Clarinet Throat Tone A Sharp: Practical Tuning Fixes & Intonation Tips
- Izumi Fujiyama
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Clarinet Throat Tone A: Why It's Sharp and How to Fix It
At Fujiyama Clarinet Studio in Yanai, Yamaguchi, we also specialize in clarinet lessons for adult enthusiasts.
In this blog, I’d like to share a glimpse of one of our adult clarinet lessons. We are working on “Misty Moments”, a piece that also appears as a set work for ABRSM Grade 3. We use it to help students assess their level and stay motivated to tackle progressively harder pieces.
The key focus in this lesson is the throat-tone A. This note appears repeatedly throughout the piece, and how you handle it has a big impact on both intonation and sound quality.
What is the throat-tone register?
On the clarinet, the throat-tone register refers to the middle register that connects the chalumeau register to the clarion register.
So which notes are we talking about?
In terms of fingerings, these are the notes you play using only the left hand:
G – G♯ – A – A♯
These notes are called the throat tones, and this group of pitches is known as the throat-tone register.
Why are clarinet throat tones treated as “special”?
Compared with other registers, the throat-tone register tends to:
Sound muffled or thin
Be unstable in pitch
Change tone color suddenly
Crack or fail to speak when you try to play with strong dynamics
Because of these characteristics, you’ll often find “throat-tone improvement” or “throat-tone solutions” as a dedicated topic in lessons and method books.
Why is the throat-tone register unstable?
The clarinet’s overtone structure is different from other wind instruments: instead of sounding an octave above, it speaks at a twelfth (an octave plus a fifth).
For example, when you add the register key to low C in the chalumeau register, you get G in the clarion register.
This creates a gap of a fourth between the chalumeau and clarion registers. The throat-tone register was essentially “created” to fill that gap. Because of this compromise in the design, this area is, by nature, more unstable.
In short
Throat-tone register = the range around left-hand G–A♯ where tone and intonation are especially unstable
Reason = the relationship between finger system and sound production makes these notes harder to control than others
Result = we often need specialized practice and strategies (embouchure, air speed, alternate fingerings, etc.) to handle them
The biggest troublemaker: throat-tone A
Among these notes, throat-tone A is particularly sharp.
In the lesson, we confirmed this together by checking the tuner while listening carefully. Throat A tends to be sharp by default, so it needs special attention.
For fast passages, you may use the “left index finger only” fingering from the chart, but in most other situations it is better to:
Adjust the pitch with the embouchure
Use spare fingers on the left and right hands to help bring the pitch down
It is important to remember that you are not limited to the basic fingering shown in the chart. Using additional fingers and subtle embouchure adjustments is part of normal, musical clarinet playing.
For the common problem of “throat tones not speaking easily,” changing to more suitable fingerings can already make a noticeable difference, so it’s worth learning a few options.
From A to D: using the left-hand “roll”
When jumping from A to D, use a smooth roll of the left index finger.
Instead of trying to slide just the fingertip—which often leads to tension and missed notes—move the entire left hand and wrist as if you’re turning a doorknob. This larger, relaxed motion helps the notes connect more naturally.
At the end of the phrase, check the intonation of the last three notes: D, A, and F.
D and A tend to run sharp
F tends to go flat if you blow too strongly
Being aware of these tendencies and listening actively while you play will help you keep the line in tune.
“Am I tuning correctly in band rehearsal?”
At the end of the lesson, a student asked:
“In wind band rehearsal, I’ve been pulling out the joint between the barrel and the upper joint to adjust my tuning. Is that the right way to do it?”
If the entire instrument is sharp, then pulling out between the barrel and the upper joint is the correct basic approach.
However, before relying on this alone, there are two important foundations:
Understand the clarinet’s intonation tendencies
Train your ears so you can adjust by listening, not just by watching a tuner
In wind bands, tuning is usually done on concert B♭, which is written C for the B♭ clarinet.
In orchestras, we tune to concert A, which is written B for the B♭ clarinet. Instrument makers design the overall intonation structure of the clarinet with these reference notes in mind.
But even if the tuning note is perfect, other notes may still go sharp or flat, and the pitch will also change depending on your playing style:
A strong crescendo often makes the pitch sink slightly
Very soft playing tends to push the pitch sharp
Understanding these general tendencies is crucial.
To lower the pitch, you can:
Slightly relax the embouchure
Cover more of the tone holes with your fingers
However, there is very little you can do to raise the pitch if it is already flat. This is why learning how to bring sharp notes down just a little is such an important skill for clarinetists.
The more you understand the clarinet’s natural behavior, the more confidently you can control your sound in any ensemble.
Want to work on “Misty Moments” together?
At Fujiyama Clarinet Studio in Yanai, Yamaguchi, we offer lessons for adult players with a special focus on solving intonation problems in a clear and practical way.
If you would like to:
Stabilize your throat-tone A
Prepare for ABRSM Grade 3 using “Misty Moments”
Or simply feel more confident about your tuning in band or orchestra
I’d be happy to help.
You can find details about trial lessons on our website.
If this topic resonated with you, please take a look and consider joining us.
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If you’d like personalized feedback on your throat tones, intonation, or ABRSM preparation, I offer 1‑to‑1 online clarinet lessons in English.
👉 You can find details and book a trial lesson below