IF I put the ligature beackwards will it make a difference? Its one of the metal ones. I have a Yamaha 250 so it came with the standard ligature. So should try it don`t won`t to miss anything. I don`t know much about clarinets because I am a flute player. Thanks!

Jouex Noel

It should....maybe it wouldnt be as noticable on a student instrument, but the ligature is made to put the right amount of preassure right where the reed needs it. So I would definately say yes, but it depends on how good the instrument, ligature and reed is.

My clarinet teacher told me not to put one of the student ligatures on backwards, it`s not made that way. I never actually tried it.

As a student I was always told to put it on with the screws towards you because it was designed to put the pressure where it was needed. As I got better at playing and better at playing with more feeling I felt it was time to find a new ligature that would help me get the sound I wanted so I went out and bought a Rovner cloth ligature. It does make a difference but to notice it you would have to listen pretty close.

Putting a ligature on backwards that it not designed to do so can bend and damage the ligature. It is true that you will get a better sound if the pressure from the ligature on the reed is distributed evenly but doesn`t mean that turning a ligature around will automatically achieve a better sound. I`d suggest that you try out some ligatures that are designed to go around the other way. I have a Vandoren Optimum ligature which has three different plates that can be interchanged and each hold the reed differently but they are a bit expensive. Try a BG Standard (leather) or a BG Tradition (silver) ligature or even a Rovner. A good ligature can help may you tone better and make it easier to play.