The Complete Handbook of Clarinet Barrels

Chapter 1: Understanding Clarinet Barrels

Every clarinet is a system of interlocking compromises, and no single part embodies that truth better than the barrel. This short, often cylindrical piece of wood or synthetic material sits between the mouthpiece and the upper joint, but it is far more than a simple spacer. It is the first chamber where the sound wave generated by the reed is shaped and sized before it enters the main body of the instrument. It is a crucial tuning device, a sound filter, and a connector that must fit perfectly or it will introduce leaks and instability. For the player, understanding this piece is the difference between fighting the instrument all night and having a horn that responds effortlessly.

The barrel's primary job is to connect the bore of the mouthpiece to the bore of the upper joint. This connection must be continuous and smooth; the internal diameter of the barrel, known as its bore, must match its two neighbors. If the barrel's bore is too narrow, it creates a step that disrupts the air column, causing a stuffy, resistant feel. If it is too wide, the air column becomes unstable, leading to a fuzzy tone and a loss of focus. This is why a barrel from one manufacturer may feel completely different on a horn from another. The bore of a professional Buffet Crampon R13, for instance, is a standard 14.95 millimeters in its upper section, but the bore of a Yamaha CSVR is slightly different.