Bb Clarinet

The Bb Clarinet, also referred to as the Bb Soprano Clarinet, is a woodwind instrument, and is the most commonly found member of the clarinet family.

History
In the 1600s, the Chalumeau (pronounced shall - yu - mo) was an instrument in Europe, which had two keys and a single reed. Later on, a german instrument maker named Denner invented the clarinet by improving the Chalumeau. More and more keys were added until the modern Clarinet came to be.



Description
The Bb Clarinet is commonly black, however, there are plastic clarinet which are different colors, such as white. The Bb Clarinet's body (excluding the keys) is made with one type of material, such as metal, wood or plastic; and metal may be used to add a trim to the body parts.

Models of Bb Clarinets
There are three main models of Bb clarinets:

1. A student model. Student model Bb clarinets are made of ABS resin, which makes them fairly lightweight. They are the cheapest model of clarinet, as they are built for beginners. However, they start to lose their usefulness after a few years of playing, as they are not as responsive as intermediate or professional models.

2. An intermediate model. These clarinets are made of wood, and a produce a nice sound for intermediate players. They also provide a better response for noteplaying. They are slightly heavier than student models, which alters the tone so that it is more "solid".

3. A professional model. Professional models are the most expensive model of Bb clarinet, but are made of the highest quality Grenadilla wood or Rosewood. The wood adds extra weight, which in turn, darkens the clarinet's tone.

Note: With all wooden clarinets, more care is necessary to keep them in working order. Wooden clarinets change more between seasons than what plastic clarinets do, as the natural wood expands in the heat, and contracts in the cold. Prolonged improper care could result in a crack appearing in one or more of the pieces.