Best
STUDENT Clarinet
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Overall: Adjustable Thumb-Rest Helps to Develop Proper Technique
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Best Feature: Constructed from ABS Resin
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TedScore: 8/10
Best
CLARINET BRAND
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Overall: Guaranteed Consistent High-Quality Products
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Best Feature: Lovely Warm Tone
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TedScore: 9/10
Best
PROFESSIONAL CLARINET
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Overall: Rigorously Hand-Made to Buffet's High Standards
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Best Feature: Produces an Impeccably Defined and Direct Tone
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TedScore: 8.5/10
The clarinet, a popular woodwind Instrument, boasts an intriguing history. Its origins can be traced back to the 18th century. Notable composers like Mozart and Brahms composed pieces specifically for the clarinet. The instrument is part of the single-reed family and produces a unique sound. It is also known for its versatility and ability to play a wide range of musical genres.
The clarinet can be found in Symphony orchestras, jazz bands, marching bands, and folk groups, and flourishes as a solo instrument. It is an excellent choice of instrument to play! However, when it comes to choosing an instrument, the sheer number of brands on the market can make this a bit daunting.
With this article we made a clarinet brands list to help guide you through some of the best clarinet brands and which ones are best avoided.
So, if you’re ready to find out what is the best clarinet brand, make sure to keep reading!
How Do I Choose A Clarinet?
Before starting the process of choosing a clarinet or playing clarinet, make sure you know which type you need. There are many different types of a clarinet (see below), and choosing the wrong one could be a rather expensive mistake! The vast majority of clarinet players start on the B flat clarinet, but check with your teacher to be 100% sure!
First of all, do some research. Read articles (like this one!), talk to your teacher and speak to the staff at a specialist music shop. Find out which good clarinet brands they recommend, and crucially, which ones should be avoided. Then go and try some instruments. Choosing a clarinet is a very personal thing, and what one player hates might be a love match for someone else!
- Does the instrument feel comfortable to hold?
- Does the keywork respond well?
- Do I like the sound that the instrument produces?
- Is the instrument well made?
- Does it have a great sound?
Take your time, try as many instruments as you can and ask lots of questions. The staff of music shops have so much knowledge, and no question is ever a silly question!
Brief History of the Clarinet
The clarinet is one of the youngest members of the woodwind family. Examples of flutes have been found dating back tens of thousands of years, but the clarinet (or early versions of it) didn’t exist until the eighteenth century.
An instrument maker in Nuremberg started to tweak the design of an existing instrument called a chalumeau.
He added a couple of extra keys and flared out the end, making it look like a very simple version of the clarinet we know and love today.
Over the next couple of hundred years, more modifications were made – keys were added, and the materials used were improved so players could reach more notes and move between registers smoothly.
In 1840 the Bohem system was invented and is still used by clarinet manufacturers today, producing a 17-key instrument which can produce a gorgeous tone across all registers and be used for a wide variety of music from classical to jazz and pop.
Quick Clarinet Facts
Did you know that there are ten different types of clarinet? They range from the small and high-pitched E flat clarinet to the low, grumbly bass clarinet.
The most commonly played the clarinet is the B flat, or soprano, clarinet.
The largest clarinet in the family is called the octo-contra bass clarinet.
It is pitched 3 octaves lower than the B flat clarinet and measures a whopping 2.5 meters from mouthpiece to bell!
Start Small, Dream Big
All musical instruments come in a wide variety of prices, and the clarinet is no exception. It all depends on the materials used, the manufacturing process and the quality of the instrument. A wooden hand-finished professional instrument is understandably going to cost quite a bit more than a plastic student model!
It’s a good idea to “start small” with a less expensive instrument. You can make sure that this is really the instrument for you, build up your stamina and technique and get some solid playing experience under your belt. All the while, you can save up for your following instrument, and even the one after that!
Eventually, you’ll be able to move on to the instrument of your dreams!
How Much is a Clarinet?
The price of a clarinet varies depending on a few factors – the type of clarinet, the quality of the instrument and the materials used for the body and key-work.
A clarinet can cost anything from £100/$130 for a basic plastic student model to £8,000/$10,000 for a wooden, top-of-the-range, super-duper professional instrument, best student clarinets.
A “decent” beginner clarinet will usually cost in the region of £400/\$500, and wooden instruments generally start at about £1,000/\$1,300.
Musical instruments can often be bought second-hand for slightly less than a brand new one and expensive clarinet. Make sure you see the instrument you are buying, have the opportunity to try it, and, if possible, have it checked over by a woodwind specialist. That way, you can make sure that you aren’t buying a dud!
What Should My Budget Be?
Your budget depends on the type and quality of the clarinet you plan to purchase. As mentioned above, a good student clarinet will cost in the region of £400/$500.
These clarinets are well made, and as long as they are looked after, they can last for years.
They are also a fantastic option for any player who plays outdoors as they are less affected by changeable weather conditions!
A lot of music shops offer rental or buy-back schemes. These are a great option if you are acquiring your first instrument.
Hiring an instrument can be a great way to ensure that the instrument in question is really what you want to play before taking the plunge and purchasing one of your own!
