Hi everyone!

After buying my clarinet about 5 years ago I've only recently started to attempt to learn it properly and I'm aiming to do grade 5 at some point (self taught). I can get a good sound from it but quite often I get an almighty squeek out of it which isn't very nice! I just wanted to know what I am doing to cause this and if there is anything I can do to fix it? It is usually when i'm playing in the middle register that it occurs most frequently. I've tried adjusting my embroshure and changing the reed but it still happens with no apparent reason to me and I get very frustrated because I don't know what's causing it! I was considering trying out thicker reeds as i'm currently using 1.5's, will this help or make the problem worse?

Thanks for any help it will be greatly appreciated!

Matt

Are the reeds old as well? They do warp slightly over time. Although 1.5 is rather soft, it shouldn't cause squeaking if it's set up correctly.

Place a sheet of the finest sandpaper you can find (the sort that you'd hardly know it was sandpaper) on a perfectly flat surface. If no sandpaper, even normal paper can be used. Rub the reed, flat side down - on the paper in a circular motion, pressing evenly with your fingertips for about a minute. This will make sure it's perfectly flat and sits well on the MP rails. Soak for a few minutes, then repeat.

Also experiment with the position of the reed on the MP. Try pushing it up a tiny fraction.

Squeaking in the clarion register is often a sign that some keys need regulating or a pad need 'tweaking' or changing. But if your clarinet is new, it should be fine.

What's the make of the clarinet? Which MP are you using. They vary a lot and some are hopeless for beginners!

Steve

The other main possibility I've found with pupils squeaking in the clarion (middle line B up to two leger line C), apart from reeds/key regulation/pads, is left hand thumb position. Make sure you don't expose any of the thumb hole at any time when you press the register key - any exposure of thumb hole is a sure fire way of getting a loud squeak.

Thanks for the replies. I've not had a chance to see if the reeds are ok or not. They are a few years old but some of them hadn't been used before and were still in their cases.

I am playing on an Odyssey clarinet and mouth piece which I know is a cheap make but at the time I didn't know any better or have the money for a deacent student model. Would it be worth while for me to upgrade to a better student model or should mine be sufficient to take me to grade 5 and possibly beyond? I'm quite sure i'm covering the thumb key correctly when pressing the register key but i'll double check the next time I practice. I'll report back and let you know!

Thanks

Matt

I think I squeak when I relax my embouchure.

Are you able to have a one-off lesson with a teacher who could look at your technique, embouchure, breathing, etc and also try out your clarinet. It would be cheaper than buying a new clarinet! When I bought a new clarinet earlier this year, from what I can remember I went back to squeaking again until I got used to it. But my teacher tried it and it was fine. I squeaked for months when I first started. It was *very* exasperating. And then one day I realised I no longer did it

...unless I'm performing and then I've been known to squeak again occasionally

Could you possibly be hitting any of the side keys by mistake?? If so it's just a case of getting used to adjusting your fingers!

I can't think of anything else without repeating what everyone else has said!

I'm having squeek problems too at the moment and have spent ages trying new reeds, adjusting the reeds, checking the keys and finally have to accept it's me - but other than playing faster music than I was before nothing has changed I've discovered 3 possible squeek causes that haven't really been mentioned here:

1. Tounging - either too agressive or not timed quite right with the fingers. Or in the wrong place on the reed.
2. Sloppy fingering - not covering/uncovering the holes quickly and evenly this is particularly the thumb as Barri-Clari said, but also I have a problem with RH B & C which I think is more to do with pulling other fingers off of holes just a fraction rather than the B & C keys themselves which work fine.
3. Breath pressure - particularly if moving between registers - I'm playing a piece with a slur between 2 semiquavers g (on top of the stage to open g) which always squeeks on the open g unless I play the it more gently.

I don't know if any of these will apply to you. It could be the Clarinet.
I think (hope) practice will sort it out in the end and try to stay relaxed when you're playing - tension accounts for extra squeeks in performances, exams etc.

One thing I forgot to mention is that over time, the long rods running down the length of the clarinet, onto which two or three keys are fixed, become slightly bent and the rings don't go round the tone holes correctly.

I imagine, like the linkage between the joints, this must be quite common with kids who grip the instrument too hard or who don't realise how careful you have to be.

If the rings are slightly skewed, your fingers will not cover the tone holes in a uniform manner and air will escape causing squeaking.

Fortunately this is something that's easy to put right.

Steve