clarinet

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Images

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.

At a Glance

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clarinet summary

clarinet: Media

musical instrument

Images

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...

© Hybrid Images—Cultura/Getty Images

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.

B♭clarinet

Labeled illustration of a B♭or B flat clarinet identifying its major components.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Labeled diagram of a bass clarinet, a woodwind instrument, showing the mouthpiece with reed, metal ligature, curved neck, keys, thumb rest, and flared bell.

Bass clarinet

Labeled illustration of a bass clarinet identifying its major components.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Labeled diagram of a contrabass clarinet, a large woodwind instrument, showing its bell, keys, mouthpiece with reed and metal ligature, and end pin.

Contrabass clarinet

Labeled illustration of a contrabass clarinet identifying its major components.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Labeled diagram of an E-flat clarinet showing its main parts, including the bell, keys, ring key, mouthpiece, metal ligature, and reed.

E flat clarinet

Labeled illustration of an E♭or E flat clarinet identifying its major components.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Illustration of wind instruments grouped by type, showing woodwinds-tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon-and brass instruments-horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.

Wind instruments of the Western orchestra

Some of the wind instruments of the Western orchestra (left to right, top to bottom):...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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