Which clarinet mouthpiece for beginners?

Vandoren 5RV (~$60) = standard #1. Medium opening, controlled tone. Or Selmer C* (~$50). Or D'Addario X0 (~$40). Key = don't play on the stock mouthpiece!

Vandoren = wider range, standard for 80%+ clarinetists. Selmer = warm, classic. Both excellent!

How does mouthpiece affect sound?

Mouthpiece = 50%+ of clarinet sound! Tip opening, facing, chamber, material = all matter. Upgrading stock to Vandoren 5RV = huge difference!

Vandoren mouthpiece = Vandoren reeds. 5RV + Traditional 3.0–3.5 = standard. BD5 + V12 3.0 = pro. Smaller opening = harder reed.

D'Addario ~$35–50. Selmer ~$40–60. Vandoren ~$50–85. Clark Fobes ~$100–200. Mouthpiece = most important investment!

SoundsGood — 15 Olzhycha St. (Dorohozhychi metro). Vandoren, Selmer, D'Addario. Delivery 1–2 days. Free over 4000 UAH.

Clarinet Mouthpieces — Buy at SoundsGood

Clarinet mouthpieces (Bb) — Vandoren, Selmer, D'Addario, Clark Fobes. 5RV, B45, M30, BD5, C*. Ebonite, crystal. Mouthpiece = 50%+ of your clarinet sound! Upgrading stock to Vandoren = most effective upgrade. For classical, jazz, orchestra. From ~$30. SoundsGood — mouthpieces from trusted brands.

🎵For Bb clarinet
Classical, jazz, ensemble

🏭Vandoren, Selmer
D'Addario, Clark Fobes

📦Free shipping
Over ₴4,000

💳Instalments
PrivatBank / monobank

❗ Why a Quality Mouthpiece

📐 Mouthpiece = 50%+ of sound!

Mouthpiece + reed = where clarinet sound is born. Even an expensive clarinet with a bad mouthpiece = bad sound. Mouthpiece = first thing to upgrade. Stock mouthpiece from budget clarinet = temporary.

📐 Most effective upgrade!

New clarinet = $500–5000. New mouthpiece = $50–100. Effect = ~50% of a new clarinet at 10% of the price! Better tone, easier response, more stable intonation.

📐 Don't play on stock!

Stock mouthpieces = mass production. Unpredictable quality. Poor intonation. After 3–6 months of study = time to upgrade!

🎵 Vandoren — Standard #1

📐 Vandoren 5RV ⭐⭐

BESTSELLER! Medium opening (1.02 mm). ~$50–70. Recommendation #1 from teachers worldwide. Controlled, even tone. Easy response. "Must-have" for every clarinetist!

📐 Vandoren 5RV Lyre ⭐

Same 5RV with longer facing! More flexibility. ~$50–70. Popular with orchestral players.

📐 Vandoren B45 ⭐

More open than 5RV! 1.19 mm. More projection and dynamics. ~$50–70. Popular with orchestral players.

📐 Vandoren B45•

Between B45 and BD5. Longer facing. ~$50–70. Favorite of many French clarinetists.

📐 Vandoren M30 ⭐

Medium opening, long facing. Warm, flexible tone. ~$50–70. German school standard. Works great with V12 reeds.

📐 Vandoren M13 / M15

Smaller opening. Maximum control. ~$50–70. For beginners seeking even easier than 5RV.

📐 Vandoren BD5 ⭐

For professionals! Wider opening (1.18 mm). Long facing. ~$70–100. Powerful projection. For large halls. Needs developed embouchure.

🎵 Selmer

📐 Selmer C* ⭐

Classic! Medium opening. Warm tone. ~$40–60. Standard for Selmer clarinet players. Good for beginners.

📐 Selmer C**

Slightly more open. More projection. ~$40–60.

📐 Selmer Focus

Modern series! Improved chamber. ~$50–70.

🎵 D'Addario (Rico/Reserve)

📐 D'Addario Reserve X0 ⭐

Medium opening. ~$35–50. Great value! Mouthpiece + reeds from same maker.

📐 D'Addario Reserve X5

Slightly more open. ~$35–50. For intermediate.

📐 D'Addario Reserve X10

More open. ~$40–55. Powerful tone.

🏆 Premium / Handmade

📐 Clark Fobes Debut / San Francisco ⭐

Handmade USA! Individually finished. Debut (~$100–130) = student. San Francisco (~$150–200) = pro. Perfect intonation, register evenness.

📐 Pomarico Crystal

Crystal (glass)! Italy. ~$70–120. Bright, clean tone. Fragile!

📐 Why premium?

Mass-produced = good but vary piece to piece. Premium = each hand-finished. Difference noticeable to advanced players.

🔧 Parameters

📐 Tip opening

Smaller (~1.00) = easier, less projection, harder reed. Larger (~1.19) = more powerful, softer reed. Beginner = medium (5RV, ~1.02).

📐 Facing length

Shorter = brighter, crisper articulation. Longer = more flexible, warmer. 5RV = medium. M30 = long. BD5 = long.

📐 Chamber

Smaller = brighter. Larger = warmer. Vandoren = medium. Selmer = slightly larger.

📐 Reed = partner!

Mouthpiece + reed = system. Smaller opening = harder reed (3.5–4). Larger = softer (2.5–3.0). 5RV + Traditional 3.0–3.5 = classic pair.

🏭 Brands

📐 Vandoren ⭐

STANDARD #1! 5RV ⭐⭐, B45 ⭐, M30 ⭐, BD5 ⭐. ~$50–100. 80%+ clarinetists = Vandoren.

📐 Selmer ⭐

Classic! C* ⭐, C**, Focus. ~$40–70. Warm tone.

📐 D'Addario ⭐

Reserve! X0 ⭐, X5, X10. ~$35–55. Great value.

📐 Clark Fobes

Handmade! ~$100–200. For serious players.

📊 Comparison

Model	Brand	Opening	Facing	Character	For	Price
Vandoren 5RV ⭐⭐	Vandoren	1.02	Medium	Controlled	Standard!	~$60
Vandoren 5RV Lyre ⭐	Vandoren	1.02	Long	Flexible	Orchestral	~$60
Vandoren B45 ⭐	Vandoren	1.19	Medium	Full, projection	Orchestra	~$60
Vandoren B45•	Vandoren	1.19	Long	Flexible+full	Advanced	~$60
Vandoren M30 ⭐	Vandoren	1.00	Long	Warm, expressive	German sch.	~$60
Vandoren M13	Vandoren	0.97	Medium	Control	Beginner	~$60
Vandoren BD5 ⭐	Vandoren	1.18	Long	Powerful	Professional	~$85
*Selmer C ⭐**	Selmer	Medium	Medium	Warm	Classical	~$50
D'Addario X0 ⭐	D'Addario	Medium	Medium	Controlled	Value	~$40
Clark Fobes ⭐	Fobes	Various	Various	Perfect!	Pro	~$140