Clarinet sounds fuzzy?

Question:

Clarinet sounds fuzzy?

It's probably been about 3 years since I regularly played clarinet. I've practiced irregularly during college but now I am trying to get back up to par.
Anyway, my problem is that the horn often sounds fuzzy or airy...I've worked on my embouchure and sometimes I can get it sounding a bit better, but is that the only reason it might be doing this? That I am not playing in the correct way? Or would certain reeds help to cut down on this problem (if so, which brand would be a good option)? Right now I'm using a Vandoren 3, because that's what was in stock around here, but I have no idea how to choose an appropriate reed (I always played in band before and they picked the reeds we needed for us...)
Tips?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Sounds to me like a combination of reed and emboucher.

Think of it this way, a body builder who hasn't lifted weights in 5 years would not want to start back up cold with the 400lb bench press, lol.

If you're using the same horn you had when your tone was clear (same mouthpiece and everything, that is), then your chops are probably just out of shape from not practicing. The same thing happens to me sometimes, and I've been playing for 13 years. I only play a few times a year anymore, and though I can get my sound out just fine, my muscles get tired REALLY fast because I'm so out of shape.

I would suggest starting on a bit softer reed, maybe pick up a couple 2's and 2?'s, and play on those until your chops are a bit stronger, then move back up to a 3 when you're ready. I've also found Vandoren reeds to be a bit fuzzy in general, but they're not a bad brand. Mitchell Lurie is a bit pricier, but I've fallen in love with those reeds and now won't play on anything else. Experiment with different brands and find what's right for you.

Good luck, and have fun playing! Source(s):
Former private clarinet instructor, player for 13 years. Start from the mouth and work outwards:

A softer reed. Try a Vandoren 2, then work your way up. It's probably too soft, but you're experimenting, right? Also try Mitchell Lurie 2.5 and work up.

The mouthpiece may need work, or may just not be a profile that suits you. Got to an instrument shop and ask to try different mouthpieces with different reeds. (You'll have to own or buy the reeds, of course.)

The clarinet may need adjustment, but that's probably not the case if it's uniformly stuffy to blow. A teacher or good repair tech may be able to diagnose the exact problem. Time to get a new one =) Somethimes yes it can be your embouchure so keep working on it. I'm going into 3rd year of playing it myself. Try blowing harder oryou have too much spit in your instument. Could be any of those things.

Hope I helped. :) It can often be because of your embochure, maybe you're letting too much air escape and you're not grasping the mouthpiece correctly or all the way. If you don't think it's that, a reed could definitely be the problem. Vandoren is very good. Just make sure that your grip on the mouthpiece is not letting any air escape and your teeth are on the top and lip on the bottom and you might try tightening up a little. If none of this seems to work, I would go get your clarinet looked at and see if there might be a problem.