The downside with a lip balm is that the moisture effect is for a short period. This means the clarinet can dry faster. As a result, you have to use the lip balm regularly on your clarinet. This may leave a strong residue, thereby affecting the cork in the long run.

It is incredibly important to remove the moisture from inside of your clarinet every time you’ve finished playing. The most effective way to do this is to use a swab or pull-through. Cork grease is what you use on woodwind instruments to moisten the cork on the instrument body. When it comes to the piccolo, you’ll find a cork on the part of the body that connects to the headjoint. If you just got a piccolo, you may wonder what the tube of grease is in the case. What is cork grease and how can it help you with your piccolo? As the pads are a particularly delicate part of the instrument that deteriorate due to wear and moisture, it is necessary to replace them every few years. However, if they are well maintained they will remain in the best condition for every performance, and their life span can be extended. It is best to maintain them as thoroughly as possible.

Can I use lip balm or Chapstick as an alternative to cork grease?

For organic oils, they could go bad over time as well, leaving an unpleasant odor. You don’t want rancid oil on your instrument. Other possible alternatives to cork grease Some of the unscented and unflavored lip balms may work pretty well as an alternative to cork grease though. These balms may be made from some of the same ingredients as cork grease including bee’s wax, natural plant oils, and other natural extracts. Depending on where you store the piccolo, it may not have the best climate control (though it should have some). But also, not touching the piccolo for a while means the cork could dry out on its own. For a used clarinet, you need to apply cork grease regularly as and when you feel the moisture is down.

When it comes to looking after your reeds, it mainly comes down to ensuring that they are dry before you put them away, and changing them regularly enough – both of which aren’t quite as easy as they may first seem.

Remember to dry the tenons with your pull-through too (the tenons are where each part of the clarinet fits together, and where moisture often builds up).