Basic Clarinet Care Series, Part I. - Keep it dry!

This might be a “no-brainer”, but I think it bears repeating.  Whether your clarinet is made of plastic, rubber, or wood - always, always swab out your clarinet after playing – even just a few minutes’ worth of condensation can cause cumulative damage to the bore and pads.    Spit is destructive!

After a practice session or performance, remove the mouthpiece and swab it out bottom to top.  Why bottom to top?  The bottom opening is wider and the bell forms a nice funnel opening to dangle an 18-inch string into.  Also, the swab is less likely to catch on the thumb tube (inside the hole/ring where your left thumb will play) if you go this direction.  Repeat until the inside of the bore is dry. 

Take the clarinet apart and check the joints for moisture and wipe them dry before placing in your case. 

To keep your mouthpiece in pristine condition wipe it down well to remove any accumulation of dried spit and whatever you had for lunch.  (Brushing your teeth before playing helps but doesn’t eliminate it completely.)

There are different types of swabs out there, and I’ve tested many of them over the years.  There are swabs made from silk, cotton, and chamois.  Old T-shirts make good swabs.  As long as it absorbs moisture and is the right size to go through the instrument with some, but not too much, resistance then it will be fine.  There are also swab brushes.  I actually use a flute brush for my Eb, as it is just the right length and bore size, and fits nicely into the case. 

There is also a product by HW called the “Pad Saver”, (affectionately called “Shove It” by musicians) that is a soft brush meant to be left in the instrument to absorb excess moisture.  I haven’t used it myself so I can’t comment on it but thought I’d mention it here since we were on the subject.  There is lots of discussion about it online though – if you’re curious, google “pad saver”. (Please don't google "shove it"). 

Pads are affected by moisture as well, so make sure they are in good condition.  Older pads may lose their protective covering or degenerate over time and collect moisture and not seal properly.

Speaking of spit – I came across this article discussing a patent pending for a “moisture trap” for clarinet. In my experience, sticking anything down the barrel for any reason causes drastic changes to the sound which may explain why this hasn’t been manufactured on a wide basis.  Plus, anything designed to collect spit just sounds nasty.  We’ll  leave spit collecting to our friends in the brass section. 

Next in the series on Basic Clarinet Care – Keep it oiled!  A compelling discussion on the merits of bore oil, key oil, and cork grease. 

Have fun!