Clarinets - Directory w/ AI Reviews

Bb clarinets, bass clarinets, and soprano clarinets

The clarinet is a single-reed woodwind instrument with one of the widest pitch ranges of any wind instrument, spanning nearly four octaves. Its tone varies dramatically across registers, from deep, warm low notes (chalumeau register) to bright, brilliant high notes. The clarinet is essential in orchestral, chamber, jazz, and klezmer music.

History

Johann Christoph Denner developed the clarinet from the earlier chalumeau instrument in Nuremberg around 1700. Mozart was among the first major composers to write extensively for the clarinet, producing his celebrated Clarinet Concerto in A major in 1791. Benny Goodman brought the clarinet to the forefront of popular music as the "King of Swing" in the 1930s and 1940s.

Characteristics

The clarinet uses a single reed attached to a mouthpiece with a ligature, and its cylindrical bore gives it a uniquely pure, hollow tone in the lower register. The Boehm system (French) and Oehler system (German) are the two main key systems, with the French system being dominant worldwide. The instrument's register key (speaker key) enables a shift of a twelfth, unlike the octave key on other woodwinds.

Notable Players

Benny Goodman was the first major jazz clarinet star and helped break racial barriers in music with his integrated bands. Sabine Meyer is one of the most acclaimed classical clarinetists, known for her pure tone and extraordinary technique. Artie Shaw rivaled Goodman as a swing-era clarinetist and was renowned for his lyrical, sophisticated playing style.

Buying Guide

Begin with a Bb clarinet, the standard instrument for students and the most commonly used in all genres. Yamaha (YCL-255) and Buffet Crampon (Prodige) are the most recommended student models for their reliable intonation and quality construction. A good reed makes an enormous difference: start with Vandoren Traditional strength 2.5 or 3 and experiment from there.

Fun Facts

The clarinet has the largest pitch range of any common woodwind instrument, covering nearly four octaves. The distinctive "Rhapsody in Blue" opening by George Gershwin features a clarinet glissando that the clarinetist originally played as a joke during rehearsal, but Gershwin loved it and kept it in.

Yamaha YCL-CSGIII Custom Series Professional Bb Clarinet 1 4.9 New Yamaha YCL-CSGIII Custom Series Professional Bb Clarinet Yamaha $7,999 Professional Japan 1 review Flagship custom clarinet crafted from select aged grenadilla with gold-plated keys, delivering extraordinary tonal depth and dynamic control for concert soloists and principal players. Buffet Crampon R13 Professional Bb Clarinet 2 4.8 New Buffet Crampon R13 Professional Bb Clarinet Buffet Crampon $5,499 Professional France 2 reviews The Buffet Crampon R13 is the most widely played professional Bb clarinet in the world, crafted from aged African blackwood in France since 1955, with a warm, dark tone and singing upper register defining the orchestral standard. Selmer Paris Presence Professional Bb Clarinet 3 4.8 New Selmer Paris Presence Professional Bb Clarinet Selmer Paris $6,999 Professional France 1 review Professional French-made Bb clarinet with hand-selected grenadilla wood, enhanced projection, and silver-plated keys fitted with Parisian workshop precision. Yamaha YCL-255 Standard Bb Clarinet 4 4.8 New Yamaha YCL-255 Standard Bb Clarinet Yamaha $899 Beginner Japan 1 review Go-to student Bb clarinet with an ABS resin body offering durability and low maintenance, producing warm tone with precise keywork ideal for beginning band students. Yamaha YCL-CSVR Custom Professional Bb Clarinet 5 4.8 New Yamaha YCL-CSVR Custom Professional Bb Clarinet Yamaha $4,899 Professional Japan 1 review Professional custom clarinet with select grenadilla body and refined bore design, offering a creamy, dark tone with exceptional consistency valued by orchestral and chamber musicians. Backun Lumiere Professional Bb Clarinet 6 4.8 New Backun Lumiere Professional Bb Clarinet Backun $7,499 Professional Canada 2 reviews The Backun Lumiere is a professional Bb clarinet from the innovative Canadian maker, featuring aged grenadilla wood and modern acoustic analysis in its bore design producing a rich, dark tone with exceptional sensitivity and dynamic range. 7 4.7 New Leblanc Bliss Professional Bb Clarinet Leblanc $5,299 Professional France 1 review A professional Bb clarinet carrying forward the Leblanc legacy of French clarinet making, with a distinctive warm, dark, velvety tone and unique bore design. Yamaha YCL-450 Intermediate Bb Clarinet 8 4.7 New Yamaha YCL-450 Intermediate Bb Clarinet Yamaha $2,199 Intermediate Japan 1 review Intermediate wooden clarinet with a grenadilla body and professional-derived bore, delivering noticeably warmer, richer tone for advancing students ready to step up from resin instruments. Yamaha YCL-650 Professional Bb Clarinet 9 4.7 New Yamaha YCL-650 Professional Bb Clarinet Yamaha $3,699 Professional Japan 1 review Professional grenadilla clarinet with a dark, resonant tone and precisely machined silver-plated keys, offering consistent intonation and refined response for orchestral and chamber playing. Jupiter JCL700N Student Bb Clarinet 10 4.6 New Jupiter JCL700N Student Bb Clarinet Jupiter $749 Beginner Taiwan 1 review A durable ABS student clarinet with warm, centered tone and ergonomic nickel-plated keys designed for smaller hands, providing reliable performance that helps beginners develop accurate pitch awareness. Selmer CL211 Student Bb Clarinet 11 4.4 New Selmer CL211 Student Bb Clarinet Selmer $599 Beginner United States 1 review Student Bb clarinet carrying the Selmer name with durable ABS body, comfortable key layout for smaller hands, and standard Boehm fingering system. Buffet Crampon E12F Intermediate Bb Clarinet 12 4.4 New Buffet Crampon E12F Intermediate Bb Clarinet Buffet Crampon $2,899 Intermediate Germany 2 reviews The Buffet Crampon E12F is an intermediate Bb clarinet with genuine African blackwood body and bore derived from professional models, delivering the warm, resonant Buffet tone that distinguishes it from student-level resin instruments. Buffet Crampon Prodige Student Bb Clarinet 13 4.1 New Buffet Crampon Prodige Student Bb Clarinet Buffet Crampon $699 Beginner Germany 2 reviews The Buffet Crampon Prodige brings the Buffet name to the student market with a specially formulated ABS body producing warmer, more musical tone than standard resin, paired with ergonomic silver-plated keys designed for young hands.