D'AddarioRico Clarinet Strap - Neck Strap for Clarinets with Quick Adjuster

I had LRTI thumb reconstruction surgery 7 months ago due to bad arthritis in my left hand. Even after extensive rehab, my attachments are limited, so I have not been able stretch far enough to play the right-hand keys if my thumb is under the thumb rest. (if I reach the keys my index finger slips off the top hole.) A friend who is a clarinet teacher suggested the strap, and it works like a charm. I play with my thumb resting on top of the thumb rest, and can anchor the side of my thumb under the coated hook above the leather tab (not the intention of the design, but it works) and the pad of my thumb rests against the soft leather to keep from slipping. The strap holds the weight of the clarinet and allows me the flexibility to reach everything. My only complaint is that I had to get used to the pressure on the sides of my neck - never noticed how much that part expands when I play.Having my thumb higher results in a straighter wrist position and relief from weight on the thumb, allowing me to play pain-free. I wish I 'd had one of these as a kid - it might have prevented the arthritis and tendonitis!I just played my first major jazz gig since the surgery - two and a half hours for a Mardi Gras celebration! My fellow musicians were ready to cover my parts if I was too exhausted, but I made it through with only a little stiffness the next day.

I had been looking at getting a neck strap for my clarinet for years and I finally bought this and i am so happy with it. Its adjustable in every way you can imagine basically. It works with my adjustable thumbrest as well, which is what was holding me back from buying a neckstrap in the first place but this one works great!

Good buy. Just what I needed.

I bought this for my 7th grader to use for her clarinet and she loves it. She says it takes the pressure off of her finger that's used to support the clarinet and the neck strap itself is soft on her neck. She dropped her last clarinet so this will prevention damage to the new one. Great value for the money.

I have some joint problems in my thumb, so whenever I play my clarinet for more than half an hour it begins to hurt rather bad. Playing an entire concert is excruciating. I haven't tried any other straps, so perhaps there's something better out there, but this has been working well for me. I attack it and put a Ridenour thumb saddle over it so it can't slip off. It provides just enough support to take the weight off my thumb and I can play for hours without pain. Not everyone needs it, but it's made a world of difference for me, and I don't set up my instrument without it.

This was purchased as a gift. The recipient (who has played for decades) was very happy with her new neck strap, but discovered she cannot use both it and the pad for the thumb rest that she also requested and received. The hook for the neck strap and the (separately purchased) pad that goes over the metal thumb rest just can't be used at the same time. She needed the strap more, so the lovely pad I got at a local music store will just be sitting in the case. This is a fine quality, useful, and recommended item; I just wanted to be sure potential buyers are aware that they, like she, might encounter the same "either the neck strap or the thumb pad but not both" situation.

This strap has helped alleviate hand/wrist pain when playing B flat clarinet. Very comfortable and easy to use.

The strap works very well and smoothly for the clarinet. My students and I replace the thumb tab which is hard to get over Buffet thumb rests with a combination o ring/spacer device that Michelle Gingras recommends on the internet.