Anyone that plays a clarinet?i need advice??

I played for several years when I was younger.

Best suggestion I can give is to go to a pawn shop and check out the ones they have. Get one that doesn't look too abused (no dents or chunks taken out of it, all the keys...etc) and then take it in to a music store. The good music shops have the means to give it a tune up (replacing the corks, pads etc).

If you can find a decent clarinet for under $100 and get it tuned for about the same, it's a lot cheaper than then $400-$500 a shop wants for a used one.

As for books....It's been so long I don't remember. Best thing there is to ask at the same place you get the tune up what books the schools use. They are a good system and you can easily learn with them on your own.

Oh and a regular clarinet is just fine.

try the longer clarinet