Introduction

Clarinets are known for their smooth, creamy tone: warm and resonant low down, bright and clear up high. It's plaintive, clear sound can be perfect for a romantic melody or when agitated for creating angular accented textures and effects. They can make a surprisingly loud sound or play incredibly softly. Clarinets are also associated with the sound of jazz and are perfect for producing the typically rhythmic, swooping, rippling sounds of traditional jazz and swing.

The Clarinet Family

Clarinets come in many shapes and sizes from tiny high pitched sopranino clarinets to the largest contrabass instruments which can play lower than a double bass.