Sore Bottom.......Lip

[gazb]

Yes, I know your all going He He He welcome to the sax but is this sore ever going to go away or is it like 'guitar finger' simply waiting for the bottom lip to harden up?
Is it because I have over practiced or is it a simple case of not positioning the bottom lip correctly?

I try and practice an hour a day but it's now begining to really bug me. I leave it to recover for a few days but returns as soon as I start back to regular practice.

Any info would be really helpful.

Gary

 

[Pjonah]

I guess its possible that your lower jaw teeth could be irritating the inner lip more so than others, but it is a bit like guitar finger. I have a distinct line inside my lip that is actually hardened skin from years (33) of playing. In time your annoyance will subside and you'll forget what all your fuss was about.

If it gets sore use Bongella (sp?) or some such proprietory item to ease the soreness or simply play your way through like a hero!

Good luck with it either way.

Simon

 

[sharon]

Hi Gaz. I think most people get that lip, I know I did. Perhaps you could try practicing for more shorter periods in the day instead of a whole hour. It does go, although one of my new mouthpieces gives me a sore lip if I play for too long on it. Toughens up the chops though 😉

Make sure your not biting down and putting undue pressure on your lip. I think I'm right in saying that your lip should be a cushion for the mpc.

Keep at it.

Sharon

 

[Rogerb]

I think just about everyone does...I couldn't go for more than 20mins at first.

BONJELA can help to ease the pain!

 

[gazb]

Hi All,

Thanks for your help, really appreciated.

Bonjela, shorter practice times and be a man eh Simon (but it Really hurts Mum). It all sounds like good advice to me.
I have booked my first lesson today to help sort out any bad habits and it's possible that I'm not positioning the mouthpiece properly as well. We shall see what happens next week.

Thanks Again and for the support

Gary 🙂

 

[justin_chune]

Hi Gary. It is not normal to get a sore mouth that takes days to recover. Your teacher will explain how to fit the reed and form your embouchure, when you go for a lesson. Make sure that your mouth is healed for that. In the meantime you might want to try this. Look in a mirror and observe the shape of your lips as you say "pouch mouth". Hold that shape and insert your thumb into your mouth and suck it. Observe that shape. Now replicate that shape around your mouthpiece. When I do this I can run the tip of my tongue along the cutting edge of my teeth. So, no contact between teeth and lip. My top teeth rest lightly on the mouthpiece and my lower lip forms a cushion for the reed. This is the sax embouchure I prefer and I never get a sore mouth. I hope this helps.