Wow how odd does that look!

My clarinet has a rubber cover over the metal thumb rest and so far my thumb is ok, but I only started playing today for about half hour. Would a neck strap ease things?

Hi Larry! Low-priced instruments can play wonderfully, or terribly, and the difference may be as little as a single leak through which you can barely slip a piece of (thin) dental floss. The least you must do is have a good player try it out, as a reality check. If you take lessons, of course your teacher can do that. He/she can test it with a known good mouthpiece, and then with yours.

Because ... the mouthpiece is half the instrument. It is often said you'd be much better with a cheap horn and a good mouthpiece, than a fine orchestral instrument with a bad MP. MPs that come with cheap horns are almost always bad. Some happen to come out good, but only by chance. The two most famously good beginner-budget MPs are probably Hite Premier and Fobes Debut. You can find them on Amazon and elsewhere.

You can avoid reed struggles if you use synthetic. That opens a huge 'nuther topic, but here's my experience: I am thrilled with Fibracell reeds. I buy 3 at at time, only about every 6 months, and most of them are still good after that time. They don't need soaking, don't dry out during breaks, don't warp, very consistent.

I have a jaw weakness (old TMJ injury) so I have to keep pressure low, much the way a beginner does. So I need soft reeds, as you probably do. Generally, that's grade #1.5, which works for me. If that works for you, the Fibracell equivalent is #1 (because they make lots of grades). Suppliers don't generally carry the #1, so I get them directly from the maker at http://www.fibracelldirect.com

Others may not agree. That's the nature of this illusive beast. Everyone's experience is different. However, I've seen lots of rave reviews of the MPs and the reeds that I'm recommending. If you can visit a really good music store, of course that's recommended.

Thanks Windy. I heard about this as I've been reading up about clarinets way before I got one. The mpc is the heart of the instrument , like the strings on a guitar (I play guitar too, badly), and I'm looking to get a better one on a tight budget. One I'm looking at is a Rico A3. Also a good ligature is on my list.
By the way, will I have to enter that Captcha code every time I post?

Thanks Windsong. It's quite possibly my favourite wind instrument. Mind you the only other wind instrument I've played are recorder and tin whistle.

Nicely done!

Hi everyone, my name is Larry and I got my first clarinet the other day, a Bb Windsor. I've not heard of Windsor and it's a budget level instrument. When it came I was full of cold with sinus pain and so I was unable to play it. However things are better today and after a bit of jiggery pokery with the dodgy ligature I got it to sound, and even got to play a scale!
I've wanted a clarinet for ages , having played recorder for over a year. I just love the sound of the instrument. It does need a better mouthpiece though I think, but it's a good starter!