Clarinet??

Question:I'm 13 and currently I play the alto, tenor and baritone saxophone. I have a three year experience with all instruments and I'm very talented with them. I've been considering playing the clarinet. Is it more difficult than bari or tenor? How different is it? Any tips for beginner clarinetists (If I go through with it)? What brand is the best for beginners?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm 13 and currently I play the alto, tenor and baritone saxophone. I have a three year experience with all instruments and I'm very talented with them. I've been considering playing the clarinet. Is it more difficult than bari or tenor? How different is it? Any tips for beginner clarinetists (If I go through with it)? What brand is the best for beginners?

No instrument is more or less difficult than any other instrument. They all have their good and bad points.

You'll find many similarities between clarinet and sax. The embouchure is actually very similar though the instrument position is different.

The first real challenge is going to be fingering - they are only the same (close) for the upper register, the lowest register of clarinet is very different from sax.

Clarinet is a natural double for sax players and can add to your versatility. Flute would be another option.

Don't take too much beginner advice - you're not exactly a beginner since you're already playing sax. I'd definitely not try to start on a 1 1/2 reed. Probably a 2 or 2 1/2 will do nicely for you. Remember that we don't use vibrato (ordinarily) on clarinet so hold the breath support steady.

There's no reason not to play on the best instrument you have access to. There are plenty of good reasons not to play on cheap garbage. The same companies that make student saxes are the companies that make student clarinets. The best clarinets are by Buffet, Selmer (Paris), and Leblanc (Paris). A quality wooden instrument will sound better than a plastic but a really good plastic (Yamaha, Vito, etc.) is better than a cheap wood one.

If you lean toward tenor and bari sax - try to get a bass clarinet and learn that if you can. In show and pit music - the bari sax player is often required to double on bass clarinet. Like the saxes -- fingering is the same among all the clarinet family.

Just get hold of one and give it a try for a week. If you have the inborn talent, you'll pick it up very quickly.

Playing Clarinet would be easier for you then others that's true! You already have the ability to read music etc. But Clari is a little different esp the embouchure! I would go to your band teacher and see if they have any spare clarinets for you to try! They will also the the names of some Clarinet teachers if you chose to continue with it! Some good beginner brands are Yamaha and Selmer!

Tips??? Go slow, learn your scales and do your longtones daily, Learn to look after your reeds, get a good teacher and be good to your mother!

You probably already know this from playing the saxes, but start with a soft reed like 1 1/2 or 2. id wouldnt get a wooden clarinet as your first, i got a Vito from my cousin when i was in 5th grade and its survived through 2 seasons of Marchingband, quite a few drops, and its yet to be re-padded (which probably isnt a good thing lol)\ hope this helps

the clarinet is a very simple instrument, but i don't really like the way it sounds. It's pretty much like the recorder. The best brands are Yamaha and Bufett. You should never buy from like Costo, etc. those brands are junk. Here's a tip don't buy colorful clarinets ause there's are stuff like that. Your reed should be Rico 2 or Rico 1 1/2 you should'nt get anything harder. This instrument should'nt be too hard bcause you have experience on other ones. ENJOY!!