What is the clarinet and how does it work?🎶
The clarinet is a single-reed woodwind instrument that has shaped classical music, jazz, and modern ensembles. Its warm, versatile sound comes from the vibration of the reed attached to the mouthpiece.
What amazed me the first time I played was how one fingering system can cover such a wide range, from deep, rich lows to bright, expressive highs. That flexibility is what makes the clarinet unique.
History and evolution of the clarinet
The modern clarinet emerged in the 18th century, evolving from the chalumeau. Mozart was among the first composers to highlight its expressive power, and since then, it has become a staple in orchestras, military bands, and jazz stages with legends like Benny Goodman.
Today, beyond traditional models, new digital alternatives have appeared, not as replacements, but as complementary tools to study and practice in innovative ways.
The most common types of clarinets
Bb Clarinet
The most popular one, and usually recommended for beginners. Its versatility makes it suitable for both students and professionals.
A Clarinet
Frequently used in orchestral repertoire, especially in classical and romantic pieces.
Bass and Contrabass Clarinet
Larger instruments with a deep, resonant sound, used in orchestras and contemporary ensembles.
Modern innovations: Travel Clarinet and digital clarinets
This is where things get exciting. The Travel Clarinet is a compact instrument with the exact same fingering as a real clarinet, but designed for silent practice with headphones. Personally, it saved me during long trips and hotel stays, I could rehearse scales and arpeggios without disturbing anyone. On top of that, it works as a full MIDI controller, opening creative doors in digital music.
How to learn to play the clarinet
First steps for beginners
Start with basic breathing exercises and simple scales. At first, getting a clean sound may be tricky, but with practice your embouchure naturally improves.
Finger exercises and speed
Repetition of arpeggios, licks, and short passages helps build coordination. Here’s where I noticed how useful the Travel Clarinet can be: the fingering feels identical, but I don’t worry about noise.
Silent practice: the Travel Clarinet advantage
Being able to practice in silence is a game-changer. For me, living in a shared apartment, it was the only way to study without bothering roommates.
The modern clarinet family is extensive and includes a range of instruments, each with its own timbral characteristics. From the high-pitched E-flat clarinet to the deep contrabass clarinet, these instruments cover a wide pitch spectrum and are used in orchestral, chamber, and solo settings. Their roles have expanded beyond classical music into jazz, klezmer, folk, and contemporary experimental genres.
Tips for choosing a clarinet according to your level
For beginners
A Bb clarinet is the standard starting point. But if you want to practice anytime, anywhere without restrictions, the Travel Clarinet is a perfect companion.
For intermediate players
A good student clarinet helps refine tone, but for finger technique and speed training, the Travel Clarinet becomes an unbeatable tool.
For professionals and traveling musicians
If you travel often, you know how hard it is to carry your main concert instrument. I’ve made the most of airport lounges and hotel rooms with the Travel Clarinet, keeping my chops in shape without unpacking my main clarinet.
Essential accessories for clarinet players
- Mouthpiece and ligature: The clarinet mouthpiece is where the sound begins. A high-quality mouthpiece, combined with a ligature that firmly holds the reed, ensures stability, projection, and comfortable playing.
- Reeds of different strengths: Reeds are the heart of the clarinet. Using reeds of various strengths allows players to adapt the instrument’s response: softer reeds for beginners seeking easy playability, and harder reeds for advanced players who want more control and tonal depth.
- Hard or lightweight case: A clarinet should always be transported safely. A hard case offers maximum protection during travel, while a lightweight case provides everyday comfort and portability.
- Cleaning cloths and cork grease: Proper clarinet maintenance is essential for durability. Cleaning cloths remove moisture after each session, and cork grease keeps the joints smooth, making assembly easier and preventing wear.
- Headphones (if using the Travel Clarinet or other digital models): With digital instruments like the Travel Clarinet, headphones allow players to practice silently, hear every nuance, and play along with backing tracks without disturbing others.
Differences between traditional and digital clarinets
- Sound: Traditional clarinets offer natural projection and rich resonance, ideal for performances. Digital clarinets, like the Travel Clarinet, are designed for silent practice, letting you play anywhere without disturbing others.
- Purpose: The traditional clarinet is primarily for live performance and classical settings. Digital clarinets are versatile practice tools, perfect for MIDI recording and experimenting with sounds.
- Portability: Traditional clarinets require careful handling and proper cases. In contrast, the Travel Clarinet is ultra-portable and fits easily in a backpack, making it ideal for students and traveling musicians.
- Target audience: While traditional clarinets suit all players, the Travel Clarinet is designed for students, frequent travelers, and professional musicians who want a complementary practice instrument.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ´S)
Which type of clarinet is best for beginners?
Usually the Bb clarinet.
Can you practice clarinet without making noise?
Yes, with digital options like the Travel Clarinet, you can play silently using headphones.
What’s the difference between a traditional and a digital clarinet?
Digital clarinets don’t replace acoustics, they serve as practice and recording tools.
Which clarinet brands do professionals recommend?
Buffet Crampon, Selmer, Yamaha, among others.
Can you connect a clarinet to a computer?
Traditional ones no, but the Travel Clarinet works as a plug-and-play MIDI controller.
Can I use my own mouthpiece on the Travel Clarinet?
Yes, you can use your own mouthpiece or the one provided with the Travel Clarinet!
Can I play over a backing track with the Travel Clarinet?
Yes, absolutely! You can connect the Travel Clarinet via Bluetooth to your phone and play along with backing tracks from Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred media player. Here´s a video.
Can the mouthpiece control pitch or vibrato?
Not for now, but for this control, the Travel Clarinet has an accelerometer that allows the player to control pitch and vibrato through movement! You can also control the airflow you exhale into the instrument, which lets you create vibrato using your breath. You can watch a demo in this video.
Does it recognize alternate fingerings or altissimo fingerings?
Yes, we have programmed some of the main altissimo fingerings. We think that it’s a pretty useful tool to have. It’s great to be able to peacefully learn and practice the high register with your Travel Sax.
Nevertheless, be aware that some of the usual fingerings used in this range are not programed because of the Travel Sax key’s restricitons (the key for instance is united to the key).
How do I control the volume while blowing?
Travel Sax has a pressure sensor that detects the blowing intensity and instantly determines the correct volume level.
If I blow through a regular mouthpiece how can it not produce intrusive sound from the reed?
It’s due to the air flow. The internal circuit that guides the air though the Travel Sax is much smaller compared to a standard saxophone preventing the reed vibrating and producing sound.
Does it come with any voices? Which Clarinet or other instrument voices come with it?
Right now we have Clarinet, Eb Clarinet, C Clarinet, Bb Clarinet, A Clarinet ,Eb Alto Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet, Bb Contrabass Clarinet tones in our App. We have more than 50 sounds included in their built-in synthesizer. The cool thing is that if you want the sound of other instruments you can use, via MIDI Controller, other apps such as Garage Band, Ableton Live and many more.
Does it come with any voices? Which Clarinet or other instrument voices come with it?
Right now we have Clarinet, Eb Clarinet, C Clarinet, Bb Clarinet, A Clarinet ,Eb Alto Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet, Bb Contrabass Clarinet tones in our App. We have more than 50 sounds included in their built-in synthesizer.
Does it come with any Is this a MIDI interface?
The cool thing is that if you want the sound of other instruments you can use, via MIDI Controller, other apps such as Garage Band, Ableton Live and many more.
What is the latency?
Really low (8-10ms) if you use Bluetooth connection, and 0ms if you use USB connection to your computer.
What do I have to do if the Travel Instruments app doesn’t sound as expected when I play my Travel Clarinet?
Please open the Travel instruments app and tap the “Effects” button. Then modify the Buffer Size to Low, Mid or High until you get a good quality sound.
Conclusion
The clarinet is an instrument with centuries of history, spanning from Mozart’s concertos to modern jazz improvisations. But thanks to innovations like the Travel Clarinet, it’s now possible to learn, practice, and improve anywhere, anytime, without bothering anyone. For me, it’s been a complementary tool, not a replacement for the real thing, but a freedom-giving solution when practicing was once impossible.
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Happy reading!
Odisei Music Team
