How to choose a clarinet

Quick answer: which clarinet should you choose first?

For most beginners, the safest choice is a Bb clarinet with the French system. A music-school pupil or adult beginner will usually appreciate a durable plastic instrument that handles temperature changes better and needs less careful treatment than a wooden clarinet. A wooden model offers a richer tone and more natural response, but it makes more sense for advanced playing or after a teacher recommends it.

If you are not sure, do not start with an unusual key or the German system just because it looks interesting. First check what your school or teacher uses, then choose an instrument for which reeds, servicing and accessories are easy to find.

What will you use the clarinet for?

Whether you want to become a professional musician one day or play for enjoyment, the first months require plenty of patience. A poorly chosen instrument can weaken that motivation because the player then struggles not only with technique, but also with the resistance of the instrument.

The most common choice is a Bb clarinet with the French system. Later, some players may prefer a smaller instrument with a higher sound, such as an Eb clarinet, or the deeper range of a bass clarinet. If you already have a Bb clarinet and need an additional instrument for pieces in more difficult keys, an A clarinet comes into play.

What music do you want to play on clarinet?

The clarinet is one of the most versatile wind instruments. Before the saxophone became widespread in the 19th century, it was among the most widely used single-reed instruments. You can use it in European classical music, jazz, klezmer, folk, world music, Central European folk music and Roma musical traditions.

Clarinet by player level

How much should you spend on a first clarinet?

With musical instruments, a higher price often brings better material, more precise workmanship, better mechanics, more reliable accessories, serviceability, sound and playing feel. A more expensive instrument is also usually easier to sell second-hand if the player later upgrades or changes instrument.

If the budget is limited, a plastic clarinet can be a sensible start. What matters is reliable mechanics, good sealing and no constant repairs. When buying for a child in music school or music lessons, ask the teacher first, because some schools have clear expectations for the system, key and suitable instrument level.

Clarinets

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Choose a clarinet 

Types of clarinets: Bb, A, Eb and bass clarinet

When choosing, you will most often see Bb, A, Eb and bass clarinet. These are not marketing names, but different keys and musical uses.

• The Bb clarinet is the most common type and the best first choice for most players. It is used in music schools, orchestras, wind bands, jazz and popular music.
• The A clarinet is used mainly in classical music and orchestral repertoire. A beginner usually does not need it as a first instrument.
• The Eb clarinet has a higher, more penetrating sound. It is more of a specialised addition than a universal starting instrument.
• The bass clarinet plays in a deeper range and has a distinctive tone colour. It is larger, more expensive and best suited to players who have already mastered the basics.

Fingering and system: French or German?

When choosing a clarinet, you also need to consider the fingering system. The two systems you will most often encounter are French and German. The French system is common in most countries worldwide. The German system is used mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

For a beginner, it is practical to stay with the system used by the teacher. It makes fingering, learning materials, servicing and a possible instrument change easier. If you search for “clarinet fingerings”, always check which system the chart is for — the same note can have a different fingering on another system.

Another detail is the Eb lever, an additional key near the left little finger. It makes some note connections easier to play, but not every player considers it essential. On a student instrument, reliable mechanics and good sealing matter more than this key alone.

How to choose if you still cannot decide

If you are choosing between several models, start practically: choose the type recommended by the teacher, check service availability and make sure reeds, mouthpieces and other common accessories are easy to buy. Model popularity can be a useful clue, but it should not replace the basic criteria — key, system, material and comfortable playing feel.

Popular student and more affordable models include Victory VCL STUDENT 01, Yamaha YCL 255 S and Roy Benson CB 218. When choosing a specific instrument, always consider its condition, service availability and the teacher’s recommendation.

If you need advice on choosing a wind instrument, you can also contact our specialist: [email protected].

What are the best-known clarinet brands?

The best-known clarinet brands include the French company Buffet Crampon, whose history dates back to 1825 and which still has a strong position among clarinettists. Yamaha is also very popular, especially for reliable student and intermediate models. The German brand F.A. Uebel has also built a good reputation thanks to its balance of quality, workmanship and price.

How big is the difference between a cheap and a more expensive clarinet?

A clarinet tone is created by an air stream that vibrates the reed and then the whole instrument. Material, bore precision, mechanism quality and sealing all affect tone colour, intonation and playing feel.

A plastic clarinet is durable, more affordable and practical for beginners. A wooden instrument can offer a fuller tone and more sensitive response, but it is more expensive and needs more careful maintenance. There is no shame in starting on a good plastic model and moving to a wooden clarinet only when the player knows what they need from the instrument.

What to buy with a clarinet: accessories and care

The instrument alone is not enough. To keep a clarinet playing well and in good condition, it is worth having the basic accessories ready.

• Clarinet reeds: they influence the instrument’s response the most. Beginners usually start with softer to medium reeds; the exact strength is best discussed with the teacher.
• Clarinet mouthpiece: even a good instrument can play worse with an unsuitable or damaged mouthpiece.
• Ligature: it holds the reed on the mouthpiece and affects response stability.
• Wind instrument cleaning and care: a pull-through swab, cloth and cork grease help prevent moisture, odour and joint wear.
• Clarinet case and wind instrument stand: they protect the instrument during transport, storage and short practice breaks.

After playing, always swab the instrument, let the reed dry away from the mouthpiece and assemble the joints without force. With a wooden clarinet, avoid sudden changes in temperature and humidity, especially in winter.

What is the “gold standard”?

For advanced players, the gold standard often means intermediate wooden Bb clarinets from Buffet Crampon and Yamaha. Well-known examples include the French E11 and E12 models, the Japanese Yamaha 450 and, increasingly, F.A. Uebel models that offer a strong price-to-quality ratio.

For a first instrument, however, the gold standard does not automatically mean the most expensive model. It means a reliable clarinet in the right key, with a system suitable for your school or teacher, plus available servicing and accessories. If you care for the instrument regularly, use suitable reeds, practise with a metronome and listen to your teacher’s advice, a good choice will pay off in every rehearsal and performance.