Clarinet Basics, Bb vs A, Reed Strength and Materials
The Bb clarinet is the standard instrument for students and bands; reeds run soft to hard on a scale of about 1 to 5, and beginners often start at 2.0 or 2.5.
By Andrian ChengContributing writer.
On this page
The short answer
For a first clarinet, get a Bb (B-flat) soprano clarinet. It is by far the most common type, and the word "clarinet" on its own usually means this instrument. Pair it with medium-soft reeds: reed maker D'Addario says beginners commonly start on strength 2.0 or 2.5.
Bb vs A clarinet
Both are soprano clarinets and look almost the same; the A is slightly longer and sounds lower. Both are transposing instruments: a Bb clarinet sounds one whole tone lower than the written note, and an A clarinet sounds a half step lower than a Bb.
Why two? Early clarinets had few keys and could only play comfortably in a narrow set of keys, so composers wrote for the instrument whose tuning made the part easiest. Better keywork reduced the need, but music in remote keys is still awkward to play, so the A stayed in the orchestra. Orchestral players often keep both and switch between pieces. Band and school music is written for the Bb, so a student needs only that one.
What strength clarinet reed should I use
The clarinet makes its sound when a single reed, cut from Arundo donax cane or made from a synthetic material, vibrates against the mouthpiece. Reeds are sold by hardness, usually on a scale from about 1 (soft) to 5 (hard). The scale is not standardized, so a 2.5 from one brand can feel different from a 2.5 from another.
D'Addario's guidance on choosing:
- Beginners: start around 2.0 or 2.5, then move up as your embouchure and air support grow.
- Mouthpiece: the wider the tip opening of your mouthpiece, the softer the reed should be; a closer tip suits a harder reed.
- Feel: the right strength gives a full, controlled sound without feeling stiff or too easy.
D'Addario also suggests beginners rotate between four reeds rather than playing one until it wears out, to get at least a month from them. Buying reeds in a box makes rotation easier.
Plastic vs wood clarinet
| Plastic (ABS or resin) | Wood (mostly grenadilla) | |
|---|---|---|
| Common use | Student and band models | Models above the student level |
| Yamaha example | YCL-255, YCL-200ADII | YCL-400ADII |
Most wooden clarinets are made from African blackwood, also called grenadilla. Since the mid-20th century, many student and band clarinets are made from plastics such as ABS. Yamaha's lineup shows the split: it lists the YCL-255 and the YCL-200ADII as student and beginner clarinets, while the YCL-400ADII moves to a grenadilla wood body. A plastic body is the usual choice for a first instrument that will travel to school and band practice.
Clarinet accessories on Wiki Shopping
Wiki Shopping lists 169 clarinet accessories in musical instruments. By pack size: the 10-pack leads with 29 listings, ahead of the 3-pack and 5-pack with 6 each. By brand, D'Addario has 17 listings and Vandoren 12.
How we count
Pack size and brand are read from each store listing and grouped into filter pages. We counted those pages in a read-only query of our page data on October 26, 2026. Listings without a stated pack size are left out of the pack counts. The counts change as listings are added or removed.