The Complete Handbook of Clarinet Accessories

Chapter 1: Understanding Clarinet Accessories

Clarinet Accessories: An Integrated System

A clarinet is, in its most basic form, a tube with a single reed. Yet the clarinet is notoriously finicky, and a great deal of that finickiness originates not in the instrument itself, but in the interface between the player and the tube. That interface is built entirely out of accessories. When you buy a clarinet, the box includes a mouthpiece, a ligature, a barrel, and a cap, but what you are actually paying for is the beginning of a system. The mouthpiece, ligature, and reed work as a single unit - the pickup assembly, if you will - and the quality and alignment of that unit will define your sound, your response, and your physical comfort far more than the -196°C forged body of the instrument ever will.

Think of the clarinet in four functional blocks. First, the acoustic generator: the reed vibrates to produce sound. Second, the acoustic transformer: the mouthpiece and barrel shape and focus that sound into the instrument's bore. Third, the resonator: the body of the clarinet itself. Fourth, the interface: the pads, springs, corks, and adjustment screws that allow the mechanical action to seal and release air. Accessories touch every one of these blocks. The obvious ones are the reed, ligature, and mouthpiece. But consider the swab that keeps the bore clean, the cork grease that preserves the tightness of the tenon joints, and the case that controls the instrument's exposure to temperature and