[Back to Basics] How and Why of Forming a Great Clarinet Embouchure

[@goatedwiththesauce3898]

I’m 23, started playing at 11, took a year off the clarinet and have been feeling so lost but your videos are definitely helping me get my embouchure and basics back. Thanks!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yay! Keep experimenting and exploring and it will come back 😊

[@paulgroth3345]

Thank you for your videos. I'm Seventy-Six years old and I'm just getting started on the clarinet. I have been playing flute for the last 55 or so years and finding the clarinet a bit challenging it's I only have the bottom six teeth in the front and nowhere else. Therefore some of your instructions I am not able to follow because I don't have the equipment but think I can get around it with your help. I have watched a number of your videos and they have been the most instructive of everything I have found on KZbin when it comes to the clarinet. So once again thank you from the old man in the woods who lives alone with no one for a quarter mile in any direction, which is probably real good condition for first-time starting clarinet player.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

🤣 I’m glad you are finding my videos helpful! One tip for coming from flute to clarinet is that you will want to blow with much faster and stronger air support on clarinet compared to flute. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!

[@julianruiz3978]

Needed a refresher from a different perspective, it’s hard to find embouchure weaknesses after years of playing. Hearing the basics made a huge difference, thanks!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yay, I'm glad it was helpful! Everything really does always come back to the fundamentals.

[@susanm1721]

Thank you. Every summer I try and go back to the fundamentals. This series will be so helpful on my quest for consistency; my goal for this summer.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I love it! Summer is a great time to dig into the fundamentals.

[@kharmaviv]

Wow! That milkshake straw analogy was an eye-opener for me. It really helped me understand. I have been watching so many videos about this for weeks. I have been trying to figure it out by experimenting with the embouchure and this explanation was Illuminating. Thank you so much. 🎉❤

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yay! I’m glad it was helpful for you!

[@SuzannesVault]

OK, I have listened and watched you talk about the straw many times. Today, however, when you said imagine sipping a THICK shake, I finally got it! My move from oboe to clarinet just took a huge leap. Thanks for all of the details as they certainly are making a difference in the quality of sound I am creating.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yay! I’m glad it is helping! One of my band teachers said a good teacher knows how to say the same thing in 12 different ways because you never know which one will click with who and when.

[@SuzannesVault]

@@QuickStartClarinet AND you are an excellent teacher!!!!!

[@juliemulie1805]

This was helpful to understand the effects of a soft lower lip. I couldn't figure why I kept loosing one side of my embouchure after playing for 20 minutes or so, until it dawned on me that I had nerve damage and scar tissue there from an accident 20 years ago. Did a forhead slap, and at least I know what to strengthen to improve. Thanks!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That’s really interesting! Definitely think about keeping the lip against the teeth so you can rely more on the big jaw muscles.

[@KarenEade]

Thank you, this was the clearest explanation of what is needed I have seen and I’m very grateful. New to clarinet, having started off on alto sax and I am quite taken aback by how much harder it is! My sax was perfectly ok with soft and squishy lower lip; but the clarinet has been squawking and squeaking and coughing so much I thought there was something wrong with it! Turns out it was all down to me 🤣

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Awesome, I'm glad it was helpful for you! You may also want to check out my video about coming to clarinet from saxophone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJvQiqVnrNVkY7ssi=qjcv9nRuITePHnPT

[@suecook9]

Embouchure is so hard for a beginner but your video certainly explains it well

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@lillianhusbymelien5471]

Thank you again for a helpful video. There is one thing I am wandering about: after having my lower lip in the right position and the corners in, what happens is that my upper lip raises, and there is a pressure on my upper teeth. Do you know what might be the reason for that, and how it can be avoided?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That's interesting. It isn't bad to have some pressure on your upper teeth. We want the clarinet to be coming up and anchoring into the top teeth. However, we also want to have the upper lip there to help support on top of the mouthpiece. Try thinking the same lower lip and corners, but with everything going down. Another way to say this is to point the chin. Opening the jaw down and maybe slightly forward will help the top lip to follow coming down to the mouthpiece, and will also get pressure off of the reed. Hopefully that helps!

[@lillianhusbymelien5471]

That solved it. Thank you very much for your comment.

[@AmaSalina]

I am a beginner who just fulfilled her long-time wish to get a clarinet. Now I am finding it looks easier than it is, haha. I had no idea you need that much air to make the instrument sing. My diaphragm is sadly lacking in strength up to now. Your instructions have been very helpful to get the right angle, distance into the mouth and shape of the mouth. I have two questions: 1. You say to squeeze the corners inward. When I squeeze inward, the bottom lip scrunches up like a kiss. But you are also saying to keep the bottom lip and chin taut. So I am confused about that contradiction. Maybe the thing to do is squeeze the corners together vertically? 2. Is it normal for my mouth muscles to hurt at first, or am I exerting too much pressure and doing something wrong? Also, my lower lip feels painfully pinched after a while.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

It sounds like you are thinking about the right things so keep it up! 1. There are many parts of the embouchure (and clarinet playing in general) that are a little contradictory. Try and get that kissing shape with the corners coming in while also making the middle of the bottom lip taut. Pointing your chin forward and down and opening the jaw should help make that possible. 2. It isn’t abnormal for the mouth to get tired, and for the teeth to dig into the bottom lip a little bit. However if your bottom lip is really hurting after only a short amount of playing you are probably biting too much. Think about anchoring the clarinet up and again opening the jaw. I hope that helps!!

[@geirsolerd6479]

70 % of my sound problems are covered here. Thanks!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Awesome! Let me know what the other 30% is that you are struggling with and maybe I will make a video to help with that last bit!

[@Kaazamali]

Thank you so much!! You really helped me🎗

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Awesome, I'm glad it was helpful!

[@iprangem]

I can make a noise but its difficult with no bottom teeth:(

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That would be tricky! Definitely make sure that your reed is on the softer side, and you will definitely need to work on strengthening your bottom lip muscles as much as possible. Good luck!

[@iprangem]

Thanks for that it seems I need the opposite of "the stiff upper lip!"" joking aside I still enjoy playing just wonder why people around have there fingers in there ears :) @@QuickStartClarinet

[@lisaheffernan3507]

Picking mine back up for the first time in more than a decade and...no real notes will play. It is stuck at G,even when I change keys. 😢

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That is likely an instrument problem. If you have a local repair person they should be able to get it playable pretty quick and for not too much!

[@lisaheffernan3507]

@@QuickStartClarinet Thanks! I live a college town with a great music program at the university, so I definitely have places I can take it!

[@TheScorpioHime]

This has been very helpful! Thank you!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Glad it was helpful!