Saxophone beginners Playing Alto & Tenor

[Halfers]

Everywhere I've just checked, people "who look like they know what they are talking about" say the lip acts as a cushion between the reed and the teeth(as I thought). If this is correct and you don't have larger than average lips, surely you are folding your lip back over your teeth?

I read this when I first picked up the horn. It played havoc with my bottom lip though. I think as I've become more accustomed to playing and my embouchure has got stronger, my lower lip has moved out and it no longer covers my bottom teeth. I get a much better tone (to my ear) that way. But go with what feels and sounds best for you.

 

[6441]

...does there follow a story of a lass in the woods who once lent you her clarinet....?????

At eight or nine, I was a long ways from doing anything but making fun of girls. Ewww, girls. That was another century.

 

[GCinCT]

Everywhere I've just checked, people "who look like they know what they are talking about" say the lip acts as a cushion between the reed and the teeth(as I thought). If this is correct and you don't have larger than average lips, surely you are folding your lip back over your teeth?

My jaw is low, teeth below the lip. My lip forms a flat cushion against the reed. Lip above the teeth, not folded over.

 

[InWalkedBud]

Curling the lower lip over the teeth is a habit from my clarinet days that I had to consciously break when returning to saxophone a couple years ago. But my lip still curls over sometimes when playing alto.

 

[IGoddard]

I found I’d cut my lip much more if i rolled it over my teeth. When my chops tire and I start to bite down on the mouthpiece I’d start to make my lip bleed.