They do sell pad savers, that are kept inside the upper and lower joint pieces while stored away. The reason for this proper care, is to keep the pads from getting moist. There are little pads under the keys, that help when making fingerings to produce certain notes. If they get wet, then they won’t work right to help with the notes. When a pad falls off, or gets damaged, then as soon as possible it needs to have a repair. Music centers can easily take care of this for you. Also, if you have a wooden clarinet, you really shouldn’t leave moistness on any of the pieces regardless. Try to keep it clean, or the wood can get damaged too.
Just things to keep in mind, when taking care of your valued instrument for the future.
I think you’re now ready to learn how to read music, if you don’t already know.
Continue to the section on this site for learning how to read music.
If you already know how to read music, then you are ready for clarinet Lesson 1.