Anyone buying a clarinet for the first time quickly runs into a choice that surprises many beginners: there are two key systems. The Boehm system (also called the French system) is used internationally, while the German system (Oehler system) dominates German-speaking countries. This is not a minor matter of taste – it decides which fingerings you learn, who you can play alongside and what sound comes out of the instrument.
The good news: for a beginner the question has a clear answer once you know three things – your region, your teacher and your musical goal. This guide walks through the differences and names concrete Bb clarinets for both systems.
The internationally used system
Ideal for: Jazz, pop, film music, plans abroad, and anyone whose teacher follows the French school.
See all Klarinetten →The standard in German-speaking regions
Ideal for: Classical music, wind orchestras, brass bands, and students whose teacher uses the Oehler system.
See all Klarinetten →01The Bb clarinet: the standard for beginners
Before the system, one thing to clear up: the standard beginner clarinet is the Bb clarinet. It exists in both systems, covers the common repertoire and is the instrument used in music schools and ensembles. Other keys, such as the A clarinet or the small Eb clarinet, come later.
So buying a clarinet does not mean choosing between many shapes – it means choosing first between two key systems on the same Bb foundation. That keeps the decision manageable.
02Boehm vs German: the difference in fingering and sound
The two systems differ in their key mechanism, and therefore in their fingerings. The clearest difference lies in the fork fingerings of the German clarinet, which beginners often find awkward at first. The Boehm system avoids some of these with extra levers and offers two independent fingering paths for certain notes.
There is also a tonal tendency: the Boehm system sounds brighter and more flexible, responding easily to fast runs and vibrato – qualities valued in jazz and pop. The German system sounds warmer, darker and less rich in overtones, which fits the classical orchestral and wind-band ideal. Important: this is a tendency, not a hard rule – the mouthpiece, reed and player shape the sound just as much.
03Which system suits whom?
The decision rests on three questions, in this order:
First, the teacher. If you take lessons, learn the system your teacher teaches – working against your own teacher slows progress more than the "right" system speeds it up.
Second, the musical setting. If you want to join a wind orchestra or brass band in a German-speaking region, the German system usually fits better. If you have jazz, pop or an international ensemble in mind – or a move abroad – the Boehm system is more flexible.
Third, the long-term goal. A career in a German-speaking professional symphony orchestra points to the German system. If you picture the world's stages, the internationally common Boehm system opens more doors.
| Feature | Boehm system (French) | German system (Oehler) |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution | international (USA, France, worldwide) | German-speaking regions (DE/AT/CH) |
| Typical music | jazz, pop, film, international classical | classical, wind orchestra, brass band |
| Fingerings | more levers, often two fingering paths | classic fork fingerings |
| Tonal tendency | bright, flexible, vibrato-friendly | warm, dark, fewer overtones |
| Sensible start if | international teacher/setting, jazz goal | German-speaking teacher/band, classical goal |
04Material: ABS plastic or grenadilla wood
Besides the system comes the question of material. Student clarinets are made of ABS plastic or grenadilla wood.
Plastic is robust and unaffected by temperature and humidity, making it ideal for the trip to school, outdoor rehearsals and the early years when the instrument takes a lot of handling. Grenadilla wood is the classic clarinet wood, valued for its round, carrying tone, but it needs more care and reacts more sensitively to climate changes. For many beginners a plastic or hybrid clarinet is the more relaxed start; the move to wood can follow later.
Good examples for starting out in the Boehm system are the Yamaha YCL-255 S Klarinette Böhm-System and the Buffet Crampon Prodige Bb-Klarinette 17/6 Böhm System. For an especially low-maintenance plastic student clarinet, see the Arnolds & Sons Boehm Klarinette Terra ABS mit Es-Heber.
05Models in the German system
In the German system the choice for beginners is more focused, but just as solid. Proven models to start with are the Uebel Klarinette Modell B621 Deutsches System and the Schreiber D-26 B-Klarinette deutsches System inkl. Koffer. Both are built for the German repertoire and the Oehler fingering, making them the right companion for brass band and classical lessons.
For a full overview of both systems, see our Klarinetten.
In short: settle the system first – by teacher, setting and goal – then the material. With that order, a question that first seems confusing becomes a clear decision.
Frequently asked questions
Which system should I choose as a beginner?
Can I switch from one system to the other later?
Which clarinet key is right for starting out?
Plastic or wood for a first clarinet?
Ready for your first clarinet?
Browse both systems and find the beginner model that fits you.
View all clarinetsDiscover the Yamaha YCL-255 SPassende Produkte
Yamaha YCL-255 S Clarinet Boehm System
Buffet Crampon Prodige Bb clarinet 17/6 Boehm system
Arnolds & Sons Boehm Clarinet Terra ABS with E-flat lever
Uebel Clarinet Model B621 German System
Schreiber D-26 Bb clarinet German system incl. case