The chin must be firmly pointed for the tone to glow with substance. If the chin is down but not firm, the tone will be mushy, dull, uncertain or insubstantial. The jaw must then be pressed forward and downward into the heart of the reed to release long vibrations adding power, projection and an inner life to the tone. A good embouchure will have the jaws hinged slightly open preparing the proper angle to receive the mouthpiece.

With the head erect, the instrument should be brought upwards to the mouth at somewhat less than a forty-five degree angle. It is important that the head be straight--neither cocked to either side nor drooping forward. In the latter case, as is so often the tendency, the clarinet will be at the correct angle to the body but will actually be entering the embouchure at close to ninety degrees. An embouchure and position of the clarinet that allows the instrument to come straight into the mouth like a
saxophone is incorrect. An embouchure that keeps the head down also makes for a very weak stage presence. This type of embouchure will also diminish both the power and quality of the sound for the following reason.

One object of a correct embouchure is to get enough wood in your mouth. In the case in the last paragraph, what is in the mouth is an undesired amount of top mouthpiece and not enough bottom reed. Generally, the more wood in the mouth, the better and bigger the sound will be, but care must be taken not to take this last statement to an extreme. An embouchure that accepts the proper amount of reed into the mouth will place the tip of the reed in the correct placement for the tongue as well as allow for a stronger, more vibrant reed. Generally, the section of the reed at the top of the heart should be the area that presses against the bottom lip. However, different musical situations will require more, and occasionally less reed in the mouth.

Usually, the clarinet should be placed in the center of the mouth and lips. However, depending on the individual structure of the oral cavity, the condition of the lips, the condition of the reed, or any number of factors, the clarinet may be played slightly towards either side of the mouth. As a general rule, when the clarinet is put together the reed should line up vertically with the register key and thumb rest. However,
depending on the individual, the mouthpiece may be turned slightly to one side or the other--but not so much that the head is forced to turn to an angle to receive the mouthpiece.

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