- Bb clarinet: The most common type of clarinet, pitched in B♭. It is a transposing instrument, which means that the written notes sound a whole tone lower than the actual pitch.
- A clarinet: A less common type of clarinet, pitched in A. It is also a transposing instrument.
- Eb clarinet: A relatively rare clarinet, pitched in E♭. It is not a transposing instrument, so the written notes sound at the same pitch as they are played.
- Bass clarinet: A larger clarinet, pitched in B♭, an octave lower than the Bb clarinet. It is a transposing instrument.
- Alto clarinet: A clarinet pitched in E♭, a fourth lower than the Bb clarinet. It is a transposing instrument, but it is written an octave higher than it sounds.
- Contrabass clarinet: A very large clarinet, pitched in B♭, two octaves lower than the Bb clarinet. It is also a transposing instrument.
Other Clarinets
- Basset clarinet: A clarinet that has an extended lower register, with additional keys and a longer barrel.
- Contrabass clarinet: A very large clarinet, pitched in B♭, two octaves lower than the Bb clarinet. It is also a transposing instrument.
- Octo-contrabass clarinet: The largest clarinet, pitched in B♭, three octaves lower than the Bb clarinet. It is a very rare instrument.
Clarinet Parts
- Mouthpiece: The part of the clarinet that the player blows into. It is made of ebony, hard rubber, or metal, and it has a single reed that vibrates to produce sound.
- Barrel: The part of the clarinet that connects the mouthpiece to the upper joint. It is made of wood or plastic, and it helps to determine the clarinet's overall pitch and tone color.
- Upper joint: The part of the clarinet that is held in the player's left hand. It has several keys that open and close holes to change the pitch of the instrument.
- Lower joint: The part of the clarinet that is held in the player's right hand. It has several keys that open and close holes to change the pitch of the instrument.
- Bell: The part of the clarinet that is at the bottom of the instrument. It is made of metal or wood, and it helps to project the sound.
Clarinet Keys
- Boehm system: The most common key system for the clarinet, invented by Theobald Boehm in the 1840s. It has 17 keys and 6 rings, and it allows the player to play all the notes in the chromatic scale.
- Albert system: A less common key system for the clarinet, invented by Eugène Albert in the 1830s. It has 13 keys and 6 rings, and it is easier to play than the Boehm system, but it does not allow the player to play all the notes in the chromatic scale.