Trusted Shops: 4.84/5,00 (10085)
Assembling a Clarinet
Before you can get the first notes out of a clarinet, a few more steps are needed. The clarinet consists of five parts that all have to be connected to each other.
Five become one: The parts of a clarinet
At the top, as the connection between player and instrument, we have the mouthpiece. Together with the reed and the ligature, this is where the sound originates. Beneath the mouthpiece is the barrel. The barrel is the smallest of the clarinet's five parts and connects the mouthpiece to the upper joint. The upper joint is the first section with tone holes, keys, rings and trill keys. The keys on the upper joint are on the left side and are therefore played with the left hand. After the upper joint comes the largest part of the clarinet, the lower joint. Here you'll find further tone holes, keys, rings and trill keys. The keywork on the lower joint is on the right side and is therefore played with the right hand. Last but not least, there's the bell‑shaped end piece of the clarinet, known as the bell, which is sometimes also called a flared bell.
Be careful when putting the clarinet together.
The five parts of the clarinet are held together by so‑called cork tenons. You should start at the lower end of the clarinet with the bell and the lower joint. While with the German fingering system you can then simply fit the upper joint, the barrel and finally the mouthpiece together, a little more care is required with the French fingering system. In the French system the lower and upper joints are mechanically linked. To avoid damaging the key mechanism at the joint between lower and upper joint, press the lower ring on the upper joint when fitting them together so that the lever of the key mechanism lifts slightly, allowing you to assemble them safely.
Why choose session?
Items from our huge range of in-stock products are usually dispatched the same day!
Why should I grease the cork tenons?
You can of course assemble the clarinet in a different order; this won't change the sound. You should join all parts of the clarinet by pressing and twisting gently at the same time to fit them onto the cork tenons. If the resistance is too great, it helps to grease the individual cork tenons with a cork grease stick.
