In fact, there’s even an entire virtual version of a Bb clarinet available for exploration in your browser! You simply click the note you want to hear on screen or press keys on your computer keyboard to play the instrument. Using the keyboard is slightly more tactile and quicker.
A strip of playable notes appear along with a representation of what you would see if you were playing real instrument. It’s laid out so that you can easily see where fingerings shift around as you progress through range. Whether you’re a musician looking at a passage or a complete beginner double-checking a fingering, the tool reacts immediate to your input.
How to Use the Online Clarinet
On the right-hand side is the note strip where the main action take place. This extends from low E3 to high C6 and covers the complete range of what was written. To play, simply click on one of buttons here and you will hear that note. Hold down the mouse button to make the note sound and sustain it just as if you were playing. Alternatively, you can glide your cursor over several notes without release to produce a smooth glissando effect. That’s a great way to experiment with rapid runs or hear how the sound change across range.
The screen instantly updates to highlight precisely what keys is being covered for each chosen pitch. There’s also an option to play using your computer keyboard. You can move up and down in semi-tones by pressing the right or left arrow keys respectively. In this way, you can walk through melodies and scales without having to look around for particular button presses. The space bar blows the currently selected note again. It’s handy if you want to check the rhythm or tone of what was played. Just press the question mark key to turn the help panel on or off. It is useful if you want a quick reference or if you get a bit lost! The visual indicator works perfectly alongside the arrow keys, always indicating what pitch are being used.
Above the note strip are the transport controls which include a number of options for playing back the music. The large central button is used to repeat the note with a new attack. From here, you can also play two pre-programmed sequences. These begin with C scale button that sounds out the C major scale from C4-C5. It nicely illustrates the right-hand finger positions rising across the break. A second option is the Rhapsody gliss button. It sweeps through every one of the 33 available notes, running down to finish with a held high C. This echoes the famous opening figure from Rhapsody in Blue and shows off complete mechanical operation of the instrument. Each time you click the button it stop the sequence.
A useful addition is the image of the instrument (left) which gives another learning level. In blue it illuminates the relevant keys as played. They are the thumb hole, the register key, the side keys, and most importantly main tone holes. Seeing this makes it easier to follow how the change from the lower (chalumeau) to upper (clarion) register occurs. You can see here that notes extend up to Bb4 with the lower register engaged. Above B4, pressing the register key allow the note to sound a twelfth higher. It’s this immediate seeing that closes the gap between notation and performance.
There’s also a slider close to the transport buttons that lets you control volume. Master volume can be adjusted as needed based off your hearing comfort or the surroundings in which you’ll play. Clicking the fullscreen button will hide any distractions and expand the widget to take over your whole screen if you want to focus only on playing the instrument. Fullscreen mode also makes the details of the fingering more readable. The interface adjusts to your screen size and functions well on both small devices and on a monitor.
Here is some useful advice on making best use of this tool. If you play the C scale slowly while watching your right hand, observe that fingers let go in a certain sequence when ascending. With the glissando option, listen out for the distinctive clarinet timbre altering during transition over the register break. Additionally, try locating good fingerings for awkward intervals using the arrow keys. It shows the written note but keep in mind that an actual Bb clarinet would sound a tone lower then written. This should of been kept in mind if you’re transcribing music for the instrument.
Begin by playing some notes in the middle range. After that, use the scale demo to play through expected fingering patterns. When you’re confident, explore using the arrow keys to move around freely. This is a great way to get started and learn about the clarinet without knowing anything about its mechanics first. Dive right in and listen for the response from the instrument.