Beginning Clarinet Books

Start right with the best Beginning Clarinet Books. These will really help you with your early musical development.

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G Major Clarinet Scale Demo

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This is the first of the series of Major Scale demonstrations which will end up on the Clarinet Major Scales page eventually.   Go to that page for your Free Downloadable Clarinet Major Scales PDF. 

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Why buy another clarinet book if I already have the band method? Well, to deepen your knowledge of the clarinet, it is good to buy clarinet specific books. Your band methods have to keep in-sinc with the other band instruments which often make them a little less clarinet-specific.

Learn to Play the Clarinet

The following beginning clarinet books are good for self-study, but having your band director answer questions in them or finding a Private Clarinet Teacher is the best way to improve your playing. Learn to Play the Clarinet, Book 1, by Frederick Jacobs.

A great beginner method for any of you starting on your own or who need a supplementary method to your beginner band method. On page 22 and 23, it has especially good “Changing Registers” pages to introduce the register key and Crossing the Break.

The fingering chart covers low E to high D (space above the second ledger line above treble staff). Awkwardly, the graphic fingering chart is on page three and the musical key reference is on page 50 (but once you learn the notes, this should not present a problem).   

Breeze-easy Method 1 - Clarinet

Breeze-easy method 1 – Clarinet, by Valentine Anzalone

One of the other great beginning clarinet books that is a supplement to your Band method. It is also good for beginning students without the luxury of a school band. Twenty-four lessons with a few short songs in the back. Fingering chart is the same range as the Jacobs book from low E to high D.       

Rubank Elementary Method
for Clarinet

Rubank Elementary Method for Clarinet, by N.W. Hovey

This beginning clarinet book starts progressively from whole notes and learning first notes. It has 38 lesson pages and five duet pages. It offers the major keys of C, F, Bb, G, D, A. It takes the clarinet range and up to high E. It moves a little faster than the previously listed books but is tried and true; generations of clarinetists have studied from these “blue books.”  

The Complete Clarinet Method Book I

The Complete Clarinet Method Book I, by Paul Harvey

I’ve played Mr. Harvey’s clarinet quartets for many years and he knows how to write for the clarinet well. His “Complete Clarinet Method” series teaches you the basics with more familiar tunes as relative to the older Rubank and Breeze-easy methods.

How can you beat a beginner clarinet book with songs like I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, Love Me Tender, With A Little Help From My Friends, and Yellow Submarine.

My First Klosé
Last of the Beginning
Clarinet Books review

My First Klosé, compiled an edited by Daniel Schmidt. “An Introduction to the Klosé Celebrated Method for Clarinet” Published by Carl Fischer.

Understand this, if you are a clarinetist, you must own the H. Klosé Celebrated Method for Clarinet. However, this large book can really intimidate young clarinetists, so the publisher Carl Fischer had Daniel Schmidt compile and edit this version.

If you are a public school clarinetist learning without the aid of a private clarinet teacher, you should start My First Klosé after your first year of band. If you are taking with a private teacher, they can start you in it as soon as they feel comfortable.

GREAT POINTS about My First Klosé:

1. This book has a great fingering chart with new graphics that are easy to read to learn your clarinet fingerings.

2. Mr. Schimdt covers Throat-tone Resonance Fingerings on page 4 and offers Klosé exercises on Pg. 5. This subject is not covered in most beginner clarinet books.

3. This beginning clarinet book has 12 duets, five solos or solo excerpts, mechanism exercises, practical exercises, combination exercises, very clear and easily readable 12 major scales, and broken arpeggios.

4. Take the mechanism, practical and combination exercises to your band director and ask if you can pass off a few every week. Practice slowly, accurately and smoothly with a full sound.

My First Klosé is a great choice to add to your library of Beginning Clarinet Books. Once you've finished this books, it is time for you to graduate to the GRANDADDY OF ALL CLARINET BOOKS, THE H.KLOSE CELEBRATED METHOD FOR CLARINET.

Fly Fast on this video

If you like the video, get the book here and work on page 4, measures 5-8 lower octave.

Greatest Left Hand tip ever

Get BBLoops for as little as $3.99

Fly Fast with the Greatest Left Hand tip ever

One of the best left hand exercises for clarinet on BBLoops page 10 measures 1-8 on the above video.