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Classification, purchase and maintenance of clarinets!

Release time：

Mar 21,2019

There are many varieties of clarinets. Due to the different tuning and range, they are divided into three categories: treble, alto and bass.Each category is divided by adjustment, there are as many as 11 types.They have their own characteristics, the alto and bass clarinets are curved and tubular, and the rest are straight and tubular.

There are the following commonly used：

1.bB clarinet: It is the orthodoxy of the clarinet. Its tone is relatively perfect. It is used for solos and ensembles, and serves as the main theme solo in symphonies and orchestras.If you buy one, buy a bB clarinet.

2.A clarinet: The tone is softer, half a tone lower than the bB clarinet. Depending on the difficulty of fingering the music, it can be used interchangeably with the B clarinet.

3.Be clarinet in lower key: Four degrees higher than bB. It is commonly used in military bands, but it is rarely used in orchestras.

4.The specifications of clarinets are divided by the number of keys: currently commonly used are 17, 19, 21, 23 keys, etc.

The tube body of the high-end clarinet is made of ebony, which is more expensive; the second is made of high-quality mahogany.Popular clarinets are pressed with bakelite or ABS plastic.Metal tube bodies are also used, which are rare in China.

Quality inspection at the time of purchase：

1.The tube body is required to be smooth, jet black (except for the metal tube body), and there are no cracks, bends, defects, etc.The inner and outer roundness of the tube body should be accurate, the joints of each section should not be too tight or too loose, and the joints should be tight without air leakage.

2.The copper rings of all parts of the tube body should be tight, there should be no loosening, and the coating should be bright.

3.The inner cavity of the tube body should be very smooth, which is very important for pronunciation. It can be seen against the light, and there should be no roughness, dirt, or cracking.

4.The surface of each key is preferably silver-plated, and the coating should be smooth.The key springs should not be too strong or too soft, the elasticity should be uniform, and the response should be sensitive. There should be no mechanical percussion when pressing the keys, and the connecting rods should not be loose or shaken.

5.Each sound hole cover should be aligned with the sound hole, the height is the same, and there should be no air leakage after the cover is closed.The edges around the sound hole cover should be smooth, and the sound hole cover should be elastic and free of damage.The air tightness inspection method is to close all the sound hole caps, plug the mouth of the horn with a rubber ball, take a cigarette and blow it into the head of the flute, and watch for air leakage at the edges of each sound hole cover.

6.The mouthpiece and the whistle piece are the key components of good or bad pronunciation. It is required that the whistle piece fits the mouthpiece appropriately, the curvature is accurate, and the root of the whistle piece fits closely with the whistle piece hoop.The whistle piece has no dark cracks and is gradually transparent from the root.

7.Through repeated playing, check whether the pitch and timbre are flexible, whether the response is rapid, whether there is noise, etc.

Clarinet maintenance and maintenance：

one.Before use, connect them section by section, and first apply some vaseline to the joint to increase lubrication; when the upper and lower main pipes are buttoned, care should be taken not to touch each other between the two buckles to prevent bending and deformation.The sound holes of the main tube after docking should be arranged in a straight line.

two.After each performance, disassemble the pipe joints, and use a special cylindrical flannel brush or flannel cloth to dry the water stains in the pipe to prevent the wood from mildew, and store it in a box.In places with severe cold and very dry climates, the outside of the box should be covered with a cotton sleeve to keep warm to prevent cracking.

three.Often apply some oil and vaseline (oil is also available) to the spring and movable shaft parts to keep them lubricated to prevent rust.

four.Wash your hands and rinse your mouth before playing, keep the whistle piece hygienic, and prevent food debris from sticking to the whistle piece or blowing into the tube.

five.The silver-plated keys are blackened. You can use alcohol and tooth powder, dip them on a flannel and polish them. After the powder dries, wipe them clean.

six.The whistle is relatively delicate and is very important for pronunciation.When playing, be careful not to touch the whistle piece with your teeth. After playing, use a cover to prevent damage to the whistle piece.—-Excerpt from "Wind Instrument Manual"

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