I have some problems with my clarinet, this is my fifth year playing it and for the past four years I have no problems playing the clarinet, till recently I keep squeaking, especially when tonguing the higher register (sometimes the lower notes too). When holding notes, usually the note sounds okay at first, but after a while, you can hear two sounds, one is the actual note and the other sound is the 'squeak note' (if you get what I mean), slowly after that it turns into a squeak.

I don't think it's the reed problem, or the clarinet because my senior just passed down the clarinet to me and she had no problems playing it. So I was thinking, does the problem lie with my embrochure?

I attended this Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra workshop two months ago and the clarinetist from TKWO told us how the embrochure should be like, like the clarinet being like 30 degrees from the vertical. He said when we played the higher register we should bring up the clarinet a bit so that it is about 45 degrees to the horizontal. (He said many other things too but I didn't really understand since we had a language barrier, he wasn't good in English, and we couldn't understand Japanese, but these should be the ones that are more important)

I followed what he told us, but it still didn't work much. Does anyone know why my clarinet keeps squeaking? Other than the instrument itself, the reed, and the embrochure, are there other factors that contribute to squeaking? e.g, the ligature.

Well really It sounds like it is a problem with the way you are playing it. How much pressure are you puting on the reed? When you play higher notes you want to put some more pressure on the reed. When you play lower you want to let off the pressure. If you do this and you still squeak, you should really consider an easyer reed.

Doug,

( sorry about my spelling.)

get private lessons from someone smart.

I agree with doug663 about the pressure on the reed. Exert more pressure (eg tighten ur embouchure) when in the higher register. A friend of mine uses his abdomen to "tongue" the notes when in the higher register, and it sounds just like the original tonguing. Doesn't cause squeaking. Maybe you can try that out.

I'm a big fan of TKWO.

i would also recommend o different strength reed, i have found in the past that the higher notes squeek with a reed which is too soft, and can lead to multi-tones...very frustrating. i have also been told by my teacher that the higher registers need stronger reeds to have a good tone than the low notes

I have that problem too! Except not with low notes, just high ones. But I only got the problem about a month ago and I haven't changed anything (I've been playing for 4 years). Should I try a harder reed? (I use 3's now)

try a harder reed. 3.5? what size r u using?

you see 3 things might be wrong
1. your putting in tooo much moutpeice
2.Your blowing too hard
3.your reed is dead
I prefer reed 2.5 it works good

i agree tight up your lip and than make sure that all your tone holds are covered correctly

This is only my 2nd year at the clarinet & I'm going through basically the same thing. My old band director (I have a new one now) asked me if I was getting new teeth or molers in. My 12 year molers were about halfway in then & he told me that my embrochure was probably changing. So if your getting new teeth or molers that's probably it. hope this helps. })i({

It sounds more like you're having trouble finding the exact voicing for the notes. Sometimes I practice my high notes without the register key, because then it has to be done entirely with throat and tongue position. Just start with high C, let go of the register key, and see if you can hold it. Once you can hold that, work your way down. I still lose it around long D.

For tonguing, I practice register slurs to remind myself of the voicing, then slowly add articulation to those notes. Articulation is done with the tongue, period. With proper air support, embouchure, and open airways (as in, not constricting your throat) you should be able to start any note by releasing your tongue from the reed.

That's the other key point about articulating anything. The air pressure should be set, and the only thing preventing sound from escaping the horn is the presence of your tongue on the reed. When you want to make a sound, you gently release your tongue, and all the air pressure you need is already there.

...

Ummm, yeah, what they said.

I'll add a little 4 - 5 year clarinet playing advice.
Higher tongues for a higher note. If it's a squek at the beggining of the note, find your tongue posistion when the note sounds fine, then try to duplicate that when you tongue it. If it's a squek you get after you hold the note, I think that you're letting go of the reed, but still blowing. Sometimes, very rarely, it happens to me that I hold a high note for more than 4 beats, and I let loose a little and it goes 'dooooo-SQEEK!'. Just do a constant pressure on the reed with a high tongue and it should be fixed.

Be careful with pressure. Make sure it comes from the lips, not the jaw. Also, your tongue should always be raised, but definitely for high notes.

I'm having the same problem. I've been playing fine for about 3 years now, and the last few months I've started squeaking. I'm pretty sure it's an embouchure problem, but I'm not sure what to fix. My private lesson teacher isn't helping- she's not even there to teach half the time. My reeds are a Vandoren 4 and I have a Buffet clarinet. Any suggestions?

I will suggest looking at all the screws and how tight or loose they are. I had the same problem and all I did is just loosen the screw on the side. I will suggest taking it to a good place that fixes instruments. When I took mine in it had a lot more problems with the clarinet. You can also look at your reed. It could be the slit in the reed or a chip in it. I shouldn't really be the lagiture but you can adjust it to your liking by bending it to the shape of the mouth piece.

I hope you will get some advise from this message but It could be anything and sending to a good music place that fix them will be a "VERY GOOD" idea.

Wishing you with the best of luck with playing your clarient and don't give up, have fun and try your hardest.

Cheers!!

Megs