Position:Home>Performing Arts> How do you play a clarinet?
Question: How do you play a clarinet!?
I know so silly but I am a flute lol and I was playing with my grandma's clarinet and I have never ever played one in my life!. I got the reed wet and every thing but when I blew on it nothing happened!. I know you clarinet experts are probably thinking what an idiot flute lol!. The reed was also a bit worn on the top and I don't know if that will do anything to it!. I also tried to put it together but you can't play with the keys and make funny noises if you can't get air through it or a vibration!. How do you do it!?
StefaniWww@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Hey
Well first of all there is a few things you could be doing wrong!. First make sure your reed is on the mouthpiece in the right way!. Make sure the back part (relativity smooth, flat spot) is sitting on the mouthpiece slot not IN it!. also yeah your reed could be chipped but if your not getting even a little bit of sound it could just be you or the clarinet!. If your reed is only damaged abit!. Usually I find you can still make some sort of noise on the clarinet, but if your saying you don't getting any form of noise it might be you or the clarinet!.
First of all!.!.!.!.!.I recommend that for your embouchure don't bother using the clarinet embouchure!. It will be too hard at first!. Just blow on it with a whistle kind of mouth position!. That embouchure will be more for when you can actually make some notes!. also using lots of air will really help!!
Another possibility could be your reed strength!.!.!. If you just started you should have a number on your reed (flat side) that tells you your reed strength!. You would being looking for a 2 or 2 1/2!. also try to see if you can see what brand the reed is!. you will want to be playing on a rico!. If your reed is higher then a 2 or 2 1/2 then that could be the problem!. the reed could be way to thick for you and therefore you might just get a very weak airy sound!. and also try just playing your first note with an all open keys!. It may be easiest!.
Hope this helps!!
good luck!
Www@QuestionHome@Com
you can say wee too and then put your lips on the mouth piece and then make pressure on the reed and blow and it should vibrate and make a noise then try notes and the reed might be broken Www@QuestionHome@Com