Beginner (playing) Help Help Help

[jupiterkiss]

Hey

I have had my tenor saxophone for about 3 weeks, please see my post here

Learning at Last

Anyway for the past 3 weeks i have been trying to get a decent sound out of thing, my wife and kids have nearly lynched me a few times and the neighbours have complained to RSPCA

Anyway jokes aside my tone is start to even out and i have started learning some blues scales. However one observation i have made, that is mainly due to my jagger like lips, but i find it uncomfortable to fold my bottom lip over my Teeth. I am way more comfortable playing without doing this.

Can someone please tell me if this a mega bad habit that i will regret in the future?🙁

Cheers

Jupiterkiss

 

[Taz]

Don't panic. Some players play with the lip over the teeth, some don't. I personally do a bit of both, I think that for my more mellow tunes, I play with the lip out, pouting like a big girl, but for the rockier pieces, I think I play a bit more lip over teeth. If you prefer one, try to stick to it. As they say , "if it works for you!"

 

[Chris98]

However one observation i have made, that is mainly due to my jagger like lips, but i find it uncomfortable to fold my bottom lip over my Teeth. I am way more comfortable playing without doing this.

Can someone please tell me if this a mega bad habit that i will regret in the future?🙁

Cheers

Jupiterkiss

Hi Jupiterkiss,

I can't imagine playing with my teeth on the reed!

How much of your bottom lip are you folding over? Trying to work out how to explain the amount I fold over is a little difficult but here's my stab at it:

Part you lips slightly and lightly pull the corners of your mouth back and down, not much, just a bit. For me that pulls the bottom lip against my bottom teeth and there is just a bit of lip that naturally sits over the top of my teeth, that is roughly the amount I have.

All the best,

Chris

 

[SteveK]

You only need a small amount of lip over your lower teeth - in fact it is as much that your lower teeth are helping to provide a firm backing to you lower lip - thus providing support + cushioning.
I hear that some people don't use the bottom lip but that's probably more by accident than design.
The excess lip on the outside is not an issue as it does not come into contact with the vibrating part of the reed.
Have you only been playing for three weeks or have you just had this tenor for three weeks? If it's the first one then please persevere with the 'correct' lower lip as you are not in a position yet to draw conclusions. You don't want to end up in a situation further down the line that you are limited by your lower lip.
Steve

 

[jupiterkiss]

Hi

Thanks for the advise, in answer to the question i have only been playing 3 weeks.

The thing is my teeth dont come in contact with reed, as my lower is very thick, so it cushions nice.

Cheers

Jupiterkiss

 

[Justin Chune]

I've played the sax the same way as you for years now and never get a sore mouth. This embouchure allows me to play with soft reeds and I'm very comfortable with it.

Jim.