Flute  Oboe  Bassoon  Saxophone  Brass & Percussion 

• Pulling barrel (then middle joint) = flatter, pushing in = sharper

• Barrel length:  Shorter and longer barrels are available

• Range:  Throat tones are sharp on almost every instrument, especially the A and B-flat.  Altissimo register = sharp in more experienced players, though young players will often be a little flat when learning these notes.

• Embouchure:  biting or pinching = sharp, loose = flat

• Temperature:  cold = flat, hot = sharp

• Dynamic level:  loud = flat, soft = sharp

• Reed strength:  soft reed = flat, hard reed = sharp

• Angle of entry:  held too far out = flat, held too close = sharp

• Lay of the mouthpiece:  closed = sharp, open = flat

Low Clarinets

• Pulled out between neck and upper joint = flat, pushed in = sharp

• All other factors are the same as the clarinet (except barrel length)