Hi I have recently joined a band at school and realised I play flat! I know I`m doing it but I can`t seem to bring it up. Has anyone got any suggestions because it is really annoying me and is embarassing in band practice. Please help!
Ellie

is your barrel pushed all the way in? if it is, try tightening your embouchure (sp) and"lipping" up the notes that are flat, as in, pulling your bottom lip in slightly and look up. i dunno, its always worked for me
shanna

Sharp=pull out
Flat=push in

I`m usually sharp but here`s what I do:
I get my keyboard then I play a Bb, then on clarinet play a C. Listen to those two notes, and then you can tell if your in tune. Just get in some practice for that and you`ll eventually be able to hear when you`re sharp (pull out), or flat (push in).

Hope that was helpful!

While tuning to Bb on the piano (C on the Bb clarinet) is a good start, you can be fine on that note and still be flat on others. Tighten up your embochure a bit and maybe get a tuner and work on how you move your mouth with different notes.

If you are flat on all notes it is possible that you need a shorter barrell. Many music stores carry plastic barrels that are shorter than average.

I would talk to your band director or private teacher to get help on this. Or you can talk to someone in instrument repair.

My clarinet plays flat in the winter! It`s horrible! I say to first WARM UP YOUR CLARINET, not by blowing warm air through it when it`s cold(that leads to cracking which I have had too much experience with), but put the clarinet under your armpit (yes, this may sound gross, but many professional symphony do this!) to warm it up. It should help make it a tad sharper. Then you may need to buy a shorter barrel, or get a Click Barrel, which you can buy at www.wwbw.com. I own a Click Barrel, the tone isn`t as good, but it suffices for the intonation. They have 3 different kinds now, so the other kinds might sound better! Also, check your embouchure and your reeds! You need a tight embouchure with equal pressure being exerted from all sides of your mouth (bottom lip, upper lip, and CORNERS!) Your reeds could also be too soft, which I think (not 100% sure) can make you play flat. It could be if it`s too hard it makes you play flat. I can`t remember. But check and do all of the above and I promise it will get better soon! Also, make sure the person that you tune with isn`t sharp. Our 1st chair girl is always sharp, so if your flat and she/he is sharp, then it just makes you seem flatter than you actually are! It stinks, so make sure that she/he`s in tune!

Hope I could help!

I was just wondering how long you`ve been playing. Because when I first started playing clarinet I played flat and it took me a while to get used to playing, and I eventually was able to play in tune. So, I guess just practice, practice, practice.

Hey everyone thanks for all your advice, am trying a shorter barrel which has made a difference. And have been playing for about four years but was only when I joined school band that I noticed I was flat because I`d always played solo for exams and stuff. Yeah I know when you start you`re usually flat. Thank you for all your advice guys.

My band director in recent weeks has told me I have the same issue. First make sure you`re pushed in all the way. Second make sure you`re tightening up in the mouth.

you should make sure that one that you are up straight, your chin is up and that your clarinet is at a 45 degree angle those are the most important thigs besides making sure you emboshure is tight and those are that basic ingrediants to plaing in tune trust me on this one.