Clarinet Mouthpieces
All clarinet players remember their first “real” mouthpiece. For me (and many others), it was a Vandoren B45. I remember bringing it home from the music store more excited than I had ever been about anything in my life. I could not wait to unleash it from its signature blue box and slap a reed on it. I blew into it and an unexpected richness emitted from my instrument. My new mouthpiece met my expectations and more. The first time I played the B45, my less-than-stellar clarinet was a completely new and enhanced musical implement.
The mouthpiece is how each clarinet realizes it potential. A bad or inappropriate mouthpiece can severely diminish the clarinet’s melodic value, while a good mouthpiece can make a cheap instrument sound superior. Clarinetists have a wide variety of mouthpieces to choose from, each with their own unique qualities.
Mouthpieces are usually made of plastic or hard rubber, although there are also crystal mouthpieces for the clarinet. Plastic mouthpieces are the ones that come with clarinets—not very good, and easily warped, since they are made of cheap acrylic. Most clarinet professionals choose mouthpieces that are made out of hard rubber.
How to Choose a Mouthpiece
Instrument-makers usually supply a generic mouthpiece with clarinets. In most cases, clarinetists discard them and replace them with better quality mouthpieces as soon as they can. Players choose their mouthpieces according to several criteria. First, the player must consider his or her playing abilities. Different mouthpieces complement different abilities. Some mouthpieces fit best with advanced players, who can produce more pressure both with their embouchure and their breath. Other mouthpieces produce an inferior sound, but are easier for less experienced players to control.
The second factor a clarinet player must consider when choosing their mouthpiece is the type of sound they want to achieve with their instrument. Different mouthpieces generate different types of sound—raspy and reedy versus bright and sharp.
Third, of course, clarinet players must consider how much they are willing to spend on their mouthpiece. Mouthpieces can cost anywhere from a couple of bucks to hundreds of dollars. While players find the best quality in the most expensive mouthpieces, it is simply not practical for many players to spend upwards of $500 per mouthpiece.
Mouthpiece Variables
The reed lies on the part of the mouthpiece that is called the facing or the lay. The length of the facing determines what range of notes sound the best. Specifically, the length of the facing determines how much the tip of the reed vibrates. Longer facings mean that reeds vibrate more, which results in powerful and smooth lower register notes, but also requires more pressure in the higher register. Shorter facings give higher notes a clearer quality, but make the lower register sound breathy or reedy. Most players choose medium facings, which are neutral, and play both registers about equally, without optimizing the sound of either register. The best players have an assortment of mouthpieces at their disposal, and choose a mouthpiece appropriate for the piece they are playing.
Another variable of mouthpieces is size of the gap between the top of the reed and the mouthpiece, which is known as the tip opening. Wider tip openings require more lung pressure to sound and might produce better sounding notes for certain players. The chamber is the space inside the mouthpiece. Small alterations in these parts can make a dramatic difference in the way notes sound.
Of all the parts of the clarinet, the mouthpiece is the most important determining factor in terms of pitch and timbre. As the clarinetist’s ability evolves, so should his or her mouthpiece. While you think you might use your trusted B45 forever, you might find one day your playing ability has outgrown it, and it is time to move to add a more technically difficult mouthpiece to your clarinet, for an even more brilliant sound.
