The physics of the blackwood tube
Nuremberg to Vienna: the classical evolution
From Eastern Europe to New Orleans
Sonic tricks and orchestral drama
YOUR GOAL
Master of The secret life of the clarinet
maestro The Blackwood Tube
Only odd harmonics ring inside this pipe— (Yeah, we jump up a twelfth!)
maestro Diagrams show the clarinet's thumb register key triggering a third harmonic wave.
maestro A musician holds a black wooden clarinet, highlighting its straight cylindrical tube.
maestro Tap the keys to discover how the blackwood tube shapes the clarinet's unique sound.
Sinking wood: Grenadilla wood is so dense that it will sink straight to the bottom of a bucket of water.
The hollow interior chamber of a wind instrument through which air vibrates to produce sound. The clarinet's cylindrical interior causes the vibrating air column to produce only odd-numbered harmonics.
What material is typically used to manufacture the intricate metal keys on a modern clarinet?
maestro Artisans build professional clarinets using African blackwood and silver keys.
How does the clarinet's straight, cylindrical tube affect its pitch compared to a flute of the same length?
Which part of the clarinet mouthpiece does the reed vibrate against to produce sound?
Which heavy, dense wood is most commonly used to craft professional-grade clarinets?