What You Should Know About the Clarinet Reed and Mouthpiece
admin on October 12th, 2011
What You Should Know About the Clarinet Reed and Mouthpiece?
Mouthpieces for clarinets come in various sizes depending on the type of clarinet you are playing, soprano, sopranino, alto, bass, or contabass. Each take their own size of mouthpiece, however Bb and A are very close in size and can sometimes be used for both. The mouth pieces often come in different styles, well over a 100 styles exist, and are often named after the musician who designed them. The mouthpiece itself is wooden or polymer, though the old time favorite is wooden for true sound. It has a small narrowed opening on the inside and a square or rectangular cross section from the baffle to the throat.
The reed is the second part of the clarinet that creates sound. Reeds are made from a type of grass, called Arundo donax, and is the only natural reed material used, however there are synthetic varieties on the market, and reed blanks too. When you fasten the reed to your mouth piece and blow, the reed vibrates resonating a rich sound. Reeds are only available in one size, 12mm wide by 15mm long, thus creating a gap of 1mm, however they do come in different degrees of hardness. Many musicians will alter their reeds in order to create new tones on their instruments, altering the sound in a new or different way.
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