How To Assemble The Clarinet
In order to set up a clarinet, make sure all of the pieces of the clarinet are ready for use, clean and in good working condition. A clarinet will consist of primarily four major pieces that are put together by cork-covered joints, as well as a mouthpiece, which is made up of a few smaller parts.
Instructions:
- The mouthpiece: consists of a short piece that angles upwards, giving a place to put your reed. There is also a metal ligature, which goes on top of the reed to hold it in place once it's on your mouthpiece.
- The barrel: is a short and stubbier section of the instrument that joins the top joint to the mouthpiece. The barrel will usually have the brand name of the instrument stamped on it and has NO keys.
- The upper piece: will have keys on the side of the instrument and should be slightly shorter than the lower piece. When you connect the upper and lower pieces together, you can tell you did it correctly if there are no keys on the top or bottom of either piece.
- The lower piece: is the biggest piece of the clarinet. It also has metal keys on the side of the instrument. The best way to find the difference between the lower and upper pieces is that the upper joint will have two cork pieces on either end, called tendons, where as the lower joint will have one cork joint and a metal ring around the upper joint, which is where the middle of the instrument is.
- The bell: is the bottom piece, almost horn shaped.
Instructions:
- Gently twist the bell onto the lower joint. When connecting them together, do not push together, if the pieces are resisting then apply lubricant to help them slide easier.
- Twist the upper joint onto the lower joint. When twisting the two joints together, be sure that the keys on the two joints don’t hit into each other because that could damage them.
- Align the keys on the clarinet, so that you will be able to properly play and hold the clarinet.
- Twist on the barrel to the upper joint.
- Twist on the mouthpiece to the barrel.
- Align the mouthpiece. Turn the mouthpiece until the hole/opening in the mouthpiece is in line with the back key on the upper joint.
- Moisten the reed. Place your reed in your mouth.
- Place the reed on the mouthpiece. The flat side of the reed should be against the mouthpiece opening. Move the reed on the mouthpiece until you see just the slightest bit of mouthpiece on the top behind the reed. Make sure that the reed is facing upwards/vertical and aligned with the mouthpiece.
- Keep the reed in place with the ligature. Place the ligature over the reed and mouthpiece. Ensure that the ligature is low enough that it is covering the bottom bit of the reed and not the carved part of the reed. Tighten the ligature to keep the reed in place.