6 Clarinet Maintenance Pointers That You May Not Know About

[@jamesstanley9262]

Thank you. I dry the closed pads with lint-free cigarette papers, when certain times of the year it proves necessary. Lengthens the life of the leather pads.

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

04/29/21-I’m a guitar player who just acquired a clarinet. I’ve only been playing for two days, I get some decent sounds out of it. I know absolutely nothing about maintenance, so thank you for the video

[@randypickering5793]

Thanks Michelle, great video. Sealing the corks with paraffin was a new one to me and the Teflon tape for emergencies is now on my to do list!

[@anitacarlisle9746]

Hi Michelle ..I have just invested in a clarinet as I have been playing a low flute for years but now needed to play something with more range init and I just love the sounds from the clarinet..I have found the first two video classes ..maintenance and how to blow the clarinet...really helpful and will be referring back to your videos for more lessons ...your teaching skills are so easy to follow ..thankyou

[@petermello2085]

Love your videos!! So helpful! Bass clarinetist here.

[@jonnigoldfish2292]

Great video Michelle as always! Early this year i purchased a Kessler Custom Artist Bb wood that is of unbelievable quality for $850 and they include two barrels. What they also include is a turkey feather and almond oil that Kessler suggests you use to oil your horn every two weeks, it works very well with applying a thin layer. The clarinet also come with a small tube that contains water, refillable, to help maintain moisture levels. Also included is an anti-tarnish strip. I've owned Buffet Crampon and Selmer Omega and I like the Kessler better, but that's just me.

[@nolanmullen8525]

I’ve literally been looking for this exact topic. Thank u so much! 😁

[@ClarinetMentors]

I hope you enjoy this!

[@PaulLeBlanc4u]

Another great video Michelle. I have learned (and Re-Learned) so much information from your videos in the last week since I discovered you. Thank you for simply SHARING your experience and knowledge so freely (translated: you're a good person ). Like many here, I'm returning to the Clarinet after an embarrassingly long time of abandonment ( Adult life has a way of replacing the things we love to do with the things we need to do doesn't it?) but have found my skills coming back nicely, albeit slowly. But I'm in no hurry, and this time nothing or no one is gonna pry my Clarinet from my sticky fingers [ careful to clean my horn afterward of course ;-) ]. Joined the mentors group yesterday ( or day before ) and am looking forward to being part of your community in the small way I can. God bless you and THANKS sincerely for the amazing amount of work you have put forth for all of us to enjoy, FOR FREE. Still shocked I guess. :-)

[@seawyfe7289]

Thank you for the great video. Where is Maury's shop? Id like to get my clarinet pads replaced, Thank you

[@chijazz]

Thank you for these useful tips. It would be helpful to know how much oil one should use and to have a demonstration of oiling the bore.

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi Adam - great idea. Usually you use a dedicated "oiling swab" and just put a few drops on it, run it through 3 - 5 times. The idea is just a very light application of oil. If your clarinet drinks it up overnight and it feels very dry the next day, do it again.

[@HorvathSteve]

Michelle, any chance you can tell us what is the preferred chemical to clean the corks? There are many different makeup removers, most aren't even liquid, some/most seem to be made for eyes...and I'd bet anything that their chemical composition is going to be rather different.

[@TracieS-s5l]

Thanks, Michelle. I always learn so much from you. I'm having trouble with a brand new wooden clarinet. After playing on it for about 15 minutes, the B and B flat notes sound like they are under water (it's a very gurgly sound...almost like the note is drowning). Do you think oiling the clarinet would help?

[@beth7467]

So interesting about cleaning the corks! I recently bought a new-to-me Selmer Signet 100 with corks still in fine condition, according to my tech, but oh-so grungy looking. I actually used rubbing alcohol on a rag, and the corks really cleaned up nicely. The tip about sealing the holes in cork with paraffin is also a good one. Thanks!

[@tmh2013]

Thank you for this. I was trying to figure out what kind of makeup remover would work. I don't wear makeup so I know nothing about them.

[@beth7467]

@@tmh2013 Just make sure that you grease the cork well the first time you put the clarinet together after you clean the cork with alcohol.

[@tmh2013]

@@beth7467 Thank you. Did you coat them in wax too?

[@beth7467]

@@tmh2013 Not yet, but I'm thinking about it. Have you tried it?

[@tmh2013]

@@beth7467 Not yet. I'll let you know if i do.

[@itubeutubealltube]

Thanks so much for this! Which ingredients are in the makeup remover you use? Seems there are a lot of different ones out there and I want to be sure I get the right one. Thanks.

[@mistervee123]

Lemon juice seemed to do the best and worked in 10-20 seconds with a quick wipe, a rinse in clean water, and a quick wipe with a soft cloth. Vinegar discolored my mouth piece-- turning it blotchy orangish. Oh no! And it was an Vandoren BD5. Ugh! Paraffin didn't work well either, and it made a flaky mess on my clarinet and somewhat in the case too. The Doctor cork grease seals the joints well enough by itself.

[@michaelbpastor]

You mentioned keeping the humidity pack in your case for wooden clarinets/pieces. What if you have silver plated keys? Wont the humidity pack cause the keys to tarnish more quickly?

[@JustClaude13]

I think it might, but tarnished keys are probably easier to fix than a cracked bore.

[@michaelbpastor]

@@JustClaude13 True. I usually clean my keys with silver polish at least once a year. But I keep anti tarnish strips in my case to help. I guess my best option is to have a separate case for barrels/mouthpieces.

[@jonnigoldfish2292]

You can add a tarnish strip by 3M I believe

[@belibeki]

Michelle I like your videos, and I am going to follow your channel and your useful advices. But I would like to add something, which is also very important. Maintenance the holes on the clarinet, because its very important for good sound of clarinet. So, occasionaly its useful to clean the holes from greasiness and dirtiness, with cotton woole sticks, which we use for cleaning ears. I think its not good to clean mouthpiece with chemicals, specialy if they are made of hardrubber, it will chage color very soon. Only with cold water, and soft cloth.

[@CoamFo]

Michelle, I followed your instruction and bought makeup remover to clean my corks but I realized what I had purchased is EYE makeup remover. Will this be okay to use?

[@robertrockwell1938]

I have been using a synthetic ultimax cork lubricant from Ridenauer. It isn't natural but it seems to work fine for my cork joints. Do you have any experience or judgement about this product?

[@ClarinetMentors]

Hi Robert. I don't - sorry. I think that Tom Ridenauer is pretty particular so he has likely done his research.

[@whoitisnot]

I've been using this Ultimax for years. I find it to be the best of any I've tried, including Doctor's. My corks hold up great. It's a bit tacky/messy, but it works very well.

[@tarynn7667]

Okay 👌 I’m struggling right now so any pointers would be fabulous. So this morning I was warming up and doing my scales and when going up and down the scales I noticed when moving from f to g the f key isn’t releasing? It’s getting stuck down? How do I fix that nonsense? It’s driving me insane!

[@cinellimashgreg]

Michelle I have a question what brand of makeup remover do you use to clean your corks?

[@ClarinetMentors]

I use Neutrogena, but I imagine that many work.

[@tarynn7667]

Never mind, I figured it out, the small cork between the keys was sticking. Took a small amount of coconut oil on a qtip and it solved the problem. I was getting so mad for a good hour before i even pulled my tiny repair kit out for it. Ugh 🤦‍♀️

[@Kiseochan]

Can you use rubbing alcohol to clean it, is there a certain percentage that is safe?

[@jamesstanley9262]

Do serious clarinetists REALLY take their clarinet apart every time, if they play every day? My wooden clarinet will not come apart, especially bottom two sections after an hours' playing; only much later.

[@georgia.newman]

I’m allergic to almonds so what would be a good substitute to that kind of oil?

[@asay1163]

It would be so helpful if you could put the links to some of the products you recommended in the video. Thank you!

[@ClarinetMentors]

Oops - I forgot those links. Here they are: BG Silk Clarinet Swab Doctor's Products Cork Grease Teflon Thread Seal Tape

[@-NGC-6302-]

I'm in highscool. How bad of an idea was it for me to get a wooden clarinet? (Yamaha Custom CSVR)

[@markbernard4156]

Not a bad idea at all the CSVR is great too just make sure for marching band you have a plastic clarinet to play then play the wood one during concert season.

[@-NGC-6302-]

Ok good. I have 2 plastic clarinets for Mband.

[@markbernard4156]

@@-NGC-6302- ya you never want to play a wood instrument out side cuz it is almost guaranteed to crack whick will cost hundreds of dollars to fix

[@tonnie8641]

Help, I start to practice E major scale, so now I HAVE to use that Long-Fsharp/Csharp-Lever with my left hand (cos there is only one B/Fsharp-Key on the right hand, indeed), which is really sticky and depressing. A)Something wrong with my clarinet itself? Is it normal to take more effort to press it down, comparing with Long-E/B-Lever? How to fix it? B)How to press it with my tiny little finger properly, which takes less effort? horizontal or vertical? in which direction? (pls help, the last finger on my left hand is now extremely strong while typing on the keyboard. ;P)

[@ClarinetMentors]

Every brand of clarinet has a slightly different configuration. Generally though, it shouldn't feel much harder to press than other pinky keys. A technician can adjust this. As far as what part of your finger, it usually is a stretch to reach that key. I recommend looking in a mirror and trying to move your pinky while minimizing movement to the rest of your hand, especially your ring finger, which can be pulled off of its hole a bit. This video may help with some general hand position suggestions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJuqeISGbceme7c

[@tonnie8641]

​@@ClarinetMentors is it good or bad if I place my fingers touching on those keys while not using them? like, forefinger on A-key, thumb on Register-key? on which one for pinky? I tried to do it all above to speed up, then my pinky's root feels a little hurt (30-degrees-deviation from its most comfortable axis): Maybe it's my hand too small. Thx Michelle!

[@christophermillan3771]

Is this why my Bell feels loose?? Or shakes?? How do we fix it?? I play my grandpas clarinet. He just died. So I’m trying to restore all his instruments.

[@megalol1344]

I keep spitting when I play the clarinet, is there a way I can stop that from happening again?

[@robertpeake1329]

I’ve played with crappy corks for more than 15 years. I wrap them with electrical tape. Works and sounds great. Costs nothing.

[@aunceter]

I heard of a local symphony clarinetist not to long ago, who was most annoyed when a repair person oiled his wood instrument, that he considered seasoned, that lessoned the brightness, & diminished the tone quality of it!

[@arnarting]

CLARINET VIDEO: GONE MAKEUP 😱