Tone or Sound Are there stages of embouchure?

[Matabayahsi]

I have been using bottom lip tucked in until now and tried the both lips out a few times seemed and felt very hard to have control, from what I read on the other topics on the forum about this question I see that many of you believe that the bottom lip out gives out a bigger tone unless you are playing classical.
I am not playing classical so I want that bigger sound I suppose but it also seems like everybody who uses this technique switched to it after bottom lip tucked in.

is there anybody that started out with both lips out and it worked out ?
Or are there stages of embouchure so that you start with bottom tucked in and as your muscles built for that at some point you can do the bottom lip out easier?

 

[Nick Wyver]

I see that many of you believe that the bottom lip out gives out a bigger tone

Not me. Biggest difference is less control.

Anyway, do whatever suits you. The only embouchure stages are: 1) rubbish, 2) usable, 3) good - in whatever lip configuration you fancy.

 

[jbtsax]

I strongly urge you to practice using the "traditional" embouchure as described by Bruce Pearson and by
Eugene Rousseau until you have established a well controlled "characteristic" saxophone tone throughout the entire range of the instrument. At that time you will be ready to try different embouchure adjustments to produce
the tone required by various different styles of playing. The concept is simple:

Master the basics of the saxophone first, and then pursue the style(s) that you want to play.

 

[Colin the Bear]

.....and be patient. You can't rush it, only encourage it and wait for it to happen.

 

[Jeanette]

.....and be patient. You can't rush it, only encourage it and wait for it to happen.

So true of much in life................

Jx

 

[Matabayahsi]

I will keep my traditional embouchure then it helps since it comes more natural at the moment anyway it is just that I can't stop thinking about my bottom teeth if I am biting or not and thinking about that ruins my concentration completely. I ll forget it soon hopefully.
I guess trying it for 5 minutes every practice session doesn't hurt and one day I ll be able to do it better for now I can't see much improvement in tone but may be if I keep on it will make a change.

.....and be patient. You can't rush it, only encourage it and wait for it to happen.

Yeah I know it sounds like I am rushing things and I probably am because I want to be ready for busking (because that is going to be all I can do in terms of practice once I leave this place in 3 weeks) 😛 but I am trying to avoid bad habits and unnecessary practice time

 

[Lizengar]

Not me. Biggest difference is less control.

Anyway, do whatever suits you. The only embouchure stages are: 1) rubbish, 2) usable, 3) good - in whatever lip configuration you fancy.

Actually, I agree with Nick. Although I am a beginner without any real knowledge yet but use whatever embouchure that you feel comfortable and can play.

My teacher said that everyone's mouth, cavity and lips are different. What works for you may not work for others and vice versa. Go with the one you feel comfortable with and gives you more control.

I tried bottom lip out and it sounded way too "blasty" for my liking. To each his own. And from the sound demo you recorded, it sounds good so I suggest sticking to what you are currently using.

 

[spike]

I started playing sax in the late sixties in those days I was playing bottom lip tucked in, I went full pro in the seventies and over the years developed a very hard skin pad for lack of a better definition on the inside of my lower lip. Quit playing full time pro in the eighties for about ten years then went back to it with gusto in the nineties. I was never really consciously aware of the change but in the late nineties I noticed I was playing bottom lip out. It just came about quite naturally. There are many things that change with regards embouchure over time. . . . And very often in fact more often than not they go unnoticed until the Ahaa moment - ooh what am I doing ? - How did I do that ? It's all part of the never ending sax story. I discovered something about my flute playing recently that blew my mind, I've played flute for almost fifty years now and recently discovered something that I was never consciously aware of. Theory of musical evolution, whatever - funny old world is'nit ;-)