Modern Clarinets
Definitions of what is a "modern" instrument and what is being played can be very, very subjective and subject to bias for a given type of cultural heritage or music.
To hopefully avoid any such problems and in an attempt to relfect what is actually being used, the term "modern" means simply "I can buy one right now." If there is someone making them, there is logically a demand for them. Therefore, this is the modern clarinet family:
| Instrument | Large-scale Manufacturers | Small-scale Manufacturers |
|---|---|---|
| Ab piccolo | L.A. Ripamonti | |
| Eb sopranino | Buffet, Selmer, LeBlanc/Vito, Yamaha, Barrington, Patricola, Allora, Amati, Vento | Stephen Fox |
| D sopranino | Buffet | Stephen Fox |
| C soprano | Buffet, Patricola, Amati, Vento | Stephen Fox |
| Bb soprano | Buffet, Selmer/Bundy, LeBlanc/Noblet/Vito/Backun, Yamaha, Kohlert, Barrington, Patricola, Allora, Amati, Andino, Artley, Etude, Jupiter, Vento, F.E. Olds | Stephen Fox |
| A soprano | Buffet, Selmer, LeBlanc/Backun, Yamaha, Barrington, Patricola, Allora, Amati, Vento | Stephen Fox, Kessler |
| A Basset Horn (to low C) | Buffet, L.A. Ripamonti, Vento | |
| G soprano | Amati | Stephen Fox |
| G Bassett Horn (option to low C) | Stephen Fox | |
| F Bassett Horn (option to low C) | Buffet, Selmer, L.A. Ripamonti | Stephen Fox |
| Eb Alto | Buffet, Selmer, LeBlanc/Vito, Yamaha, Amati | |
| Bb Bass Clarinet (low Eb, low C) | Buffet, Selmer/Bundy, LeBlanc/Vito, Yamaha, Barrington, Jupiter, Allora. | Stephen Fox, Kessler |
| A Bass Clarinet (low Eb, low C) | Stephen Fox | |
| Eb Contraalto (low C) | Buffet, Selmer/Bundy, LeBlanc/Vito | |
| Bb Contrabass (loc C) | Selmer, LeBlanc/Vito | Eppelsheim |
Rare Clarinets
Excluding the vibrant period of incubation before the 5-key clarinet of Mozart (with many accompanying single-instrument variations), these horns are no-longer produced today, but were in usage in some form.
| Eb octocontraalto to low C |
| Bb octocontrabass to low C |