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Differentiating Clarinet Types
The B-flat Clarinet
The B-flat clarinet is the most common clarinet model and therefore occupies a bit of the position of the VW Golf. It is, so to speak, the Volkswagen of clarinets. Thanks to its assertive and brilliant tone, the B-flat clarinet’s range of use today extends from modern pop, through intricate jazz, far into traditional folk music. It is equally suitable as a solo instrument and in ensemble playing. The B-flat clarinet sounds in the higher registers. Its fundamental key, as the name already suggests, is B-flat. The range of the B-flat clarinet sounds from d to b''' and therefore a whole tone lower than written. As with all other clarinet models, you can choose between a German and a French fingering system. Which version of the B-flat clarinet you finally choose depends, as always, on personal preference, the player’s abilities and, of course, a bit on the intended use. We have put together a selection of B-flat clarinets with German and French fingering in our webshop.
The E-flat Clarinet
The E-flat clarinet is a genuine oddity among the common clarinet models. The E-flat clarinet is at home in the highest registers of the clarinet family and therefore sounds a fourth higher than the B-flat clarinet. Its fundamental key is E-flat. Because of its penetrating high tone, the E-flat clarinet is mainly used in orchestras, where it typically supports the flutes sounding in the high register. The range sounds from G to E-flat'''' and is therefore a minor third higher than written. As with all other clarinet models, you can choose between a German and a French fingering system. Which version of the E-flat clarinet you finally choose depends, as always, on personal preference, the player’s abilities and, of course, a bit on the intended use.
The Bass Clarinet
Low, lower, bass clarinet! With the bass clarinet we have reached the largest (namely twice the size of a B-flat clarinet), heaviest and at the same time the lowest-sounding member of the clarinet family. The bass clarinet sounds in low B-flat and is therefore a major ninth lower than notated in the treble clef. Its sounding range runs from B' to a''. In addition to the “French notation” in the treble clef – which is the easiest for the player to read, as it applies to all clarinet models – there is also the “German notation” in the bass clef. In this case the bass clarinet is notated a major second above its sounding pitch. Since the bass clarinet, like its brothers and sisters, is a transposing instrument, the player must transpose the music into the appropriate key in both cases. The result is a very deep, sonorous sound that many bass clarinet players describe as velvety and warm. The bass clarinet is frequently used in symphony orchestras and smaller ensembles to extend the sound in the lower registers. But its deep bass foundation is also valued in traditional chamber music and in jazz.
Visually the bass clarinet slightly resembles the shape of a saxophone. This is due to the S-shaped curved tube which connects the beak-shaped mouthpiece with the upper joint. The barrel that performs this function on other clarinet models is omitted. At the lower end the bell is also slightly S-shaped and its conical opening curves almost 180 degrees upwards, which to the layperson also brings to mind the form of a saxophone. As with the saxophone, on the bass clarinet all the tone holes are operated with keys. This is simply because some tone holes are too far apart to reach with the fingers and the openings are too large to cover with the fingertips. Because of its physical dimensions the bass clarinet is usually played seated. The player rests the bass clarinet on the endpin. If you decide to play your bass clarinet standing up, you use a neck strap similar to that used for a saxophone.
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