How to Tune a Clarinet (Barrel, Middle Joint and Bell)

A clarinet is tuned mainly by changing the length of the instrument at its joints. Pulling out makes the clarinet longer and lowers the pitch; pushing in raises it. The trick is knowing where to pull and which notes to check.

Before you tune: warm up#

Wind instruments rise in pitch as the air inside warms up — roughly 3 cents per °C. A cold clarinet can be 10–20 cents flat. Play for a few minutes (long tones, scales) before tuning, and re-check after you have been resting.

Step 1 — tune the barrel with a throat or clarion note#

Bands usually tune to concert B♭, which is written C5 on the B♭ clarinet (thumb, register key and all fingers down with the right pinky F/C key). Many teachers also check open G4 and written C5 together.

1. Open the tuner or play a reference from the tone generator.
2. Play a steady, mezzo-forte note with your normal embouchure — don't adjust with your lips.
3. If you are sharp, pull the barrel out slightly (start with about 0.5–1 mm). If you are flat, push it in.

If you need to pull out more than about 1.5–2 mm, consider a longer barrel (or tuning rings): a big gap changes the bore and makes some throat notes unstable. B♭ clarinet barrels typically range from 64 to 67 mm.

Step 2 — check the lower joint#

Play written low F3 (or C5 in the clarion). If the barrel note is in tune but these lower-joint notes are sharp, pull out a little at the middle joint (between upper and lower joints). Pulling at the middle joint mainly affects notes produced by the lower joint.

Step 3 — bell (fine-tuning only)#

Pulling the bell slightly can lower the very lowest notes (E3 and B4). Most players leave it pushed in.

Typical tendencies to watch#

Every clarinet is different, so make your own tendency chart: play every note at mezzo-forte against the tuner and note how many cents sharp or flat it is. Common patterns include sharp throat tones and an altissimo that rises when you play loudly. Use alternate fingerings (see the fingering chart) and voicing to correct individual notes rather than moving the barrel for each one.

What note should I tune my clarinet to?#

In a band, tune to concert B♭ (written C5 on a B♭ clarinet). In an orchestra the oboe gives an A, which is written B4 on the B♭ clarinet and written C5 on the A clarinet. Always check a couple of other notes, too.

Why is my clarinet always flat?#

The most common reasons are a cold instrument, a reed that is too soft, too little mouthpiece or a loose embouchure, or a barrel that is too long. Warm up, check your reed, then push the barrel in.

Why is my clarinet always sharp?#

Biting, a reed that is too hard, a warm room, or a barrel that is too short. If pulling the barrel out more than 2 mm is needed, a longer barrel is the better fix.

Read next: intonation for wind players.