A modern clarinet has almost 280 parts! You don’t need to know all of them, but some basic vocabulary can be very helpful.
The mouthpiece, ligature and reed are assembled as seen in this photo. Reeds are usually made of cane (although some are plastic) and purchased in boxes of ten or twenty. I can tell you from experience that finding the right reed can be a trying task – they are fragile and variable in quality.
The ligature is the metal (in this photo) that holds the reed onto the mouthpiece. Traditionally ligatures were made of string, and some players still prefer that method. (Or, if you’re me, discover that although you need to play alto clarinet in band, the school does not own an alto ligature.) Ligatures can also be made of leather or other fabric. Mine is made of plastic.
The mouthpiece itself is made out of hard rubber, although other materials have been tried: plastic, wood, brass, even crystal or glass! Although clarinets often come with a mouthpiece, experienced players prefer to buy one separately. Depending on quality, mouthpieces can range from $20 for generic plastic to $500 for a custom-made design. Mouthpieces have a big impact on tone and sound, and some players have several designs for different types of playing.
Because the tips of both reed and mouthpiece are so vulnerable to chipping, a metal or plastic mouthpiece cap should be added when the instrument is not being played.
Canadian Clarinet 