The clarinet can produce many sounds and every sound has it place in the world of music. We want to be sure that we know how each sound is created and what adjustments can be made to get a desire sound. Below are common sounds that are created on the clarinet that are outside of the beginning desired sound. Always check these areas on the Mouthpiece/Barrel combination to see if you are producing a concert F#.​ All "How to fix it" methods are solutions that should be checked by playing with a tuner with the goal of producing a full sounding concert F#. The following are not in any order. Know that if you make too significant of an adjustment in one area you may create another sound that is listed somewhere else. 
​If this happens, keep working expanding your control of the instrument.

No Sound & Rushing Air

This means that air is blowing through but the reed is not vibrating.
How to fix it:

• Increase lip pressure against the reed by bring your lips towards the mouthpiece.

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Stopped Air

This means the reed is closing the opening of the mouthpiece and air cannot pass through. How to fix it:

• Decrease lip pressure against the reed by relaxing the corners of your lips around the mouthpiece.

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Intense Air

This means that you hear air moving and through the instrument and, at times, you hear a pitch that is not sustained. How to fix it:

• Check mouthpiece placement, may need more mouthpiece in your embouchure.
• Lower your chin from the mouthpiece to relieve a bunched chin.
  • ​Note: your chin should remain set after in the "A" formation of the embouchure when forming the "Q" part of the embouchure. Review Embouchure.

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Squawk/  Flat Pitch

This means that when you play on just the Mouthpiece/Barrel you produce a pitch lower Concert F#. How to fix it:

• Increase lip pressure against the reed by bring your lips towards the mouthpiece.
  • ​​Note: These can also aid in adjusting pitches that have a tendency to be flat.
    • ​Bottom line E natural; 4th line D natural
• Check mouthpiece placement, may need less mouthpiece in your embouchure.
• Increase the amount of air you are playing with.

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Squeak/HighPitch Squeal

This means the reed to vibrating in its upper registar, roughly an octave and a fifth above F#.
How to fix it:

• Check your Head Balance and the clarinet-to-body angle.​
• Check mouthpiece placement, may need less mouthpiece in your embouchure.
• Increase lip pressure against the reed by bring your lips towards the mouthpiece.

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Thin Tone/​Sharp Pitch

Thin Tone (ONLY): This means that a F# is being produced but its tone (quality of sound) is thin. How to fix it:

• Check mouthpiece placement, you need more mouthpiece in your embouchure.

Thin Tone & Sharp: This means that the pitch being produced is higher than F# and its tone (quality of sound) is thin. How to fix:

• Decrease lip pressure against the reed by relaxing the corners of your lips around the mouthpiece.
• Check mouthpiece placement, need more mouthpiece in your embouchure.
• Check your tongue placement, think "oh" to relieve a closed throat.

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Next Page: Pitches on the Clarinet