I`m a trumpet player but I want to learn to play Clarnet.

Is harder then trumpet?

how long does it take to learn all the buttons?

Is it easier to play clarnet compared to a trumpet or harder?

Thanks
Dave

Uh... first of all, they aren`t called buttons, they`re called keys. second of all, if you really want to learn the clarinet, you can learn quickly based on how much practice time you put into it and if u have a good teacher. i don`t know the answer to your question if it is harder to play than trumpet. do you play piano? or any instrument where you have to use all your fingers except for one thumb? i learned in less than a year. it`s really fun.
Jen

Well first of all if you`re saying that a trumpet only needs one thumb then you`re wrong!

Sorry for sounding so silly I should have wrote keys in stead of buttons.

I learned how to play piano but Trumpet is my best instument. I think that trumpet is the most important instument in a band or Jazz it shows out from all other instuments!!

Now I want to learn to play Clarnet because it sounds nice too, so I just wanted to know how hard is it to learn all the keys and if anyone palyed a trumpet and clarnet which one is easier to play.

I`ll tell you that playing trumpet is very hard I`m sure that clarnet is also hard.

Thanx
Dave

Yeah, I think that clarinet is easier to like begin, and trumpet a little harder because you have to get the embouchure right and stuff (I play clarinet and trombone), but it`s harder to get really good on the clarinet than it is on the trumpet. At least in my opinion. Either way, it`s hard to get a really big range on either instrument.

hope that helps.
nao

No, I wasn`t saying that trumpet only needs one thumb.
Anyway, I think clarinet is pretty easy to learn. Perhaps it is easier than learning trumpet or any brass instrument since all you have to do is have your lower lip over your bottom teeth, insert the mouthpiece, place your upper teeth over the mouthpiece, of course close your mouth, tighten the corners of your lips (to prevent air leakage) and blow. As far as the keys, I found them easy to learn. Learned all in a little less than a year. The only thing about clarinet is if you don`t hold your mouth the right way when you blow, you can get a very annoying squeaking sound as well as if you bite down too hard. Other than that it is fun to play. The higher notes (past the third c, the one above the treble cleff) are harder to play, even after three years, so, don`t get too discouraged. Also, in the beginning months/year you will squeak often, but don`t worry, slowly but surely you will notice the squeaking to start lessening and your tone will get better.

Thanx for explaining in detail

You basically answered my questions!!
Thanx
Dave

The buttons are called keys. u should practice and study.If ur director is a good teacher that will help but most of all u need to practice and study ur notes and fingerings. I`m in advanced band and it didn`t take me long it`s my 3rd year but i knoe most of them because of my private lessons

hi dave, it doesn`t take lond to learn the notes atall. I learned one, then i learned another one. I just kept building up. It should be easier to play the clarient because you don`t have to move your lip positions to get new notes

I know I plug this site all of the time, but, meh: http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/cl_index.html

Clarinet was teh first instrument I`ve learned, and I can`t say it was all that difficult, just gotta memorize key combinations and keep good form. I`ve played double lipped until this year, really... just was hard to try to make the transition. Really, though, it didn`t seem to make any tone or performance changes in my case. :T

I play trumpet and want to learn trumpet too.

Clarinetist’s I`m disappointed in you! The clarinet is A LOT more than just playing the keys and putting a mouthpiece in your mouth! You must learn VERY controlled breathing, embouchure (that is much more than putting your lip over your teeth), correct hand positions, and much more. You’re putting our instrument down when you put it like that.

There is a lot to learning the clarinet, but the beginnings aren’t as hard as a trumpet (this is only my opinion). I feel this way because you must have a very good ear on the trumpet, and most beginners have never even played an instrument. However, I think the clarinet is very demanding to actually excel at. The trumpet could be just as much; I have no idea since I have very basic skills on the trumpet. Just take the clarinet one step at a time, the fact that there are more keys will be the least of your worries. Trust me, the notes will come fast.

I have been playing the clarinet and it`s easy as long as you practice
at least 2 times a week. I havent played the clarinet all summer until just a couple of day ago and I still remember all the fingerings. It`s not that hard at all. I was affraid that I wouldent know how to play it
but now I`m one of the best players in the band. good luck!!!

Comparing clarinet and trumpet is like comparing apples and oranges. But anyway, in general trumpet tends to be a more difficult instrument as clarinet usually gives the impression of seeming easy in the early stages, though once you start playing its solo repertoire, (including mozart, brams, weber, poulenc, messager, etc), clarinet should start feeling difficult. However, this stage should be at least a couple of years or so away.

Taking into consideration you already play the trumpet, you may find some bit of difficulty adjusting to the world of woodwind instruments. Make sure you don`t spend too much time on them, as they can mess with your lip muscles which have been conditioned to brass mouthpieces.

Clarinet is my favorite instrument, but I can also play trumpet so I try to explain this in terms you will understand.

Clarinet has lots of fingerings to learn instead of just 3 valves. You know with trumpet that you have to lip-up and down to hit single notes. Clarinet is divided up into registers where you have to adjust your emborchure to ranges of notes instead of individual notes.

Trumpet and clarinet have totaling different mouthpieces. On trumpet you buzz your lips to produce sound. Your lips do the work. On Clarinet, the reed vibrates to produce sound. Both instruments require air support.

Its not hard to learn clarinet, but it does take practice. The biggest change will be getting used to the reed for you. Clarinet is fussy about reeds, ligatures, & mouthpieces.

Have Fun!

When you start learning to blow the clarinet, reeds size 2 1/2 should be fine. As you get better, go to harder reeds. The embouchure is hard to get though. You have to know how much mouthpiece you have to bite and how to grip the mouthpiece properly. So anyway, practice makes perfect. And blowing the clarinet sure is fun!!