Beginner (playing) Mouth chamber

[prelude1]

Ok, i ve been playing with my cheeks somewhat stiff and pinched in like saying OOOOH for my embouschere. Todayi let my cheeks bulge out a bit…not like a trumpet player but a mild bulge and my tone is fatter….i understand why, as my mouth chamber is larger now….is this ok? It does make my embouchere more relaxed….i like it but am I fooling myself?
Thanks
Greg

 

[wakyct]

Hard to say without seeing you play but I would guess pinching in would squeeze and muffle the reed too much. I'm not so sure it's about the size of the mouth, after all saxophonists are in all shapes and sizes, so much as the amount and direction of pressure on the reed.

edit: OK this is funny, I've never thought of it like that until I wrote the words and I'd like to add my question to @prelude1's thread if that's OK. There is a wide variety in anatomy among saxophonists. Why is voicing, i.e. shaping of the oral tract emphasized so much? That is to say the shape of every saxophonist is going to be different.

There must be some general principles in play but what are they? I'm recalling an article I read that I now can't find the link to, which claimed voicing actually has very little affect and it's all about embouchure and air stream.

 

[skeller047]

Air support trumps embouchure every time. Without good support, embouchure is meaningless.

@prelude1, neither of your descriptions sounds like what I would call a good embouchure. Do a search for the Jerry Bergonzi “No-embouchure embouchure” and give that a try. Basically you want your mouth muscles to form a good seal around the mouthpiece and reed, and enough pressure on the reed to support it, but no more.

But unless you have a strong support system in your lower core (i.e. your belly), and control your air from there, no embouchure will help.

 

[Saxlicker]

I don't think you should aim for pinched or blown out cheeks.
Both of these are possible despite the amount of tension (or bite) from your jaw.
So they are only part of the equation.
Your jaw can overbite or underbite, be too tight or too loose.

But it's all personal really even though there are 'approved' descriptions.
I just think its important to
A) @skeller047 says, have good air support
B) Get comfortable with the mouthpiece without struggling. As in avoid extremes.

 

[Pete Thomas]

.i understand why, as my mouth chamber is larger now….is this ok?

Yes especially if it causes your sound to be better or seem to be better

I'm recalling an article I read that I now can't find the link to, which claimed voicing actually has very little affect and it's all about embouchure and air stream.

Could be Dr Pillinger’s phd? Or based on it.

Basically you want your mouth muscles to form a good seal around the mouthpiece and reed, and enough pressure on the reed to support it, but no more

I’m not sure more pressure on the mouthpiece could do any harm

 

[Colin the Bear]

Mouth chamber? Better described as oral cavity.
As you progress you'll find all sorts of muscles you didn't know existed, can be manipulated in different ways to influence your sound and also ease of play.

There's a lot you can do from throat to lips to affect air stream, volume, direction and speed. Changing your sound mid solo can add interest, emphasis or "emotion" .

If you can make a more pleasing sound that's the way to go but keep an ear on your intonation.

Keep searching but beware of squeaks. 😉