ok ok, i do not play clarinet, but I'd quite like to learn it, however my housemate doesn't want her clari anymore and is more than willing to give it to me!! perfect opportunity i'd sa, however, I can get a normal sound out but when i start actually "playing it, it goes squeaky, no sound at all, everything BUT what it should, please help!!!

Is the reed in the correct place? And get your housemate to check your embouchure, don't bite too hard either.

merr, i've just tried again and evidently its the lower notes i cant seem to get, I think i've mastered the embouchure, as its not squeaking too much now, it gets to the low notes and doesnt make any sound, do I need to change the shape of my mouth or blow harder/softer? my housemate isnt here at the moment !!

The lower notes are harder for a beginner. Try relaxing as you go down.

^^ cheers, I'll keep practising

go for it. keep pushing the air from your diaghphram (sorry Can't spell) but also check your reed strength. If you sqeak it usually means that your blowing not quite with the right sort of presure. Persistance is the name of the game.

Clarinets are blummin awkward instruments!!!!!! Try thinking about sighing when you are blowing rather than the direct air that you would use for the flute

Maybe you should the tip of the reed more "outer" than from the tip of the mouthpiece, coz the embrochure each person creates is DIFFRENT, so it dosen't have a right or wrong embrochure, bu it still av a BASIC LOOK. So,
First, maybe it's your reed position problem;
2nd, maybe it's you airstream problem.;
3rd, if you haven't played the clarinet before, or somebody teaches you the basics, play the mouthpiece without the instrument first, (comes with the barrel), untill you've take a hang of the sound and embrochure, then you connects the instrument. while playing the lower register notes, relax more than playing the higher register notes, and remember that the airstream between playing the higher and lower register notes are NOT THE SAME.
4th, ask a clarinet player to carrects your playing erorrs, coz you never know until someone tells you.

How are you getting on now?

Hey, Thank you everyone again for replying with such useful info! I am getting on a lot better, I'm only on very basic stuff, I don't think I'm a natural at the clarinet, but I'm working hard, so hopefully!

Thanks again! Laura x

That's good.