Clarinet Instrument Terminology

If you have started playing the clarinet – congratulations! You are at the beginning of an exciting musical journey. There are lots of additional details you will learn as you go, but here is a list of the most common clarinet terms and definitions to get you started.

Parts of the clarinet:

Barrel - a short section of the clarinet with no cork which goes between the mouthpiece and upper joint

Bell - the curved, bell-shaped section which is connected to the lower joint

Bore – the internal tube or cylindrical hole that runs through the instrument from the bottom of the mouthpiece to the top of the bell.

Lower joint - this is the longer of the two keyed sections of the clarinet. Standard clarinets have a lower joint with a thumb rest and seven pinky keys (in addition to the tone holes). There are 4 keys for your right pinky finger and three keys for the left pinky finger. The right hand is placed on the lower joint. When you’re first beginning clarinet, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two larger sections of the clarinet – the lower joint has the thumb rest.

Mouthpiece – the section of the clarinet that you blow into.

Register key – the long narrow key on the back of the upper joint that is operated with your thumb. It is used to play higher notes.

Thumb rest – the small piece of metal that protrudes from the back of the lower joint. You place your right thumb under it to help support the clarinet. Some clarinets have a fixed thumb rest which cannot be moved, and some have an adjustable thumb rest so the player can adjust the height to suit.

Tone hole – the openings on the front of the clarinet where the player places their fingers.

Upper joint - this is the shorter of the two keyed sections of the clarinet. It has the register key on the back and four keys protruding from one side. The left hand is placed on the upper joint.

Clarinet Accessories:

Cork grease - the material used to help corked sections of the clarinet assemble more easily; this can be found in tube or tub form. When a clarinet is brand new, the cork joints are often drier and thicker which means a little more grease is needed to assemble the instrument. When the clarinet has been assembled/ disassembled a few times, less grease will be needed. Many brand new clarinets will be provided with a stick of cork grease.

Ligature - the device which holds the reed securely against the mouthpiece; these can be made of metal, fabric, or other materials such as leather. Brand new clarinets will come with a basic ligature.

Mouthpiece patch - this small patch can be stuck to the front of the mouthpiece and is used to cushion your top teeth and protect the mouthpiece from teeth marks and scratches; usually clear or black.

Mouthpiece Cap - a plastic or metal covering to protect the mouthpiece, reed, and ligature from damage. Brand new clarinets will come with a cap.

Neck strap - used to help support the clarinet by removing some of the weight from the hands/wrists/arms. This is not required to play clarinet, but some clarinettists prefer them. May be useful for younger players or players who have difficulties with their hands or wrists.

Reed - a small piece of cane which is used to produce a sound on the clarinet. Reeds are numbered to indicate their flexibility, and these numbers typically range from 1.5 to 5+ (different companies have different strength labelling systems). Beginners usually start with a strength of 1.5 or 2, depending on the reed brand.

Swab/ Pull-through - a piece of fabric used to remove spit from the inside of the clarinet. Has a long string with a weight at the end which is dropped through main body of the clarinet and pulled through to clean the bore. Some manufacturers will provide a basic pull-through with their new clarinets.