What Are the Parts of the Bass Clarinet?
The bass clarinet is composed of five main sections. After the player sets the reed in motion, a standing wave is formed within the first four of these parts; the final section then transmits the wave into the air.
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Mouthpiece
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The player's lips are placed on the mouthpiece, which is made of either plastic or hard rubber. The reed is attached to the bottom of the mouthpiece by a ligature, usually made of metal or plastic.
Neck
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The mouthpiece is connected to the neck, which is made of metal; the shape of this part varies depending on the quality of the instrument. Some necks come in two parts so that they can be lengthened or shortened to adjust tuning.
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Upper Joint
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The neck connects to the upper joint, which is made of grenadilla wood and contains the left-hand keys.
Lower Joint
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The upper joint is inserted into the lower joint, also made of grenadilla. This contains the right-hand keys, as well as the thumb rest.
Bell
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The final section of the bass clarinet is the bell, which connects to the lower joint and flares upward. Often, a peg is attached to the outside of the bell for stability.
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