Parts of a Clarinet: Labeled Diagram and What Each Part Does

When a clarinet comes home in its case for the first time, it can look like a puzzle: five black pieces, a small box of reeds and a little tube of grease. Once you know the names of the parts, it all makes sense. Band directors say things like "line up the bridge key" or "check your ligature," and this guide walks down the clarinet from top to bottom, the same way the diagram above does, so you will know exactly what they mean.

The mouthpiece, reed and ligature

These three small parts at the top make the sound. Everything below them shapes it into notes.

• Mouthpiece. The tapered piece you put in your mouth. It is hollow inside, with a flat side (called the table) where the reed sits. Most student mouthpieces are hard black plastic or rubber. The bottom end has a cork-covered tenon that slides into the barrel.
• Reed. A thin, flat strip of cane, thick at one end and shaved very thin at the tip. When you blow, the thin tip vibrates against the mouthpiece, and that buzz is the start of every note. Reeds are numbered by strength: a lower number is softer and easier to play. Most beginners start on a 2 or a 2.5. Reeds wear out and chip, so players always keep several on hand.
• Ligature. The band that holds the reed in place on the mouthpiece. Most are metal with one or two small screws; some are fabric or leather. It should be just snug enough to hold the reed still. Too tight squeezes the reed and makes the sound pinched.
• Mouthpiece cap. A small cover that slips over the reed and ligature when you are not playing. It protects the delicate tip of the reed. It is not on the diagram, but it comes with almost every clarinet.

The barrel

• Barrel. The short piece between the mouthpiece and the upper joint, slightly wider in the middle, which is how it got its name. It is also the clarinet's tuning slide. Pulling the barrel out a tiny bit from the upper joint makes the whole clarinet sound a little lower; pushing it in makes it a little higher. Some clarinets come with two barrels of different lengths for the same reason.

The upper joint

• Upper joint. Also called the left-hand joint, because your left hand plays it. It is the long piece just below the barrel.
• Tone holes. The holes along the body. Some are open holes you cover with a fingertip; others are covered by keys with soft pads underneath. Every hole you close makes the air travel farther down the clarinet, which makes the note lower.
• Rings. The metal circles around some of the open tone holes. When your finger covers the hole, it also presses the ring down, and the ring closes a pad somewhere else on the clarinet at the same time. That is how one finger can do two jobs.
• Keys. The silver levers and covers along the body. Each one opens or closes a tone hole that would be too far away, or too awkwardly placed, for a finger to reach. Under each covered key is a soft pad that seals the hole.
• Thumb hole and register key. On the back of the upper joint, under your left thumb. The thumb hole is a plain open hole. The register key sits just above it. Pressing the register key with your thumb jumps the clarinet up into its higher range, which players call the clarion register.
• Bridge key. A small metal lever at the bottom of the upper joint that meets a matching lever on the lower joint. It connects the two joints so that the keys work together. It is the part most easily bent during assembly, which is why the next section matters.

The tenon joints

• Tenons. The narrower ends of the pieces that slide into the next piece. On most clarinets they are wrapped in a thin band of cork, which makes an airtight seal. On the diagram, the tenon joint is where the upper and lower joints meet.
• Sockets. The wider openings that the tenons slide into, usually finished with a metal ring to protect the edge.
• Cork grease. A small tube of soft grease that comes with most clarinets. A thin layer on the corks lets the pieces slide together smoothly and keeps the cork from drying out and tearing.

The lower joint

• Lower joint. Also called the right-hand joint. It carries more tone holes, rings and keys for the right hand, including the long pinky keys at the bottom.
• Thumb rest. The small metal hook on the back of the lower joint. Your right thumb sits under it and carries much of the clarinet's weight. Some players add a soft rubber cushion to it for comfort. Some thumb rests can be adjusted up or down to fit a smaller hand.

The bell

• Bell. The flared piece at the very bottom. It helps the lowest notes sound full and even, and it sends the sound out into the room. It usually has a metal ring around its wide edge.

How to put a clarinet together

Most clarinet repairs on beginner instruments come from putting the pieces together the wrong way, so it is worth learning this well. The rule of thumb: hold each piece by its body, never by the keys, and twist gently rather than push.

1. Grease the corks if they feel dry or tight. A thin layer of cork grease, rubbed in with a fingertip. More is not better.
2. Bell onto the lower joint. Hold the lower joint near the bottom, away from the long keys, and twist the bell on.
3. Upper joint onto the lower joint. This is the careful step. Press down the rings on the upper joint with your left hand; that lifts the bridge key so it will not crash into its partner. Twist the two joints together and line the bridge key up so the two halves meet.
4. Barrel onto the upper joint. Twist it on, all the way in to start.
5. Mouthpiece into the barrel. Turn it so the flat table, where the reed will go, lines up with the register key on the back.
6. Reed and ligature last. Wet the reed in your mouth for a moment. Set its flat side on the table of the mouthpiece, with the tip of the reed lined up with the tip of the mouthpiece. Slide the ligature over both and tighten it just until the reed stays put.

Taking it apart is the same steps in reverse. Take the reed off first and store it in its holder.

Basic clarinet care

A clarinet needs about two minutes of care after each practice. It keeps the pads and corks healthy and helps the instrument play its best for years.

• Swab it out every time. Moisture from your breath collects inside. Pull a soft swab through each piece before it goes back in the case.
• Look after the reeds. Take the reed off after playing, wipe it, and let it dry flat in a reed holder. Rotating between a few reeds makes each one last longer.
• Wipe the mouthpiece. Rinse it now and then in lukewarm water, never hot, and let it dry.
• Keep corks lightly greased. If the pieces are hard to twist together, the cork needs grease, not more force.
• Mind the temperature. Do not leave the clarinet in a hot or freezing car. Wooden clarinets in particular should warm up to room temperature before you play them.
• Store it in its case. Every piece has its own spot. A clarinet left on a chair or bed is the one that gets sat on.

If a key sticks, a pad looks torn, or a note that used to work stops working, take it to a repair technician rather than trying to bend anything back by hand.

Clarinets to learn the parts on

Every clarinet below is a B-flat clarinet with the parts described in this guide. Prices and stock update automatically.

Choosing a first clarinet? Our beginner clarinet buying guide explains what to look for, and the school band instrument guide covers every instrument your child might be offered. You can also browse all of our band and orchestral instruments. Learning more than one instrument? See the parts of a flute and the parts of a saxophone.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 5 parts of a clarinet?

The mouthpiece, the barrel, the upper joint, the lower joint and the bell. The reed and ligature attach to the mouthpiece, so some people count them as parts too.

What order do you put a clarinet together?

Bell onto the lower joint, then the upper joint onto the lower joint (pressing the rings so the bridge key lifts), then the barrel, then the mouthpiece, and the reed and ligature last. Twist gently and hold the pieces by the body, not the keys.

What does the ligature do on a clarinet?

It holds the reed against the mouthpiece. It should be snug enough to keep the reed from moving but not so tight that it squeezes the reed and stops it vibrating freely.

What is the barrel on a clarinet for?

It connects the mouthpiece to the upper joint and is used for tuning. Pulling it out slightly lowers the pitch; pushing it in raises it.

What strength reed should a beginner clarinet player use?

Most beginners start on a strength 2 or 2.5 reed. As the player's breath support grows, a band director will often move them up to a 3.

What is the cork on a clarinet for?

The cork on each tenon makes an airtight seal between the pieces. Keep it lightly greased with cork grease so the pieces slide together easily and the cork does not dry out.