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clarinet
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A clarinet player's hands holding the instrument in focus, with other woodwind musicians blurred in the background during an orchestral performance. Labeled diagram of a B-flat clarinet, showing parts such as the mouthpiece, reed, metal ligature, ring key, key, and bell on this single-reed woodwind instrument. Labeled diagram of a bass clarinet, a woodwind instrument, showing the mouthpiece with reed, metal ligature, curved neck, keys, thumb rest, and flared bell. Labeled diagram of a contrabass clarinet, a large woodwind instrument, showing its bell, keys, mouthpiece with reed and metal ligature, and end pin. Labeled diagram of an E-flat clarinet showing its main parts, including the bell, keys, ring key, mouthpiece, metal ligature, and reed. Illustration of wind instruments grouped by type, showing woodwinds-tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon-and brass instruments-horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.
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Young girl wearing a demin jacket playing the trumpet (child, musical instruments, Asian ethnicity)
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Gong. Closeup of a khong wong gong circle chime. Thai classical musical instrument, part of piphat ensemble. (percussion, music)
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Trumpet musical instrument.
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A woman wearing a hanbok plays the traditional Korean musical instrument kayagum (gayageum).
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A clarinet player's hands holding the instrument in focus, with other woodwind musicians blurred in the background during an orchestral performance.
Clarinet A single-reed woodwind instrument, the clarinet is used orchestrally and in military and brass bands.

clarinet

musical instrument
Also known as: clarinette, klarinette
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

clarinet, single-reed woodwind instrument used orchestrally and in military and brass bands and possessing a distinguished solo repertory. It is usually made of African blackwood and has a cylindrical bore of about 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) terminating in a flared bell. All-metal instruments are made but are little used professionally. The mouthpiece, usually of ebonite (a hard rubber), has a slotlike opening in one side over which a single reed, made from natural cane, is...

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