Clarinet Help?

Question

I've been playing the clarinet for over 6 years. Several years ago i bought a new clarinet (its a yamaha). Ever since then, i seem to be getting sharper and sharper. I have to pull my barrel out way too much. I was wondering if there was anything i could to help with my situation.

Answer 1

This is the reason that they make different sized barrels. You may just need to buy a longer barrel for your clarinet.

Before you do that though, if you're playing on a #2 reed then try a #3. It could be that your reed is just too weak for the power you put through it.

I suspect that your clarinet came with a 65mm standard barrel - trying a 66 or 67 may solve your problem completely. Measure the one you have to be sure of the size.

Answer 2

When you are having problems with intonation the first thing you check is your embouchure. Is your tongue hitting the reed at the tip, are you holding the clarinet at the proper angle and do you have enough mouthpiece in your mouth? What may help you if you're not already doing it is to utilize the ClariCord. It has been on the market for a number of years and it actually pulls the instrument into the right position and takes the stress off of your thumb...believe it or not all these components help with intonation. If these things are not causing the issue take a look at your mouthpiece.....you can purchase a good hard rubber mouthpiece at a responsible price preferably by going into your local music distributor or even on line. These are some of the mouthpieces that you should try:

Vandoren 5RV-lyre
Gennussa
Pyne (has to be specially ordered)
Chedeville


Just to name a few...the Vandoren series tends to work very well and they are flexible and works with just about any reed type. Some of the secondary things that you could look at are different barrels, reeds and even fingering positions for different notes. I hope these tidbits are helpful in your pursuit of musical excellence.

Answer 3

1) Check your embouchure you may be tensing up a bit learn to relax your mouth! Don't grip your Clarinet with you mouth

2) Check your reed size Quite often a clarinetist gets used to playing the one reed! I don't know exactly why but we get sharper and sharper! Break in another reed or go up a 1/2 a reed size

3) Check your barrel- Adding even a millimetre will allow the clarinet to be longer and hence get sharper! Buy another barrel but check the size of yours first! to make sure that the barrel you buy is longer then your current one

4) Also just because you think that you are getting sharper doesn't mean you are! If you are comparing it to a piano then it may be the piano that is getting sharp! Check with a electronic tuner!

Answer 4

i play clarinet too, except ive been playing 2-3 years now. my opinion would be try going up a size reed. sometimes when the reed is to weak its sharper and sharper untill you start squeeking. also, make sure all the screws and pads on your clarinet arent worn out or loose. a couple weeks agoe i had a pad that came out and it made my clarinet sond sharper. so that could always be a possibility. i hoped this helps!

Answer 5

I've been playing clarinet for 2 years, I would bring it into a store and get it checked and/or bigger sized reeds

Answer 6

i suggest you check out your mouthpiece/reed situation.

find a good quality reed...during my 6th year of playing i used a rovner ligature...hite mouthpiece...and a 3 1/2 Vandouren Reed.

worked well...


most likely the reason your going too sharp is your embrocure is too strong for the size reed your playing on. :)

Answer 7

BUY.A.DIFFERNT.SIZE.MOPUTH.PIECE.AND.USE.HARD.REEDS