I stopped loving the guitar, but I wanted to play music so I've rented a clarinet

ThePrettyDamned

And it's an absolute breath of fresh air.

I played clarinet as a child, got to grade 1 I think, then stopped at 11 or 12 years old. I never really gelled with it back then, and when I was 14 or 15 I got a guitar, and then 20+ years later I finally wanted a change.

The clarinet is a beautiful sounding instrument. It has a bit of a synth sine wave quality, but expression is possible for advanced players (bends, vibrato, growls, glissando etc). I'm a super beginner, playing mostly in F, Eb and A (plus squeaks!), but I'm really enjoying it. 

Tldr - if you start losing a bit of love for music, don't be afraid to switch it up. Renting the clarinet is £15 per month. Reeds are £25 for 10. After that, you're basically there. The shop (woodwind and reed in Cambridge by the way, who were fantastic) also rent out a bunch of other wind instruments, so if you really fancy the sax or the flute you're good to go. 

AntonHunter

I too started on clarinet and didn't look back once I got a guitar and regret that a bit as now I love the sound of clarinet too. are there amateur orchestras or wind bands you can join? There's something great about sitting in a section, contributing your small part to the whole sound, that's pretty different from most contexts playing guitar. Worth a look in my opinion. 

Good luck with the new path!

relic245

Good for you, going for something that appeals rather than grind away at something that doesn't.

In the 90's in fell out of love with the guitar, sold ask my gear and rented a sax.

I thought the transition would be easy. Just learn the fingerings for the notes, relearn some of the blues licks in knew on guitar and build from v there. 

Boy was I wrong.  Physically the sax is a technical instrument, and in assume the clarinet is the same. The embouchure (way you hold your mouth) takes some serious muscle control, as does diaphragm control. And then ask those blues licks just didn't work on sax so I was starting from scratch far more than I expected.

I had 2 years of loving it and then refound my love of guitar.  I'd had sold really nice gear when I stopped playing and it would have cost too much to get back to the same level. That was my only regret.

So if you haven't, and you don't need to, then my advice would be to keep at least one guitar and amp, if you play electric. You never know when it may come back to you. 

Meanwhile have fun with your new love.

stickyfiddle

Nice one. I got up to grade 5 or so through school then switched to Sax. It’s not my favourite but I’m always 100% in on people learning multiple instruments 

VimFuego

love the clarinet, great instrument especially for trad jazz and so on.

ThePrettyDamned

relic245 said:

Good for you, going for something that appeals rather than grind away at something that doesn't.

In the 90's in fell out of love with the guitar, sold ask my gear and rented a sax.

I thought the transition would be easy. Just learn the fingerings for the notes, relearn some of the blues licks in knew on guitar and build from v there. 

Boy was I wrong.  Physically the sax is a technical instrument, and in assume the clarinet is the same. The embouchure (way you hold your mouth) takes some serious muscle control, as does diaphragm control. And then ask those blues licks just didn't work on sax so I was starting from scratch far more than I expected.

I had 2 years of loving it and then refound my love of guitar.  I'd had sold really nice gear when I stopped playing and it would have cost too much to get back to the same level. That was my only regret.

So if you haven't, and you don't need to, then my advice would be to keep at least one guitar and amp, if you play electric. You never know when it may come back to you. 

Meanwhile have fun with your new love.

I have had a go on sax, I found it easier technically than the clarinet but only in a trival way (octaves have same fingering but with register key) they're both very different instruments to guitar, with very different physical requirements.

Beautiful sound though, for classical and jazz. I'm more interested in classical at the moment, but I have heard some wonderful jazz playing by Pete fountain, and more modern stuff from Gregory A. 

On the sax side, I've thoroughly been enjoying Sam Gendel, and discovered Clown Core through him and Louis Cole - who is also phenomenal. 

ThePrettyDamned

I should say, my guitars and amp ain't going anywhere, but they've not been played much. I think I just needed a new obsession for a bit, have a break. 

joeW

Nice one - keeps things fresh.   I rather like playing some classical to switch things up a bit but don’t want to lose momentum on guitar so haven’t ventured further. 

fretmeister

Nice - my eldest is having a break from clarinet while she's doing her degree but she's a hell of a jazz player. She got to Grade 5 doing the usual classical stuff but jazz is what she wanted.

I'm hoping she comes back to it when her studies finish as I really liked playing bass for her.

Vintage65

I often go to my piano when I want a different perspective. Harmonicas are also fun, and I would really like to give the violin a go. 

merlin

I was taught recorder and piano as a kid and when my parents asked the seven-year-old me if I wanted to play a real instrument, I said "clarinet". It was what I wanted.
However, due to the greater wisdom than that of a child (who may be spending the rest of their life playing an instrument they love..), my parents and my brother's violin teacher suggest flute. I wanted clarinet and they told me I was playing flute. 

I was a bit gutted but gone on with it. 

Fast forward, past school, past all the grades, past college....flute still is not the instrument I want to play. I moved to sax aged 18 and then finally made the move that ought to have happened long time before... I switched to clarinet aged 26.

Best thing I ever did. I've been playing for a living for a while now....

Decorativeed

I used to have a clarinet, and I loved playing it but felt too self conscious as I was living in an apartment building at the time.

Maybe it's time to invest in another. Any recommendations for a half decent one that's a step up from the plastic beginners clarinet I used to own? 

Jfingers

One of my biggest regrets in life is turning down the musical opportunities at school. I would love to be proficient at piano, cello and the kind of violin sound from Dylan's Desire album.

It was the punk era and I was silly.

Good luck on your clarinet journey @ThePrettyDamned ;

relic245

Jfingers said:

The kind of violin sound from Dylan's Desire album.

That really is some of the best violin playing I've ever heard - maybe not the most technical, but musically perfect. Romance in Durango and Black Diamond Bay especially.

roberty

stickyfiddle said:

Nice one. I got up to grade 5 or so

Lol same. I quit it when I discovered Nirvana thinking I'd never be into any clarinet music. Then in my late teens I discovered Billie Holliday and kicked myself

I've got my Grandad's clarinet here but I've not played it. He died a year or so back, age 98

roberty

ThePrettyDamned said:

I should say, my guitars and amp ain't going anywhere, but they've not been played much. I think I just needed a new obsession for a bit, have a break. 

It's good to play different instruments. You'll approach the guitar differently when you come back, no doubt

ThePrettyDamned

Decorativeed said:

I used to have a clarinet, and I loved playing it but felt too self conscious as I was living in an apartment building at the time.

Maybe it's time to invest in another. Any recommendations for a half decent one that's a step up from the plastic beginners clarinet I used to own? 

Go to a somewhat close shop and rent one if you're on a tight budget like me. The instrument is fine enough, does the job for learning. 

I did try a yamaha ycl-255 and it was easier to make a good sound than the rental. I then heard my teacher play a yamaha ycl-650 (his recommended intermediate instrument) and it sounded really nice, then he played his buffet r13 which was also wonderful sounding, but a bit different. That's his professional instrument. 

Decorativeed

ThePrettyDamned said:

Decorativeed said:

I used to have a clarinet, and I loved playing it but felt too self conscious as I was living in an apartment building at the time.

Maybe it's time to invest in another. Any recommendations for a half decent one that's a step up from the plastic beginners clarinet I used to own? 

Go to a somewhat close shop and rent one if you're on a tight budget like me. The instrument is fine enough, does the job for learning. 

I did try a yamaha ycl-255 and it was easier to make a good sound than the rental. I then heard my teacher play a yamaha ycl-650 (his recommended intermediate instrument) and it sounded really nice, then he played his buffet r13 which was also wonderful sounding, but a bit different. That's his professional instrument. 

Sorry - only just seen your reply. Thanks for the advice