In the late 1600s the German chalumeau, the predecessor of the clarinet, was used by many musicians. This instrument was shorter and more recorder-like then the modern clarinet. Johann Christoph Denner is known as the inventor of the clarinet that we all know today because of his innovations to the chalumeau. The clarinet is a single reed woodwind instrument, meaning it uses a single reed and air to produce its sound. Clarinets are made of hard wood (though cheaper types can be made of plastics such as resonate) with cork between pieces and metal keys to open and cover the toneholes on the instrument. This instrument separates into 5 pieces (from top to bottom), the mouthpiece, the barrel, the upper joint (or first joint), the lower joint…show more content… So when a player blows into the mouthpiece of a clarinet, the reed vibrates and a sound is created. To change the soundwaves in the instrument all you have to do is cover (or uncover) the keys/toneholes. The shorter the wavelength has to travel, the higher the sound/note. So therefore the lowest note the clarinet can make E, is when all the keys/toneholes are held down. By uncovering the keys/toneholes in sequence the instrument will gradually make higher notes. Another example of this concept is the trombone slide. The farther out the slide is put the lower the note…show more content… Because of this the clarinet can produce much longer sound waves (lower notes). The sound wave of the lowest note that the clarinet can make is four times as long as the instrument itself. While on the other hand the sound wave of the lowest note the flute can make is only twice as long as the flute. The fact that the clarinet is a closed tube is one of the factors that makes it have a unique sound. Most instruments can produce all harmonics but the clarinet favors harmonics that start high and end low. This is because at the closed end (mouthpiece) the pressure of the soundwaves is highest, and at the open end, the pressure is