Hey, i recently aquired a ``boosey and hawkes`` clarinet and i dont have a clue about it, just now it makes a great door-stop but im hoping to take it futher . I can read music fine but why do you call some clarinets Bb and Eb? Are they stuck in a certain Key? how long does it take on average to start sounding good?

Any feedback would be nice

The clarinets are in different keys. If you played a C on a Bb clarinet, it would be a Bb on a piano or any concert C band instrument. If you play a C on an Eb clarinet, it would be an Eb on the piano or a concert C instrument. It`s sorta confusing

Isnt Boosey and hawkes a purse?

well that sorts that delima out and no Boosey and... are not a purse maker. I think my clarinet is very old cause the silver has worn off. Thanks

I play the Bb clarinet and Just today started the Eb clarinet today, But I think i can make it less confusing for you to understand, In the Bb clarinet, Your main scale is the Bb scale, and you start on a C, In the Eb clarinet, the Bb scale is really the Eb scale for Bb clarinets and you start on an F, Really, all notes are just 3 steps up, its just a different size clarinet, and makes a higher sound

Well I`m certainly the stupidest newbie of all I am a jack of all trades musician and ya master of not instrument, I play the flute, trumpet, piano, and I sing (the voice is actually mastered) Anyway I just bid on e-bay and probably one the bid on a Vintage Selmer 1400 Clarinet) I`ve never played a clarinet in my life and have always wanted to.
Anyway did I get a good clarinet?
I don`t even know yet if it is mine or not. I bid $50 on it and just met the reserve. I hope I didn`t just make a huge mistake.
Feedback will be greatly appriciated.
Thanks in advance,
Tanya

Okay I so don`t no how to make these emotion thing work!!!!!!!!!!

and I can`t spell tonight either.

a Bb major scale (concert pitch) on Eb clarinet starts on a G not an F. Eb clarinet is pitched a minor third above concert pitched instruments. Which means Eb sounds as a C. Eb clarinet is pitched a perfect fourth above Bb which means a G on Eb clarinet sounds like a C on Bb clarinet.

This is what I understand about Boosey & Hawkes. If anoune knows better, I am open to correction. Boosey & Hawkes started sometime in the misty past manufacturing brass band intruments in London, England. At some point they also manufactured oboes, flutes and clarinets. I don`t know about other wind instruments. About 20 years ago they stopped manufacturing themselves, but were (and may still be) UK importers of Buffet clarinets. Today they are mostly publishers of sheet music. Their range of clarinets was: the beginner`s plastic Regent, student wooden Emperor, and professional Edgeware (after the district of London where they are based) and 1010 (pronounced ten-ten). If there are others, I don`t know them. The model name is stamped on the bell, and possibly the barel too. Quality and price-wise, they compared with the leading French brands (Buffet, LeBlanc, Selmer) for their equivalent models. Unless your instrument is a Regent, it will be worth getting it overhauled.

Without wanting to go too off-topic...
There is no such thing as a `stupid` newbie. If you want to know the answer to a question, it is a perfectly valid one. We are all learing as we go along, and we all started wth no knowledge. Have some faith in yourself. The great thing about a forum like this is that it is a world-wide resource. Someone will know the answer, all you have to do is ask. One of the greatest things about music is that as you play and chat to other people, you can learn from them, and probably teach them a thing or two as well. Above all, enjoy your music.

The clarinet is usually a B flat transposing instrument, and the thing to remember is take off 2 flats or add 2 sharps when transposing, against an instrument in c, like the piano.
The next most popular model is the clarinet in A and take off 3 sharps when transposing against the piano with this one.

i`m inclined to agree with mike clarinet - don`t bother with self deprecation.
i started a year ago - and i think am making a nice sound .. just keep trying till you like the sound really and get a lesson or two just to sort out your embouchure - ie how you blow the thing. it`s quite easy to pick up. i`m playing tchai`s 5th symph as 2nd clary in an orchestra now - if that helps in letting you know how fast you`ll pick it up. all depends on wether you love it!!
good luck
jools manchester