Guide to Solving Clarinet Problems

Problem                                               Possible Cause and Solution

No Tone                                              a) Reed too low or too high on mouthpiece.

                                                            b) Reed too stiff – flatten back on file, sand reed, or use softer reed.

c) Biting too hard and closing off reed – open mouth slightly and let lip muscle take over from the teeth; or reed is much too soft

                                                            d) Swab left in bore of the instrument.

Squeaks and Squawks                          a) Hitting RH side keys or LH throat Ab key – arch fingers.

b) Left thumb not covering thumb hole when rocking up on register key.  Avoid sliding thumb to register key.  Rock thumb slightly while depressing RK.

                                                            c) Pad leaking – replace pad.

d)  Bad and/or warped reed.  Check for split reed and/or unbalanced cane.  If unbalanced, sand down thicker side to match thinner side, or move reed to either side or up and down, or angle crookedly.  If      warped, sand on file.

                                                            e) Third finger of either hand uncovers hole when reaching for little finger keys.

                                                            f)  Embouchure too tight when going above Bb.

                                                            g) Tongue arched improperly for the intended tone.  Must learn to control tongue position at the back of the mouth.

                                                            h) Embouchure too loose causing reed to go out of control.

                                                            i) Improper placement of reed on the mouthpiece.

                                                            j) Too much mouthpiece in mouth.

                                                            k) Warped mouthpiece – Time for a new one.

                                                            l) Not enough lip over teeth.

                                                            m) Tired embouchure

                                                            n) Angle of clarinet out much too far – remember the mouthpiece is behind top teeth and in front of the bottom teeth.

Pinched, muffled, stuffy sound               a) Biting too hard.  Let the muscles take over from teeth

                                                            b) Too little mouthpiece in mouth.

                                                            c) Soft reed – pinches closed under normal embouchure pressure.

                                                            d) Clarinet held too close too body causing too much lip pressure on reed.

                                                            e) Too little lower lip pressure.

                                                            f) Too much lower lip rolled over the bottom teeth.

                                                            g) Tight throat.  Drop tongue to bottom of mouth creating larger oral cavity which will increase resonance.

                                                            h) Pad leaking – either worn or key bent.

                                                            i) Stiff reed.  Sand or replace with a softer one.

                                                            j) Warped reed.  Flatten back on file.

                                                            k) Warped mouthpiece.  Get a new one!

Flat, unstable sound, Harsh                   a) Reed too soft.  Move reed up on mouthpiece.

thin sound, reedy nasal sound                May need to be moved up as much as 1/8”.  Or clip tip with reed clipper.

b) Reed has no heart.  Best thing to do is throw it away.  But some “old-timers” used to create an artificial heart by placing a strip of masking tape in the center of the reed.

c) Lower lip rolled too far in mouth causing chin to bunch up.  Put teeth where red and white part of lip meet, and point chin.

                                                            d) Lower lip rolled out too far.

                                                            e) Too much mouthpiece in mouth

                                                            f) Embouchure too loose

Breathy Tone                                        a) Lack of support.  Blow firmly without pinching.  Blow with “cold” rather than warm air – this focuses sound better.

                                                            b) Loose embouchure.  Must be firm.

                                                            c) Stiff reed.  Try moving from side to side, or filing bottom or sanding top.

d) Reed misaligned on mouthpiece.  Tip of reed and mouthpiece should match, and reed should be centered.  However, reeds often play best when NOT centered.

                                                            e) Mouthpiece lay is too open for beginning student.  Change mouthpiece size.

Hissing Sound                                       a) Air leaking around mouthpiece.  Close lips firmly around mouthpiece.

b) Reed hiss.  Some reeds are prone to hiss slightly.  Usually, only the performer hears this.  The sound is conducted through the bone structure directly to the ear.

Buzzy Sound                                        a) Torn pad. REPLACE IT!!

Gurgle                                                  a) Excess water on reed.  Draw water off reed by biting down firmly on the mouthpiece with the lips and drawing the water back into the mouth.

                                                            b) Water in tone holes.  Blow through tone hole with absorbent paper and swab bore.

                                                            c) Loose pad.  REPLACE IT!!

Unstable vibrato tone                            a) Chin bunched up causing lower lip to quiver.  Point chin down and firm up lower lip.  Be sure lower teeth are placed correctly.

Tone chokes off in decrescendos          a) Lack of breath support.  Focus and firm up air.

                                                            b) Biting as tone gets softer.  Maintain normal embouchure pressure.

Tone cokes off in high notes                  a) Pinching, because the player assumes it will help to get the high note to speak.  Maintain normal embouchure pressure while adjusting back of   tongue to proper position.  “AAH” for lower pitches, “EEE” for higher pitches.

Tone consistently flat                             a) The vamp of the reed is too long.  The vamp (measured from the tip of the reed to the beginning of the bark) should be the same length as the opening in the lay of the mouthpiece.  Sometimes the reed can be re-cut and reshaped.

                                                            b) Reed too soft. Move reed up until pitch is improved.  Shorten reed with reed trimmer.

c) Barrel may be too long.  Sizes run from 64mm to 68mm.  66mm is normal.  Make sure any replacement barrels are of the same make as the clarinet.

                                                            d) Loose embouchure.  Firm up.

                                                            e) Clarinet held out too far.

Other intonation problems                     a) A flat tone on same fingerings in both registers: Check height of pad.  It should raise 1/3 the diameter of the hole.  If pad is too thick, replace it.             If pad cup too low, bend up to proper height.

b) A sharp tone on same fingerings in both registers.  Check height of pad (as above).  If OK, line the upper 1/2 of the inside of the tone hole with masking tape.  1 to 3 layers should correct the problem.  Be careful that the tape does not extend into the main bore.  (Caution: This correction will not work unless both registers are flat or sharp.)

                                                            c) Flat low “E” and 3^rd line “B”: Bell of clarinet buried between knees.

Attack begins with “thunk”                    a) Tongue hitting reed too hard.  To start tone, withdraw tongue briskly from reed while maintaining breath support.  Do not attack reed with tongue.

                                                            b) Too much tongue on the reed.  Use as little tongue as possible to contact reed.  Air column must always be continuous.

                                                            c) Insufficient breath support.  Good tonguing requires mostly good, continuous air support, and very little tongue.

Breathy attack                          a) Player using breath instead of tongue to start tone.  Instead of “whoo” “whoo” and pushing the air for each attack, use “too” “too” or “doo” “doo” maintaining steady breath support.