The Clarinet

The clarinet is a tube-shaped instrument made of wood or plastic. You play it by blowing into the top and pressing shiny keys. A small piece of wood called a reed helps make the sound. The clarinet can play both high and low notes.

How It Works

The clarinet has a mouthpiece at the top with a reed attached. When you blow air, the reed shakes very fast and makes a sound. Your fingers cover holes and press keys to change the notes. The sound travels down the long tube and out a bell-shaped end. Clarinets are usually black with silver keys.

Where You Hear It

The clarinet is used in many kinds of music. It plays in orchestras, marching bands, and jazz groups. Famous jazz player Benny Goodman was called the King of Swing. The clarinet can sound sweet and soft or bright and loud. Kids often learn to play it in school bands.

Fun Facts

• The clarinet was invented around the year 1700 in Germany.
• A clarinet has about 17 keys on it.
• Most clarinets are made from a hard wood called grenadilla.

Did You Know?

If you lined up all the parts of a clarinet, it would be about two feet long from top to bottom.