The clarinet is a woodwind instrument with a single reed, similar to a saxophone, and a cylindrical body like organ pipes. It has at least 11 tone holes and a speaker tone hole. The clarinet family is the largest woodwind family, ranging from the BB♭ contrabass to the E♭ soprano. The most common type is the B♭ soprano clarinet, which is the instrument usually indicated by the word "clarinet". The clarinet has its roots in early single-reed instruments used in Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt, and the modern clarinet developed from a Baroque instrument called the chalumeau.

The clarinet is a versatile instrument with a warm tone and expressive capabilities suited to a variety of musical styles, including classical and jazz. It is one of the most flexible instruments, displaying many characteristics found in the human voice. The clarinet has a wide range of notes, with the lowest note of the B♭ clarinet being significantly deeper than the lowest note of the oboe. The intricate key organization of the clarinet makes this range possible, but it can make the playability of some passages awkward.

The clarinet is an essential orchestral instrument, taking on both solo roles and the middle register of the woodwind part. It is also used as a solo instrument in genres such as swing jazz. The clarinet family includes the E♭ clarinet, B♭ clarinet, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, and contra-alto/contrabass clarinet, which are commonly used in concert bands.

In summary, the clarinet is a woodwind instrument with a single reed and a cylindrical body. It has a wide range of notes and is a versatile instrument suited to a variety of musical styles. The clarinet family is the largest woodwind family, and the most common type is the B♭ soprano clarinet.