French makers began making clarinets out of ebony, a heavy, dark wood from Africa, in the mid 19th century. But gradually the favorite material became African blackwood, that is corresponding to ebony but less heavy and brittle. Most modern clarinet bodies are made from African blackwood Dalbergia melanoxylon. There are in reality various trees in the African blackwood genus, reminiscent of black cocus, Mozambique ebony, grenadilla, and East African ebony. It is this heavy, dark wood that provides clarinets their attribute color. Inexpensive clarinets designed for college students may be made from synthetic resins. Very now and again, clarinets are synthetic out of silver or brass. The clarinet mouthpiece is made from a sort of hard rubber called ebonite. The keys are frequently created from an alloy called German silver. This is crafted from copper, zinc, and nickel. It feels like pure silver, but does not tarnish.