Saxophone embouchure

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The embouchure is the position of the facial muscles when playing a wind instrument such as the saxophone.

Contents 1 Tonal concept 2 Embouchure 3 Embouchure Styles 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Tonal concept

A player's "tonal concept" is the sound that they wish to create.

The actual tone produced is influenced by several factors:

• The player's tonal concept
• The pressure and speed of the air stream produced by the player's diaphragm
• The position of the player's trachea, throat and oral cavity
• The player's embouchure
• The position of the instrument relative to the player's body
• The design of the mouthpiece (chamber, facing, tip opening) and reed strength
• The design of the instrument

[edit] Embouchure

The saxophone embouchure involves:

• Keeping the chin in a relaxed and natural position
• Forming an "oo" shape with the mouth - as when saying the word "cool"
• Placing the mouthpiece into the mouth, with the upper teeth resting on the top of the mouthpiece
• Keeping the throat open - as when saying "ah"

[edit] Embouchure Styles

An important principle for any woodwind embouchure is that the lip supports the reed. Saxophone players generally adopt either the single-lip or double-lip embouchure, then adapt it to their chosen instrument.

The single-lip embouchure, used by most saxophonists, involves placing the upper teeth directly on the mouthpiece, curving the lower lip over the lower teeth.

The double-lip embouchure, used by very few saxophonists, involves curving the upper lip under the upper teeth, so that the lip comes between the upper teeth and the slope of the mouthpiece; and curving the lower lip over the top of the lower teeth, so that it comes between the lower teeth and the reed.

A good analysis of saxophone tone and embouchure can be found in Larry Teal's book The Art of Saxophone Playing.^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ Larry Teal, The Art of Saxophone Playing. Miami: Summy-Birchard, 1963. ISBN 0-87487-057-7.

• Davis, Ben, The Saxophone: A Comprehensive Course. London, Henri Selmer & Co., 1932. (see External Links).
• Davis, Ben, The New Saxophone Embouchure. London, 1928.
• O'Neill, John, The Jazz Method for Saxophone. Schott & Co. Ltd, London. 1992. ISBN 0-946535-20-5.
• Frederick Hemke, The Teacher's Guide to the Saxophone. The Selmer Company, 1977. A teacher using the "single" embouchure.
• Jaap Kool, Das Saxophon. J. J. Weber, Leipzig. 1931. Translated by Lawrence Gwozdz in 1987. (p.178).
• Rousseau, Eugene, Saxophone High Tones. Etoile Music. 1978.
• Luckey, Robert, Saxophone Altissimo. Advance Music, 1993.
• Fordham, John, Jazz. Dorling Kindersley, 1993. ISBN 0-7513-0050-0.

[edit] See also

• Saxophone
• Embouchure
• Saxophone mouthpieces
• List of woodwind instruments

[edit] External links

• The Saxophone: A Comprehensive Course by Ben Davis discusses different types of saxophone embouchure.
• Beginner Saxophone Lesson #2
• Rules of Saxophone Embouchure by Pete Thomas
• All About Embouchure by Ryan Fraser
• Expert Village video by Dave Birkin
• article on ConcertBand.com discussing the "single" and "double" embouchures