 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sylvain
Date: 2001-03-15 15:20
Does anybody on this board know the difference between German and Boehm clarinets?
My only knowledge is that german clarinets miss a few keys, but I don't know anything else about it.
Anybody out there?
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Author: Benny
Date: 2001-03-15 19:36
The German key system is called the Albert system, and even though I've never seen an Albert clarinet in person, my teacher told me they have rollers (like on sax) and less keys. My B-12 was made in Germany and my R-13 was made in France and they are both the Boehm system.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-03-15 19:48
The current modern German system is the Oehler system *NOT* the Albert system. The Albert system is obsolete although it is the direct linear ancestor of the Oehler system. Total keys on an Oehler system exceed that on a Boehm. However where the Boehm system has a cluster of 3 keys on the left side of the lower joint and a cluster of 4 keys on the right of the lower joint, the Oehler has fewer keys in these areas and compensates with rollers.
The term "German system" has been applied to at least 3 different key systems. These are the Mueller, Albert and Oehler key systems. However, the Mueller evolved into the Albert, which in turn evolved into the Oehler. So depending on what period in time that you are referring to, it could be any of these. If you are talking about a modern "German system," then it would be an Oehler not Albert.
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Author: Corey
Date: 2001-03-15 21:53
the german system clarinets have a much darker sound than boehm system clarinets
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-03-15 21:54
Hi, Dee -
Wasn't something mentioned a few weeks ago about German horns, more complex than 'normal' Oehlers; German horns that had 'custom' stuff? (Maybe it wasn't here). I guess you can do that to any instrument though. I've seen some pretty amazing things done by 'home hobbyists' too.
I have what I ( used to : ) consider a pretty standart Oehler. The latest German fingering charts I've seen show at least two more keys than mine. There's an extra L-pinky and an additional L-sliver key and that seems to be the 'standard' today; they barely resemble an Albert any more - a more distant cousin every generation :] I kinda wonder where the clarinet technology in Germany is headed nowadays....
- ron b -
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-03-15 23:07
I've been told that the German clarinets have a much lighter sound than the Boehm clarinets.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-03-16 05:34
I have described the differences in the keys a few weeks ago in detail (and claimed that the Boehm system is easier for beginners).
Also, German clarinets have other bore dimensions. More important, German clarinetists use a smaller reed, and a narrower mouthpiece. The tip opening might be individually chosen, but for the heavier reeds you will need less.
I can't say much about the sound differences, for it might be quite inidivdual. And from records, I can only hear the individual differences. One would think that the more robust embouchure results in a more stable and concentrated, but less flexible sound production. But what do I know?
If you want more details, I will be happy to measure my both clarinets for you. But they are both not on the pro level.
Rene
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Author: Brent
Date: 2001-03-16 05:47
May I recommend that anyone who is interested in Oehler vs boehm keying, go to boosey.com and look at there flash fingering charts.
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-03-16 06:48
The fingering charts here are Sneezy give full fingering details for both Boehm and Oehler charts, as well as a photo of each. They can be found at:
<a href="http://www.wfg.sneezy.org/">www.wfg.sneezy.org</a>
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Author: Hans de Nijs
Date: 2001-03-16 07:08
In my opinion the main difference in French/German system is bore dimension and mouthpiece design in combination with smaller reeds. The keywork is of course completely different, both systems have advantages and disadvantages.
I'm playing different systems: Wurlitzer German Boehm, Oehler and Schmidt-Kolbe system (the last system isn't built anymore). The manufacturing of German clarinets (pro level) is still for the main part handwork with a high quality level but (of course) very expensive.
There are a lot of small makers in Germany (i think completely unknown to clarinettists on the other side of the ocean). Most of them spent no money in marketing, but some of them are represented on the Web. (Schwenk&Seggelke/Bamberg, Mueller/Bremen and so on. It is interesting that some German makers are still doing a lot of research, mainly in german keywork, but in the past also in Boehm system, resulting in the german-Boehm system, played by profs in the Netherlands/ England/Korea/Japan. See for an example of recent research in german keywork: www.clarissono.via.t.online.de.
There is so much to say about this item.......
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Author: javier garcia
Date: 2001-03-16 12:44
very good photos of german system clarinets are available on maker's websites:
schwenk-seggelke: http://www.schwenk-und-seggelke.de/englisch/index.html
F. Arthur Uebel: http://www.f-arthur-uebel.de/
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Author: Ondrej_Valter
Date: 2026-02-12 12:39
Hi, bit late to the party, but was still curious. I recently bought a clarinet with the german fingering system and as a life-long boehm user i’m curious. When I put the two clarinets next to each other, the german one is a few centimeters shorter. Did I just buy an A-clarinet, or are the german ones just shorter? Thanks!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-02-12 17:42
Due to the bore configuration and diameter, the German (Oehler, Albert) clarinets are shorter than the Boehm clarinets.
……….Paul Aviles
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Author: mddds
Date: 2026-02-12 22:50
my Wurlitzer B is about 1cm longer than the R13 (no barrel).
did you try comparing without the barrels?
-CK
Post Edited (2026-02-12 23:30)
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Author: marcia
Date: 2026-02-15 01:17
>the german system clarinets have a much darker sound than boehm system >clarinets
>I've been told that the German clarinets have a much lighter sound than the >Boehm clarinets.
And I have read that the "presence/absence" of lacquer on brass instruments produces a "darker/brighter" sound. Pick whichever combination you like. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
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Author: Bog_Roll
Date: 2026-02-19 14:58
Ondrej_Valter wrote:
> bit late to the party...
Understatement of the intervening quarter-century...!
Perhaps the easiest way to describe the difference is this: on the Boehm system, if you play low F, and lift your fingers one by one in order, up to thumb F, you will play an F major scale.
On a German system clarinet, if you play low G, and lift the _same_ fingers in the _same_ order, up to open G, you'll play a G major scale.
Thus, LH thumb plays F#, not F; while RH1 plays B natural & F#, not Bb & F.
Now, the little finger keys might look primitive, like the saxophone ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) , but are much more advanced, thanks to the mighty Patent C#. While this also works in on low F#, let's talk clarion notes, for ease of comparison.
When you play clarion D, and add the LH B key by itself, the horn plays C#. Just think about that for a second. The silly old sax needs four finger slides to play B-C#-D#-C#-B, but the German system can play that sequence _without_ sliding, despite lacking the duplicate keys of the Boehm clarinet.
And a modern German system will also have a LH Ab/Eb key, like a full Boehm; and a LH Bb/F key, like an oboe.
Note though, the Germans seem to count all moving parts as "keys", so you'll see things like "mit 23 klappe", when there might only be 15 to 18 touchpieces pressed by the fingertips.
mdds wrote:
> my Wurlitzer B is about 1cm longer than the R13 (no barrel)
In my experience too, German barrels are shorter, because the clarinet itself is longer. My Uebel Bb barrel is only 55mm, but plays at 440.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2026-03-11 00:44
Are Viennese clarinetists (in general) playing on Oehler clarinets, German-Boehm or Boehm clarinets. What about the clarinetists in the Concertgebouw? What are the differences, if any, between German Oehlers and Viennese and/or Belgian ones?
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-03-11 02:57
Viennese clarinets have ring keys on all the six finger holes (no 'Griffplatte' for RH2) and no LH2 F/C cross key on the top joint, so they're more like a 21-23 key German system as opposed to a 24-27 key Oehler system as favoured among German orchestras and orchestral clarinettists.
I don't think the bores are any different between German and Austrian clarinets in terms of diameter and the flare in the lower joint bore starting below the lowest tonehole instead of above it as on Boehm systems.
Austrian mouthpieces have a much closer facing (around 0.8mm tip opening or maybe less) that German mouthpieces and they traditionally use a metal ligature instead of the string or fabric ligatures German players use.
Concertgebouw clarinettists either use reform Boehms (eg. H.Wurlitzer and others) or regular Boehm systems (Buffet, etc) depending on the player.
I'd assume Belgian clarinettists use your typical Boehm systems (Buffet, etc.).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2026-03-11 20:18
Leaving aside issues of fingerings, tone, and response, one thing more than anything else stood out for me when first playing a German clarinet: the stretch. Your fingers have to be spread much further apart than on a Boehm instrument, especially on the lower joint. It's reminiscent of playing a tenor recorder, which I find gets really uncomfortable after some time. In contrast, the rings on a Boehm instrument are spaced pretty well where the fingers naturally want to land. You can get used to it, of course, but I do think it's a factor that could make it more difficult to play with great facility on the German system. Or, at least, it's a factor that makes the instrument more suitable for people with big hands (and, I guess, means that Eb players should prefer German instruments: on the Boehm Eb, the problem is often finding enough space to fit the fingers in).
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