Hello Penny! I thought of doing the same thing and in fact I just bought my sax 4 days back. But I don't think I'm watching the right videos.. Could you maybe please help me?
Wish I had watched your video first. Some of the sax embouchure videos get very specific, and show exercises that my mouth can't do. Now I know that I need to determine how my mouth fits on the mouth piece and reed, and identify the exercises that improve my specific embouchure. Thanks much!
Thank you for this wonderful video. When I started playing 60 years ago, we didn't have these great presentations available to us. And, all of us couldn't afford private, professional lessons. This will help many young musicians.
I just entered to saxophone world and saw lots of training videos on RU-vid. Once I watched this video and found it very helpful, I just said myself that this gentleman is really a professional instructor. I subscribed too and hope your videos comes up in searching list and more people know you. I wish you the best and may the Lord grant you success.
Hi. Glad you enjoyed the video. If you are looking for real x-ray videos to do with the saxophone, check out Mark Watkins videos on RU-vid where he x-rays a professional playing the saxophone. It can be helpful for overtones and altissimo playing. Thanks.
Thank you for the video. I started learning 30 years ago but then stopped, now retired I am going to start again and you have given me extra inspiration. I look forward to watching your other videos. Many thanks
Hi. Playing the saxophone is like riding a bike. You will soon be back to playing all those riffs again. There are so many good saxophone sites out there, so I'm sure you will be posting yourself playing soon. Thanks for checking out my channel.
Amazing video, shows clearly and explains very well what to do, how to do it! Clear voice. Will definitely share to others who are looking to play saxophone 🎷❤️
Recently rented a sax and have been practicing - really appreciate this vid - stressing each mouth is different but also giving general guidelines to follow - first I’ve seen like this on RU-vid
Thank you so much! I dug out my sax after too long, and couldn't produce a note! I'd forgotten what my teacher had taught me about embouchure. He was a professional sax player, but you are clearly a gifted teacher, and have given a far more complete and helpful explanation. It is very clear and eloquent! Fantastic!
When I played sax as a kid I used both my upper and lower lips over my teeth, as my dad taught me, and then my highschool teacher told me to keep my top teeth in contact with the mouthpiece. This was a great video for me as now years later I'm looking to start playing again and looking into the different methods of correct embouchure.
Good instructive video offering freedom of choice in regards to approaching the embouchure. I am gigging all the time now and need all the instruction I can get, student for life. Thanks.
I subscribed. I was looking at various videos on embouchure and I found this to be super helpful. I made some adjustments according to the info you provided and BAM! I'm a different player now! Thanks so much! I subscribed!
Great video. I have been playing for 2 days and found out all these different positions give me different sounds. Was not sure if it was wrong. Now I know that I can use them in different musical context. Thanks.
Thanks so much! You have answered a lot of the questions I had (a lot I did not even know to ask too) about how to form and practice a good embouchure. Awesome graphics too. Best I have found, so far too!
Hi. Glad you liked the video. There are so many good channels on RU-vid that you should make progress quickly. Feel free to ask any questions or video suggestions. Thanks
This video has helped me out tremendously considering I just got a saxophone the other day and for the past few days I’ve had my mouthpiece upside down squealing away lol thanks
I loved this video. I just got me a soprano sax! I used to play Alto in Middle school ans high school. But the soprano had my heart. Thanks for tips! Can’t wait to check out more videos! Excellent top notch presentation!
Extremely detailed and helpful thank you! I literally just unpacked my new saxophone and even before I attach the mouthpiece to the neck I'm working on learning to be able to create a steady and consistent tone. Trying out all of these different styles to see what works best for me.
I just started learning (by myself) two days ago and have already shredded my lip :') So I found this helpful, I'll try with your tips/advice, thanks :)
Great lesson man! 😊. I'm just getting started with a mini sax. I play guitar most of the time but I also play native flute, ukulele, mountain dulcimer and dabble in piano.
@@Saxcomprehensive your video was very informative 👌. I'm hoping to pick it up as easy as I picked up the native flute. I've been playing guitar for 20 years now, thats my passion. Thanks again and its nice to talk with different musicians.
Very nice video. I have been looking for ways to improve my embouchure. The pictures to support your message are valuable. This is the first video on the subject done by someone who has lips similar to mine. I have subscribed and look forward to viewing your videos
Hi. I do not have any videos specific to the soprano as I do not own one yet but most of my videos on techniques can be applied to all types of saxophones. Also I have not seen a channel yet that is devoted to the soprano. They are mainly about the tenor and alto saxophones. This is probably because all saxophone are played the same with the same fingerings. Thanks.
Hey og elder man☮️ 1:26 I just started I have a teacher he’s classical based embouchre. I don’t mind tbh knowledge is power! However after 4 weeks I noticed mine looking similar to this… not totally but gradually.. I also have you know thick lips. Any advice?
I wanna learn playing Saxophone. I might sound silly but, does playing Saxophone worsen my front teeth gap ? My teeth also slightly prtorude forward. Kindly please help me with my doubt. Also, does front teeth gap affect the sound ?
Hi. If you compare playing the sax with wearing braces. Braces work by applying constant pressure to the teeth to force them to move position over time. When we play the saxophone we apply more pressure to our teeth. If we play often for long periods and our embouchure is such that it applies a lot of pressure, then it is similar to wearing braces and could cause teeth movement. However many musicians who have played for many years have not experienced any movement. The best advice is to have a talk with your dentist. There have been papers written about the effect of wind instruments on the teeth and they should know. While you are there ask about getting a retainer made. You can play the saxophone with a retainer which will help stop your teeth from moving. The gap in the top teeth should not affect the sound as no air will escape since it is covered with the lip. A gap in the bottom teeth might affect the sound however, but I wouldn't worry about it. Thanks
Probably the only video dispelling the dogmatic statement that there is such a thing as the perfect embouchure. As so very unequivocally stated and illustrated there is an infinite range of variations in embouchure.Could you please elucidate in detail the production of the subtone on tenor with a double lip embouchure? The most suited mouthpiece, reed, position of lips, position of mouthpiece etc etc. Thank you.
Hi. Thanks for your comment and a great question. At present I only play alto with a single lip embouchure, so I would not be the best person to answer that question. There are many other channels which focus on the tenor but all the ones I watch also play with a single lip embouchure but I will add it to my list of videos to make.
I learned this standard embrochure, then came to a teacher and he told me sound wasnt good. Too "honk like", he wanted me a more "oooooohh" sound. He teaches an embrochure that doesnt use lower teeth.
Hi. As the video demonstrated there are many different ways of forming an embouchure and all are equally valid with great players using each. The most common is using lower teeth as it gives more support but can cause biting. You cannot bite without lower teeth but more strength is require by the lips. Whichever method you use, you do not want to be changing between different methods. Stick with the one which creates the best sound for you. Thanks.
Hi. I have read on forums that there are people who play with dentures some of which are specially made to give added support. I also know that it is possible to play without the top teeth touching the mouthpiece so that it is only the pressure of the lips. So I would say that it is possible to play without top teeth but you might have to play with a softer reed. You would have to try and see if it works for you. It may take time to get used to it or to play in tune. Those that wore dentures said that they kept moving in the mouth. Others said that the notes were flat. However, there is practically nothing on forums about playing with no top teeth at all. But I think with patience it should be possible to play since it only means that your mouth is less opened. So long as you have mouthpiece patches or something to protect the gums it should work. Let me know how you get on as others have asked me the same question in the past. Thanks.
@@Saxcomprehensive yes I was relying on the top lip pressure bcuz I don’t have dentures either. I’ll keep trying,possibly the bigger the mouthpiece the easier it may be. Will switch from alto to tenor,although I’m a baritone player,I can’t afford one of those.
Hi. The embouchure at 3:00 is the single lip embouchure. This is the most common used embouchure. Usually when someone starts playing the saxophone, they tend to bite down on the mouthpiece with extra pressure which adds tension to their embouchure. As the muscles around their mouths develop over time, this tension begins to release. My advice is to relax the muscles of the mouth only enough to get a sound since we often use too much pressure, more than we need. Watch videos of the best sax players and look how they position their lips. John coltrane was a great tenor player and he used a double lip embouchure. We all have our own style of forming our embouchure which develops and changes a little over time but a teacher will help with creating a good sound which is what we want. If the embouchure allows a person to create a good sound then it is the right embouchure for them. Thanks.
hi, it has been more then 6 years i am trying t learn to play on my alto, and i can't play 1st register with my front teeth on the mouth piece, it just goes to 2nd register right after c sharp. i just can't. so i play without the teeth touching anything. I think I am doing double lip embouchure, is that ok? is that normal that some people can't put their upper teeth on the mouth piece and they can still sound good ? please give me a good advise because whenever hear all these instructors on youtube say upper teeth on the mouth piece is a crucial thing I feel like putting the saxophone away and not try to play anymore. i am really confused. thank you
Hi. As the video showed there are many types of embouchures. single lip is more popular so more people talk about it, but double lip is equally good. John Coltrane used it and he was one of the greats. It opens your mouth more creating a bigger oral cavity and is easier to move the mouthpiece in and out of the mouth while playing to create subtones. With double lip, your top lip is curled over your top teeth just like the bottom. If this is not the case, then it is not double lip. Some people play single lip but raise the top teeth off the mouthpiece. Personally, I don't see the point in this as it may result in a loss of control. Some do it because they don't like the vibrations or because they bite too much, but a mouthpiece patch would solve that. Those who play double lip are capable of playing single lip but feel that double gives a better sound, so I don't know why you cannot play in the lower register. Maybe you are biting which causes you to play overtones. Maybe something is wrong with your sax. Get someone else to play your sax and see if it happens to them. If not, get a teacher to look at what you are doing. However, as long as you sound good and your embouchure is not hindering you over the full range of the sax, don't worry about it.
Hi Daniel. Since the Nuvo Dood has a reed like a saxophone, the only suggestion I can give is to relax your lips. Biting or applying too much pressure is a cause of high pitches. Also vary the position of the mouthpiece in your mouth. Either have more or less mouthpiece in your mouth. Blowing too hard can change the pitch as well as having a damaged reed. The Nuvo website has a trouble shooting section that might help or contact them as they specialise in the instrument. All the best with your new Nuvo Dood. Thanks
Hi. There are only 2 methods involving the upper teeth, single lip embouchure or double lip embouchure. With single lip embouchure your teeth is in direct contact with the mouthpiece so any vibrations will travel through the teeth. These vibration are dampened with mouthpiece patches or using a double lip embouchure where you curl your top lip over your top teeth like John Coltrane. This might be better with implants and add more feeling which might be lost due to the implants. However, though some have changed their embouchure because of implants, it will take of lot of practice. This is only my opinion and would be better seeking advice from those have had the procedure. Sorry I couldn't give you more advice. Thanks.
Hi. An Alto mouthpiece with neck should be G# and a Tenor mouthpiece with neck should be E. This is based on classical mouthpieces. However, If you just blow into the mouthpiece with the neck on it, the pitch you get will depend on the position of the mouthpiece on neck, your embouchure and possibly the internal design of the mouthpiece, but the pitches given can be used as a guide.
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Hi. Most people have this problem when starting to learn to play the saxophone but overcome this with time. Some do it in order to keep the saxophone from moving. Make sure the neck strap is adjusted correctly and the saxophone is at the right height for you. Some do it because their reed is too hard for them and they have to bite more to make it sound. Try to relax your embouchure. Maybe try a different strength reed. Maybe do some exercises with the mouthpiece only to test whether you are biting too hard. There are a few videos on RU-vid dealing with such problems. You should try to break this habit as soon as possible. Thanks
Hi. Sometimes the reed is too hard which means you have to apply more pressure to sound a note. Try a softer reed or a different make which is more free blowing. Small tip opening mouthpieces are easier to play. If playing an alto sax, then just blowing through the mouthpiece alone should produce an A note. You could use this as a rough guide to tell whether you are biting too hard. My video short on lip pain has some product suggestions which some use especially if they have sharp teeth. Taking frequent breaks will help. There are a few RU-vid videos on biting but maybe a teacher is better to help with this. Thanks
Nice video. Appreciate the work going into to showing the anatomical cross sections. Beginner here and self inflicted victim of lower lip teeth gouging. Heals overnight but cuts practice short. Looking forward to trying now with your guidelines. Subscribed.
Hi. Thanks for the comment. I did a video short on lip pain showing some of the remedies that some use when its a persistent problem. Its common with beginners as they may bite on the mouthpiece. Some practice on the mouthpiece alone with a tuner to test whether they are biting too much. The main thing is that you do not want to pick up bad habits in the beginning.