Need help selecting length and bore for your barrel? Read our guidance below or contact us for further assistance.
Length
- The barrel length determines the general intonation of your instrument
- The standard clarinet barrel lengths are 65mm and 66mm (the longer length is typically used throughout summer months when the clarinet tends to be sharper)
- We recommend you select the same length of your current barrel if you are satisfied with the overall tuning of your instrument
- We recommend you select a different length if you want to correct your current tuning: a longer barrel if you are sharp, or a shorter barrel if you are flat
Bore
- The barrel bore size largely affects the tuning of your instrument’s upper joint (your left-hand notes)
- Clarinet barrel bore sizes vary by brand and model
- Learn more about the effect of the barrel bore size on your tuning here
- We recommend you refer to the following table to help you identify the most suitable bore size
| 14.5mm | Some Selmer models (including Recital) |
| 14.65mm | Most Selmer and Backun models |
| 14.85mm | Most Yamaha and some Buffet models (Légende and Tosca) |
| 15mm | Most Buffet models (including R13, RC, Divine, Festival) |
