How do you prevent squeaking on the clarinet?

Question:It doesn't have to do with the instrument...well, I don't think it does in my case. It's just the upper register.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It doesn't have to do with the instrument...well, I don't think it does in my case. It's just the upper register.

There are several reasons clarinetists squeak. The most common are:

1. Taking too much reed into your mouth.
2. Not covering your holes properly. Make sure you're using the pads of your fingers instead of the tips.
3. You have a faulty reed. Any deformity (cracked, chipped, split) can and will cause squeaks, out of tune notes, and bad tone quality.
4. Not moving your fingers together at the same time when trying to cover 2 or more holes at the same time.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Get in front of a mirror and watch your fingers move. Check your finger placement when you place down each finger.

Practice. Squeaking occurs with everyone and it could be everything from your finger not completely covering a tone hole, to a leaky pad, to reed issues, or any number of things. People squeak less as they learn to control the instrument better, so just keep practicing.

I would say it's your embouchure. Does it feel like your biting when you play? There should be no tension there whatsoever. Your lips are just meant to stop the air from escaping and there's no need to squeeze to do that. Then your top teeth are just meant to sit on top of the mouthpiece. Don't bite. If this is what's wrong, it will take time to fix, so please be patient! Keep up the practise. Good luck!

may be a little PRACTICE!