Clarinet tuning help!?

Question:Ok, so I am first chair and therefore need to tune the band almost everyday! :-( Not only to I get REALLY nervous, but I dont sound good. The person who used to do it sounded really good, but I dont! My quailty is poor and sometimes a sound will come out and then stop and its really embarrasing. What should I do to improve tuning the entire band and sound good! Please help!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Ok, so I am first chair and therefore need to tune the band almost everyday! :-( Not only to I get REALLY nervous, but I dont sound good. The person who used to do it sounded really good, but I dont! My quailty is poor and sometimes a sound will come out and then stop and its really embarrasing. What should I do to improve tuning the entire band and sound good! Please help!

First, check to be sure the reed is moistened, broken in, good, and positioned correctly with the mouthpiece and ligature. I'll assume you've already tried that numerous times, but basics first. It could be a simple matter of nerves and breath support like some of the other answers suggested as well.

If that doesn't fix your problem, check out the the table (flat part) of the mouthpiece. If there are any chips or scratches of any depth, that could/would affect your reed response. Considering you sound like a serious player, I would reccommend getting a new mouthpiece. It is a good investment for anyone. Vandorens produce EXCELLENT and very consistent tones for all registers and are excellent for response (budget about $60). I would also try the Vandoren Rue 56 Lepic reeds - they also have excellent response. No, I don't work for Vandoren, but in my experience they really are superior, and will help get rid of the response problem. They'll also help give you a much more mature tone, probably like that of your old principle clarinet.

Call a couple of music stores and see if they carry mouthpieces (many don't so definitely call ahead). Keep in mind you are going to try several. Take your instrument and tuner to the store and test a few. Make sure you have a good reed and warm up well for consistency. You're looking for consistency of tone and pitch. I would probably start with the B40 model (it tends to be a standard), and if that doesn't show near consistent tuning, try a few other models to find a better fit. Once you find a better fit, try a few of that specific model and find the most consistent in tone and intonation. It may seem strange, but there are very subtle differences in mouthpieces, even if they do have the exact same model number.

It may sound just a little expensive and time consuming, but it's definitely one of the best investments you can make. If you can't find stores that carry mouthpieces, call Woodwind Brasswind (800-348-5003) and they can explain their own mouthpiece-trial system to you. They'd have to mail them for you to try, but you can pick one and send the rest back.

Once you get a new one, to prevent damage to the table, put a dry reed on it when you put it away in the case to protect it, and never put the ligature on with out the reed in place first.

Best of luck!

Use tons of air. And force it out. That is the only way to get good sound.

Just remember that the guy who left? the one who sounded really great?

Well- he started off sounding the same way you did.

Practice makes perfect. You will sound better everyday,every time. You will too. I know so.

Sounds like you probably shouldnt play first chair then : /

Be sure your reed is properly centered on the instrument. Also, do not be nervous...I was once a band geek, as well. I know how it feels to have to be the best. : )

So, just take a deep breath, relax and know that you were put in that seat for a reason.

At home practice long tones on the note you tune with.
Also, long tunes of scales, single notses, or anything else are good ways to warmup when you practice.
If you don't have a tuner, buy one. You can get a good one for about $15.
Use the tuner to see your pitch. Sharp=pull out, flat=push in.
Be confident!

The best way to practice intonation is not with your eyes. It's with your ears. Be sure the tuner you buy also produces audible pitches. Spend 20-30 minutes a day randomly or systematically matching pitches of different drone pitches. Also practice playing in fourths, fifths, thirds and octaves with the drone notes.

In this process you will notice what you need to do for different notes in order to get them in tune. Be aware too that the band is likely playing sharper than A440 since most bands tune, and then play, and the warmth raises the pitch of the whole group, especially those pesky flute players.

Proper air support is important. Please, however, do not force the pitch- it will cause you to tense up and bite and be really sharp.

The best idea is to make certain that you are well in tune before the class begins. If possible, warm up beforehand and tune your clarinet to C, then open G below that and then to middle C.

If your C (the "long" C, all fingers down) is sharp, pull out some in the middle. If the G or the lower C is sharp, pull out at the barrel. Adjusting both places is really important.

When it's time to tune, get out your tuner and focus ONLY on that one note. Just a note- no one is scrutinizing how you sound or anything, they just want a pitch to tune to. If it's a typical high school band, lots of kids are tone-deaf anyway.

During your at home practice, tune before you play, several times in the middle, and at the end. This way, you have some idea of how your personal instrument changes as you play longer and it warms more.

A great tuning exercise is to pick a note (any one), turn on your tuner, CLOSE YOUR EYES, and then play the note. Try to center it exactly where you think it is in tune, then open your eyes and see where the tuner is. (Do this after the regular C-G-C tuning routine.) Repeat the process with several pitches in different registers.

The best way to improve tone quality is to take lessons: but, in short, support your air, have a good embouchure, and find a good strength reed. Seriously, please consider lessons if you are not already involved in them.

Good luck, happy playing!

just take a REALLY big breath no matter how embarrassing it sounds making the big intake breath sound, because no one will even notice let alone care. and if you do run out of breath just take another one really quick because that is better than just standing there instead of just continuing like it didn't happen