Clarinet Care and Maintenance

Supplies needed to care for the clarinet:

1. Swab

2. Cloth

3. Thin key oil

4. Cork grease

5. Absorbent paper, such as lens paper

6. Mouthpiece brush

7. Clean small paintbrush or cotton swabs

Assembly: how to put your clarinet together

Before you open your clarinet case, be sure that it is right side up.  When possible, avoid touching the keys when you are putting your clarinet together.  When joining the upper and lower joints, you must press the rings of the top joint.  Do this carefully so you do not bend any keys.  The joints of the clarinet should twist together easily.  If you have any difficulty, grease each of the tenon corks.  Wipe off any excess grease so it does not get on the pads or key mechanism.  If corks are dirty, clean them before applying new grease.

Reeds, Reed Case, and Water Bottle

Always have at least two usable reeds.  Keep reeds in a reed guard when not in use so they will dry flat.  You can purchase an inexpensive plastic reed guard at any music store.  Before playing, soak your reeds in clean water for a few minutes.  A 35mm film case makes an excellent water bottle for soaking reeds.  Break in new reeds by playing them for a few minutes each day.  If you alternate reeds every other day, your reeds will last longer.  When your reeds become cracked or chipped, they need to be thrown away and replaced.

Tuning:

The clarinet is tuned by adjusting the length of the instrument.  To lower the pitch, lengthen the instrument by pulling the barrel slightly out from the top joint, leaving a small gap between the barrel and the upper joint.  To raise the pitch, push the barrel in. 

When you have finished playing:

Moisture left in the instrument after you have finished playing will cause the pads to deteriorate.  Swab your clarinet each time you finish playing.  There are two kinds of swabs available for the clarinet.  The most common is a cloth attached by a string to a weight.  The weight is dropped through each section and the cloth is pulled through.  The other kind of swab is a brush type (Pad-Saver) that is pushed through each section and is left for storage in the upper or lower joint.

Wipe the keys with a cloth to remove finger marks and acid left by perspiration.  This acid will tarnish the metal if it is not removed.

Remove your reed from the mouthpiece and place it in a reed guard.  This will extend the life of your reed and will prevent it from warping.  Use a cloth to clean the inside of the mouthpiece, however, do not pull a swab through your mouthpiece.  Once each week, clean your mouthpiece in warm, soapy water and scrub it with a mouthpiece brush.  After cleaning, place the ligature on the mouthpiece to keep it from getting bent, and be sure to replace the mouthpiece cover on the mouthpiece.

Always keep your clarinet in the case when you are not playing.  Never put anything into your case that it was not designed to hold because the pressure from papers or music can bend the rods and keys.

Regular maintenance:

Try to keep dust from accumulating in the key mechanism of the clarinet.  If you are extremely careful, you can use a small brush (a clean paintbrush is fine) or a clean cotton swab to clean under the keys and rods.  If this is not done with great care, springs could be pushed out of place or bent.  Vacuum your case several times a year.

Do not polish the keys.  Use a cloth to wipe off moisture and finger marks after playing.

Once or twice a year apply a small amount of thin key oil to all key joints, roller joints, and posts.

Under each key is a pad that seals the tone hole when the key closes.  If pads stick, they are dirty.  To clean the pads, place a piece of absorbent paper, such as lens paper for cleaning camera lenses, under the pad, close the key, and pull the paper through.  To keep pads clean, do not eat candy or chew gum before playing!  Pads can and should be replaced after several years of use, but this is expensive, so make them last as long as possible.

Handling the clarinet:

The clarinet is a delicate instrument which must be handled carefully.  Do not let anyone else but your teacher play your clarinet.  If you must set it down during lessons or rehearsal, put it on a flat surface with keys up.  Never leave your clarinet on a music stand or standing on its bell.  The clarinet is an expensive instrument--not a toy--and should be handled with care.