History and basic anatomy of the clarinet

The clarinet’s fragile autumn tones, liquid sound, ability to evoke bluesiness and ecstatic upper register wail permeated the sound of early jazz bands. Its influence has been felt from New Orleans jazz ensembles to big time swing bands. Early jazz clarinetists were often Creoles, who inherited the French classic tradition, masterfully weaving supportive supple lines around the brass instrument’s forceful phrases. Legendary New Orleans jazz clarinetist Lorenzo Tio actually taught celebrated pupils and fellow clarinet players Barney Brigard and Sidney Bechet. Jimmie Noone and Johnny Dodds brought a bluesy soulful sound to early jazz, while Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw were swing virtuosos achieving great fame and recognition in the swing community.

The most commonly recognized clarinet is the soprano clarinet. Most widely used in jazz, this clarinet is in the key of B flat. It is a single reed instrument, which has a segmented wooden or plastic body and four registers with cork sealing the joints between each segment. The bass clarinet has a deeper, rich, woody tone, as well as a curved tube leading to the reeded mouthpiece and a curved metal bell at the bottom of the instrument. Both forms of clarinet are played by forcing a column of air through the mouthpiece. As the air vibrates through the reed and into the instrument, the clarinet player can press the keys, thus shortening the airflow and altering the pitch of the note.

In addition to using the keys to alter the pitch, clarinet players can alter their mouth position to change the value and quality of the note. The position of the lips on the instrument is called embouchure. In single embouchure playing, the lower lip is more tightly curled over the teeth than the upper lip, while in double embouchure, the jawline is slightly projected with both the upper and lower lip tightly curled around the teeth. This double embouchure method is more difficult but for some players this is a more beneficial position.

Many bass clarinets must be played in the double embouchure position, with higher notes played by adopting and even more intense form of the position with lips curled even tighter and jaw pushed further forward. The bass clarinet also requires a great deal more air to be forced through the instrument. This is done by controlling and tightening the diaphragm, distending the chest cavity and pushing large amounts of air into the instrument. Also found on the bass clarinet, are a cluster of 4 extra keys at the bottom of the tube. This extra cluster allows the bass clarinet to play a resounding low E. This lower register, is found in the range of the double bass. The low register sounds made by the bass clarinet is one of the characteristics that appeals to musicians, as they fit well with the more experimental and impressionistic forms of jazz.