3 Embouchure Mistakes to Avoid on the Saxophone
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- 3 Embouchure Mistakes to Avoid on the Saxophone
In this video, I will show you the 3 most common mistakes students make when it comes to embouchure.
When practising sound keep in mind that you need to let the reed vibrate freely without any obstacles and allow the air to flow nicely inside the saxophone.
In a nutshell, any kind of excessive tension produced by your facial muscles will be an obstacle to the airflow.
Videos mentioned in the video
OPEN THROAT SAXOPHONE SOUND - • Open Throat Saxophone ...
SAXOPHONE EMBOUCHURE BASICS - • Saxophone Embouchure B...
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this guy taught me more in 10 minutes than my teacher all semester
Thanks Dhir! Appreciate it😀🎷 keep it up! Any questions let me know!
Most classroom teachers don’t have more than general knowledge of most instruments. Get a private Tutor.
@@LondonSaxophoneSchoolP😊ww❤www
Thank you sir , just bought my first sax at 57 ! Disability has forced me off my drums after 50 years , so I’m watching a learning all I can from you .
Everything you say makes so much sense and I’m now playing a few notes …thanks so much your a star 🙏👍
That’s so great! Keep it up😀
I am also new with Sax since few weeks with 66.
I am also learning the saxophone after years of playing the drums. Good luck to you in your endeavors.
@@anthonylangston23 thank you Anthony hope your new venture goes well to my friend 🙏👍
I'm 62 and just having a blast with easy songs. Just wondering with your Bigsquatch Sasfoot name if you ever watched the Saxsquatch RUclips videos? He's actually really good.
What really helped me was playing songs I knew well. I had a big note Christmas songs book and it made it so easy. Big notes,big staff,names on the notes, mostly in the middle of the staff not on ledger lines and few sharps and flats.
You may not learn to read music as fast but it is fun and easy on the eyes. Hal Leonard makes ez play books. The Sinatra one is great. Good luck 🤞.
After playing sax as amateur for years, I finally realized embouchure is all about balancing, control and synchronizing with air flow. It's really great feeling after getting it right. listening to great players live is also great way to motivate me to find the right balance.
Well said! You will get it! It’s a matter of feeling and giving it time😀🙏
The best explanation on how to do the embouchure, and I’ve watched quite a few RUclips videos on it.
Appreciate your words Kulahit50! So glad these tips are helpful :)
Easy to understand and plainly put ❤❤
This is the best, most concisely and clearly explained / demonstrated beginner video on embouchure that I’ve found on RUclips!! Thank you 🙏🏻
That’s so great to hear Tim! Amazing! So gald this all made sense! 🙏😀🎷
Thank you for giving us really valuable information for free :)
My pleasure! Really happy you find the videos useful😀😀🎷
This is the best explanation of embouchure on RUclips
Thank you so much Anthony! Appreciate it a lot😀🙏so glad it’s helped you😎
That is the explanation! You, Sir, are a real master with deep understanding of the subject, as you can explain everything so clearly. Thank you!
Hey Medynsky, thanks so much for your really nice comment! I really appreciate your words and mostly, it makes me very happy the explanation made sense for you. Hope you can apply these simple tricks to your playing :) Let me know how it goes. Best, Martino
Thanks
My pleasure! :) Glad you found it helpful! 😀
Thank you. Really helpful and clear.
You're very welcome! Thank you Daniel!
Fantastic video, clearly explained. I just bought my alto sax, and this will be a great help.
Super happy you liked the video! Hope you can apply everything in there with problem. Any issues just let me know😀🙏🎷 happy playing!
I liked it working slowly thank you
Nice to see you here as well Rino! :)
Found this really helpful and well explained. Thank you :)
So glad I was able to help with this video! Keep up the good work🎷😀
enjoyed your lesson Martino, very informative cheers
Thank you so much George! So gald it’s helped you😀🙏
Great lesson!
Grazie mille caro!
Very well explained, good job. Thank you so much.
So glad it’s been helpful!! Keep it up😀
You sir, are an amazing teacher !! Thank you for helping me get into playing the saxophone !!
Thanks so much! Keep up the good work!!🙏😀
Such a great teaching. Simple but super useful and practical.
Thanks so much! Goad you found it helpful🙏🥲
Excellent video. Lowering the chin is tricky. I will keep trying. Thank you for your videos.
Yes, that can take some time to increase chin independence.
But totally doable.
Let me know how it goes Paul.
Very. Enlightening - thank you
Perhaps overall - Be relaxed - when playing is the key - thanks
Thank you so much Tony! Appreciate your words! So glad these tips helped you! Yes, the key is to start relaxed and keep that sense of relaxation all throughout :)
I love the way you explain things! Everything was very clear and helpful 😊
I'm so glad it was helpful! Thanks for your words!
great lesson!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it🎷😀🤣
Thank you
My pleasure! Glad I could help 🙏😀
I don't play any wind instruments, but I found this video fascinating. In fact, it made want to learn more. Thanks much. I liked and subbed
Grazie mille Guido! Sono contento che questo video ti motivi ad imparare il sax... dovresti provare😀🎷
Thank you so much for your comment Guido! So glad this video inspired you to take up the sax... you should give it a try😀🎷
Saluti cari!
very helpful !
thankful from Viet Nam
Hey Hoang! Thanks! Very happy this is helping you! Greetings from London :)
Muchas gracias por tus clases excepcionales. Cuando toco notas largas en el registro medio y agudo me tiembla un poco el sonido cuando intento dar fuerza a la nota. La hasta Fa# agudo. Enhorabuena por tus videos.👏👏👏👏
Jose! Te agradezco mucho por tus lindas palabras! Estoy re contento que mis videos te estén siendo ultiles.
Si te tiembla el sonido puede ser que la nota sea demasiado fuerte o que hay un poquito de debilidad en la embocadura.
Si te inscribis al gropo Saxophone Masters de Facebook ahi hará un pequeño live sobre esto esta semana. Te puede ayudar mucho.
Abrazos!
Martino
Very solid explanation sir.
My difficulty is making sound, sustaining the sound and playing low and high pitch distinctly.
Glad it helped Olupona😀 focus on one thing at the time. Get a good note first then aim to sustain it. Start with the middle notes and then expand to the higher ones. Lastly, the low ones.
It’s a bit of a combination of everything but this can kind of guide you in your practice😀 let me know how it goes🎷🔥
I was taught this in the very beginning of my career as a saxophonist by a professor at Peabody Conservatory to point your chin towards the floor. That stuck with me always
It's all about letting the reed vibrate! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tip
This video helped me play my very first low c on alto and this is my first year
Yey! Awesome!
Thanks for great teaching! I started 6 weeks ago with Sax and it helps to understand more how to play the Sax.
This is amazing to hear Dieter! Well done!
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Now I play already some easy songs!
@@DieterLo1 That is. just amazing! Well done!
Hi, I have just found your videos 👌 I have problems with the lower tones on my tenorsax. The tone sounds often an octav higher from lower E and down.
Thanks Christina! When low notes sound high it is usually an over tensing of the embouchure. Which means your facial muscles might be doing too much so you are squeezing the reed.
If you haven’t watch my video on Embouchure Basics and the 3 common embouchure mistakes.
You can also book a free call with me for further advice with no obligation to buy.
app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
Let me know how it goes😀🎷🤣
Hi and thank you for your great lesson. I've been playing sax for many years and I have never overcome an embouchure problem that I developed since I began learning to play the sax. I'll try to explain briefly.
I started at 17 years old and began placing my upper lip between my teeth and the upper part of the mouthpiece (not the normal way of teeth touching the top part of the mouthpiece). I played for almost 2 years like that learning with the Rubank Method. I finished the intermediate book with this embouchure. Never had issues of getting tired. I changed music teacher and he noticed that I was playing that way and told me that it was wrong, that I had to put my upper teeth with direct contact with the mouthpiece not my lip in between both. I started to change my emboucher and sadly till this day this has affected me negatively because I struggle constantly to maintain this embouchure. It affects my tuning and how I want to express myself while playing. I'm at the profesional level in my life and this has hindered me from achieving goals which I could have accomplised if I was taught correctly or if I hadn't changed my emboucher. I know that there are many famous sax players that play with my first embouchure and that it is refered to as the french embouchure. I have tried different excercises and I have given up on that, partly because I know I know about muscle memory and that is what happened to me, my mouth muscles develped in such a way that it is really imposible to turn back now.
Hope this helps for future sax players and for teachers in a way that they should be very careful on the first lessons on sax playing.
I'll share something I recorded not for ego issues but as an example of not having a controlled embouchure. Again, thank you so much for helping the sax community👍🙏🎶
ruclips.net/video/CqGNHNewDuA/видео.html
Hey Gary! Thank you so much for your nice message. Yes, the standard way of playing is with the upper teeth on mouthpiece. However, using the double lip embouchure is a type of embouchure used by some players as well.
I'm truly sorry to hear your story and that transitioning to the single lip embouchure caused so many problems.
If you play well with the double lip embouchure, everything works, you get a good control with a good sound, don't change.
The important thing is that you play well. Then if you play with your nose or your ears nobody really cares, if you know what I mean.
I did check your recording and you sound awesome man!
I hope you can go back to playing the way it works for you :)
Any questions let me know. Feel free to join my free Facebook group "Saxophone Masters"where I'll be able to help you further.
All my very best,
Martino
Have difficulty with the lo B flat on my tenor sax as it has a tendency to honk it also happens on low B as well.
Hey Yoli! Remember that low notes (low C, Db, B and Bb) are hard notes and don't come out as easily as other notes. Especially low B and Bb are killers.
I would focus on having a great sound on the main range (low C to top C or low C to top F# - palm keys). Only then I would start practicing Bb and B.
How does your low C sound? That is a major note to be aware of. If your C is great and you can sustain it try this. Play C and on the same 'blow' slur it down to B and keep that B long (or for as long as you can without letting it break). Repeat that many times for many days and months. Then you can do C slurred down to Bb and keep that Bb long.
This way you are starting from a note you can already play into something which is more difficult. Let me know how it goes :)
I don't own a saxophone and never even held one, why am I on a sax marathon at 10PM?
Thank you so much, Absolutely invaluable information
Thanks so much James! Amazing you enjoyed the video! Keep up the good work!
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Trying very hard, Just got a yamaha yas 275, sounds better, Still a way to go
Fantástico!!! Obrigado!!! Abraço 🤗
De nada! Prazer! Fico contento que vc gostou do video😀🎷
Estudo muito som todos os dias.!!! Magnífico!!!!
I would like to have more control over the low b flat up to low D volume control on the tenor sax. I have to use my tongue to build up pressure then release it to produce a tone. The only reeds that work for me is the synthetic Fibrocill. Any thoughts.
Remember that the low register is hard no matter what and it need time to develop.
Said that, I would approach your practice by approaching the low note from higher notes.
This is what I mean... play a (low) E and slur into D. Play D slur into C, play C slur into B, play B slur into Bb.
You can use this with sharps and flats and make up your own combinations.
This is a much better way to practice low notes when you still don’t have a full control of them.
Does it make sense m?
Hi, I just saw your tutorial which is bery helpful. As a beginner on alto sax, I am having difficulty getting a good full sound when I transition to notes using the octave key. Could you help resolve this please? Thanks, Adrian from Malta
Glad it was helpful! It's normal to find the transition between octaves challenging at the beginning. You can try inserting a gap just before the high notes while keeping the air pressure. This is an exercise that I guide my students through when they have issues on the transition like you.
Hope this helps and feel free to reach for further questions.
Hey thanks for this video, helped me a lot! I started playing a few days ago and my notes are beginning to get pretty constant. I do have lots of trouble with the lower notes (especially low c) any tips?
If you have been playing for few days only then I would not worry about low notes too much.
Concentrate on mid-high notes and get them even better.
Low now notes will be easier then.
Low C is harder... approach it in a scale from E. So, E,D, C 😀😀🙏🎷
These tips really helped me! I have been playing now about a week. So I'm still trying to figure out exactly what you teach in this video. Thank you!
That's amazing Mike! Keep it up! Let me know how it goes :)
Te felicito y agradezco por el contenido. Tu explicacion es muy clara y fácil de entender incluso para ami que no conozco muy bien tu idioma. Puedo mover el mentón como vos, pero seguro que no tocar como vos!
Mil gracias Gonzalo! Agradezco tus palabras y estoy contento que te haya gustado el video! Seguí adelante con tu practica y verás como lograrás mejorar… la constancia es todo💪 un abrazo!
👌
im switching from flute to saxophone for my schools jazz band the only thing i need help on is this
Amazing!!
I have a really bad habit of putting tk much pressure on my reed woth high notes how can i fix this?
Thank you so much ive only been playing for a few days and I'm still trying to figure things out. my saxophone keeps squeaking whenever I try going to a lower note like g
Hey Alexandra! It sounds you might have excessive tension in your embouchure.
I did a video on this that might help. It’s called “Your first note in 10 minutes” and it’s all about relaxing the embouchure to get the right sound.
ruclips.net/video/LnJdiDPiiTk/видео.html
Let me know how you get in 😀👊
this is where patience is right assured
haha yes...music is all about patience :) keep up the good work!
Hi, I'm your fan
I have a question.
It's about the embouchure setting
The power of the lower lip covering the reed is
I'm so curious how much it should be
I don't know if it's weak or if it's tight
I don't know how tight it is
I wonder if it's not
Thanks for your words Geoffrey! The lower lip should cover the teeth enough so to prevent the teeth from touching the reed. I've done some other videos on embouchure on this channel...Check them out as they will be super beneficial :)
Thank you for the exercise. I have just begun with the sax this week. The left hand notes are improving; right hand notes - F1, E1, D1, C1 - are inconsistent - sometimes I blow the higher register; sometimes air; sometimes the correct note. I read an article that said beginners tend to blow too hard. I do feel like I am blowing hard. Is the blowing related to my not hitting the notes correctly? I can slur from C#2 down to F1, then the tone falls apart.Thanks in advance.
Hi Lynn, thanks so much for your nice message.
Yes, overblowing can be the cause of your notes jumping up the octave.
Low notes don’t need so much air to make them happen so think less rather than more.
I did a video on a technique that will most likely help you out with this
ruclips.net/video/T8X3lD-WdLY/видео.html
Do check it out and let me know how it goes😀🙏
Hello, what in your opinion is the best exercises to build a strong embourcure???
There's no one single exercise that will build a strong embouchure. Long notes with the neck only, with the saxophone, using dynamics, scales and arpeggios, intervals of 3rd, playing tunes.
It's a bit of everything that done right will build up your chops :)
I'm trying to learn in my own, which is the best I I ever learn(I pick up faster than most are willing to teach), and I love the way you explain things.
I've been practicing for four days at the time of this post. It's my first ever sax, an Alto (Susan), and I'm getting my embouchure figured out for the most part, I'm already halfway through my first scale. But when it comes to the higher octaves, I can't get close to being in key. Is there a specific approach to the higher/highest notes? Pretty much everything above C6
Nice one Miles and thanks for your words!🙏😀
If you have only been playing for 4 days I would concentrate on getting good sounding notes on the mid register. Don’t worry about having perfectly in tune high notes.
Muscles need to adjust and will strengthen over time. Also, tuning is also a matter of air consistency which you will develop as you go along.
Hope this is helpful. Let me know how it goes though😀🙏🎷🤣
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool I've found the e-flat major pentatonic scale, and I'm practicing with that. I've found that 2 reeds are too soft for me currently, so I'm back to practicing with 2½'s for now until I can get some more diaphragm control. I've also started working out more diligently. I lost 40 lbs before I got my sax so this is helping me with my all around next level. 😎🎷
This is legit the best thing I could think of to do with my mid-life crisis
I think dropping your chin has another effect. It creates a chamber inside your mouth which has a major influence on the quality of the sound you create. With your chin up it makes a squashed chamber in your mouth which in turn creates a squashed sound. Alternatively, dropping your chin makes a bigger volume of space therefore creating a more full and rounded sound. This principle works exactly the same for a brass instrument (trumpet, trombone etc.) where you are using your lips to make the vibration rather than a reed.
I'm not sure if you still read these but. I got a soprano sax a few weeks back. I played tenor fairly well in middle school / high school a number of years ago. That horn is long gone, but I decided to pick up a soprano. Anyway, I can most of the notes out no probably, its definitely easier to bend and get out of tune with how your embouchure is set.. My question is When going up into the palm keys, D Eflat E, F and Fsharp. I can only get those notes out If im very deep into the mouth piece. Is there something I'm missing, or is it natural to have to reposition your self on the mouth piece to get those high notes? Also I noticed the sound I get is quite loud and I can get louder but I'm not quite sure how to actually play soft notes on it. Im certain that has to do something with the embouchure . Any advice would be awesome. Thanks!
Hi Evenglare! Thanks for your message! :) Tenor and soprano are quite different in terms of embouchure in the sense that soprano is a beast when it comes to play it well. Everything is smaller and tighter so you need to learn how to relax while finding the good amount of tension to make it work.
I'm actually holding a live workshop on sound and embouchure that I think will be just perfect for you.
We'll talk about all the possible issues when it comes to sound and embouchure and I'm sure it will be super beneficial for you.
You can read more info on the link below. If you have any further question do email me at martino@londonsaxophoneschool.com
Take care!
music.londonsaxophoneschool.com/onlineevent
Martino, thanks for all of your videos. When you lower your chin, is your bottom lip still slightly curling over the teeth?
So glad you like the video😀🎷 yes, totally! Your lip is always a little bit rolled over your teeth. When bringing down the chin you will just create more space for the reed to vibrate😀
Very helpful, thank you. I'd be interested to know more about specific embouchure points for highest notes and for lowest notes. I think there are different refinements you need for a good sound for each of these, but I'm not sure what they are.
The sweet spot is actually just one for me. Once you find it try experimenting with lip pressure so to allow the sound to be more free. Some players play a lot with their jaws but the point of contact embouchure/mouthpiece does not really change :) See you for our lesson in few weeks Alison :)
Hi - thanks this is so helpful. Can you please explain what the teeth should be doing. I think I must be biting hard as I’m biting through the mouthpiece cushions really quickly. My sound seems to be ok but I must be doing something wrong with. my teeth. Thanks again for your wonderful advice. Molly xx
Teeth should just be resting on the mouthpiece. Don’t over bite tho. Find a good relaxed embouchure first through what I call the Ocean Sound first and teeth should find their position and right amount of pressure. I have a whole course in embouchure that might be good for you. You can download the free PDF and will receive all the info😀 any questions let me know🙏🎷
@LondonSaxophoneSchool i would love to know more about that course, my poor lips aren't doing great, I'm biting too hard. Thank you
I was intrinsically a natural learner with trumpet violent and piano today I'm on a praise and worship team as a keyboardist/pianist but however despite being able to pick up an instrument the amount of keys on a trumpet are only three when I look at flute,sax or clarinet those three intimidate me! However I love the tenor sax ! It is my next instrument that I will want to challenge myself at learning because of the mere fact it looks like a cumbersome and difficult intricate instrument to learn. But the rewards in doing so I see the goal in my mind at the end where I can close my bedroom door and sit in a chair and be there with the instrument on an adventure of expression and sound! I embrace the challenge! So I am going to save up for my first saxophone I haven't decided on a brand name but I can research that on internet I'm sure. ....if you guys know of any good brands please chime in by all means ! I play guitar and bass as well but the flute and saxophone are definitely next on my list !
You can’t go wrong with Yamaha yas 280 or yas-480.Selmer and Yanagisawa are always an amazing choice.😀😀🙏
Don't be psyched out by all the keys on a sax. Once you get started on playing a few notes and start getting a reasonable sound the challenge of learning the fingering will start to fall into place. The biggest challenge I had switching from brass to sax was in having to sometimes move multiple fingers at the same time. Still trip up now and again.
Great video, but the volume level on this recording is really low! I maxed out my volume on youtube and my laptop to just hear you!
Super happy you found the video helpful! The audio has a good level and it plays well on my devices but I will definitely keep this in mind for future videos :) Thanks for the feedback.
Also, I tend to get tired after practicing for just 10 or 15 minutes.
Completely normal. Just take a break or stop. The lips will get fitter as you build up your practice :)
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Thank You
I think just like at the gym or studying you'll notice after a 3-5 break you'll be refreshed
@@BryWMac Yes, agree Bryan. Practicing is building capacity. Thanks.
Totally!😀
Thanks for this video. Do you have some Tipps against biting to hard on your mouthpiece?
Biting comes from excessive tension/pressure with the embouchure and facial muscles.
Focus on relaxing rather than not biting.
Try the exercises I talk about in
ruclips.net/video/7lMZ2wTWTJA/видео.html
And here
ruclips.net/video/LnJdiDPiiTk/видео.html
Let me know how it goes
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Hello, so I think my main problem is that I dont know how much pressure I should give on the mouthpiece. Im playing for 3-4 years now and that is still strange. Is it just like laying your head on the mouthpice or should you really make some pressure on it. Maybe im doing less pressure with my lip and more with my teeth. That could be my problem. So how much pressure should I do on the mouthpiece with my teeth?
I see, your teeth are only resting on the mouthpiece... there should not be any pressing on it.
Try putting your thumb in your mouth and resting your teeth on it.
It should feel the same. Let me know how it goes😀
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool ok thanks a lot . I will do that
My c# sounds d# and i don't know why. I'll try your tips on embouchure
You mean low C# and D#? It's all about blowing less and relaxing to the point you can control the air. Also watch another video of mine called Your First Notes in under 10 minutes as that will help a lot.
Hi, I have an opportunity to purchase a used Apollo Sax which is fairly expensive but have no idea whether this make is a decent one. Do you knoa about that make aand are they generally good.
Hey Lox, I have never tried the Apollo Sax and can’t give you an opinion😭 sorry I can’t help on this.0
I was impressed by the totally relaxed manner you produce a note. No twisting of the face or contortions of the mouth or cheeks. Could you elucidate on the double lip embouchure as was the custom in the old days and why it was discarded. The good and bad aspects of the double lip embouchure and everything else about it .Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. The idea is to play effortlessly even when you are playing simple or complicated things. This is actually more a thinking thing than actual physical thing.
I have not much experimented with the double embouchure myself and I could not give you my personal opinion on it on the differences with the sinlge-lip embouchure.
However, in the next few weeks I am going to give it a try and practice using the double lip e. and will either do a new video on it or drop you a message.
😀🎷
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool I rather like the no nonsense approach you take in getting ideas that would be difficult to get across either by actual demonstration or by verbiage . I would very much like to have you illustrate ,in your manner, how the subtone may be produced either on alto or tenor, the type of mouthpiece, chamber type and size, baffle type, facing, tip opening reed hardness ,position of beak, and any other details which you would consider to be of importance in being able to play in this amazingly speaking mode referred to as subtone playing. I am as yet looking forward to your video on the double lip embouchure or any information you might think of being important or relevant. Thank you for taking my earlier note to you seriously enough to suggest that you research the subject.
@@vivianastridge2167 Nice to hear from you again Astridge! Thank you for your message :) Subtone is an amazing tool to have in your toolbox and quite fun to do as well.
I will include this in my to-do list of videos to film for the next batch.
There's a few new ones coming out in the next weeks on altissimo, pulse, and other things that might be interesting for you as well, I hope.
I will message you as soon as the subtone and the double lip embouchure videos are scheduled to be published. It might take a bit of time but I will certainly make these as these are very mportant topics! You take care Vivian :)
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Thank you Mr Martino for your so prompt reply. Just goes to show that you are serious about your work and actually do read comments. You seem to be of a different cut to most teachers and I would most dearly like to have what ever information, instruction, advice, suggestions you might have to offer on the double lip embouchure and the amazing subtone. I started my music study with the classical clarinet and at that time and I think even presently the classical embouchure is the double lip type. I later turned my attention to the saxophone and not having a teacher at hand used the double lip embouchure on the saxophone. I have tried the single lip also and find that this offers much more control and stability of the notes , especially the higher notes. But I have also found that it is not possible to produce the soft smooth velvety sound of Stan Getz or other such greats with the single lip embouchure and so continue to use the double lip. In any case I am not a professional player and projection and total control, edge are not prerequisites for me. So please, do research the double lip embouchure and subtone . And thank you very very much for reading my comment. Looking forward to what would prove to be a very interesting video from you.
Thank you for your words Vivian and awesome to know more about your background.
I will experiment with the double lip embouchure and let you know what I think of it😀😀👊
Hello. Thx for the tips. I have one question. If my mouthpiece on my vintage sax is at is maximum position and the sound is too low. Is it possible go get it higher without pinching?
Glad you enjoyed the video! There's two possible answers here: either your embouchure is too loose or it needs fixing in some way or you need to get the neck re-corked.
With the same mouthpiece on a modern sax i don't have any problem. I suppose reworking the neck could help yes. Thx
Please teach how to play without using force on myself saxophone when playing
Great idea! I will do a video on this!
Don't forget to download my FREE Sax Guide "7 Saxophone Tips for all levels" with more saxophone tips 👉
music.londonsaxophoneschool.com/saxophoneguide
Very very caprisyve instrument. Anyway... enjoyable
@@kiosi1964 thank you! Can't understand the word 'caprisyve' though.
Having trouble with low B. I play the low Bb better then I play the low B. I am bringing the tip of my tongue down but still having problems. Any advise.
Very informative video! Thank you!
B is a nasty note..more than Bb. I'd say don't tongue the low notes and learn to support them with lots of air :)
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool
Oh, I give that a try.
Thank you
Steve Henry
Martino! Desperately need to come and redo your beginner sax lessons at some point. The main thing I struggle with is tension.
It was the same during the group sessions. There's so much you have to think about (opening your throat, making sure you're breathing out correctly, not moving your jaw, forcing yourself to stop biting down on top teeth, not letting your corners let out any air, making sure you hit all notes with the right amount of air. etc) that it all culminates into a much more tense embouchure.
Are there any excercises you'd recommend to being able to relax the mouth a bit more?
Sadly, I can’t recognize you from the YT name:/😓 remind me of your name😀
I would love to have you back and help you out.
From your message it feels you are overwhelmed by the many things you need to think about.
I would forget about everything (that is throat, fingers, notes, rhythms, tonguing etc.) and just focus on one thing at the time. And start with your sound.
Tension develops normally because we tend to overthink, over focus to achieve our goals. That is probably what is happening with you.
I made a video called saxophone embouchure basics. Watch that and do the 3 phases focusing on starting your air sound from a relaxed state.
This will solve many of the problems.
Let me know how it goes and hope to see you again soon.
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Thanks a lot Martino. Greatly apprecaited.
I was Kenny, the one with the 2nd hand alto that was tricky to play (due to leaking). This was at the start of last year - so quite a while back.
I'll get onto those tips and I hope to see you soon. Stay safe!
Kenny!! Awesome! If you have any questions do let me know! Hope to see you soon!🎷😀
Thankyou for this tutorial.. Im newbie. Im start with my tenor almost 3 weeks of playing.. why im squeeking when i change note from higher to lower.. Do i need tighten my embochure when playing higher note? And mild loosen when change in to lower?
Hey Judas! If you haven’t yet, watch my video on embouchure called embouchure basics and your first note in 10 minutes.
These will be very beneficial for you.
You might need to relax your embouchure actually... squeaks are almost always produced by overtensing of the embouchure.
Let me know how it goes 😀🎷
Thankyou sir 😊
What is a good embouchure after the implant procedure?
I can't advice on this. Do seek advice of a medical expert on this area.
Very good beginner tutorial! I'm very much a beginner and have been struggling with getting a consistent sound. It seems that low notes are pretty easy to hit, but the high D and onwards often come out squeaky or sound like the low D. I believe it's my poor embouchure form - I think I'm either applying too much pressure from the lower lip/teeth or have too much mouthpiece in my mouth.. it's.. tricky.
What's weird is that lower-middle notes seem to be much more forgiving in terms of embouchure, while upper D and onwards are tough. I often find that I get okay sound in the middle/low, but moving up, I just get various squeaks. What's more is that when I move the mouthpiece out of my mouth further, it seems that high D and towards becomes easier to play, while pretty much impossible with more mouthpiece in my mouth
🤷
It sounds like you might be having too much tension all around your facial muscles (lips, chin, maybe cheeks as well) so air can’t go through properly.
Also, perhaps your air flow is not consistent enough so the high notes tend to drop. Squeaks are usually an issue from the embouchure.
If you join the FB group Sax Masters you can post a video in there for the community and myself to comment on.
You can also book a free call with me so we can try to understand what is going on and make plan moving forwards. The call is 100% free with no obligation to buy.
app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
😀🙏🎷🤣
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool thanks for such an detailed reply!!
I think that's exactly what's going on. It seemed to get better yesterday, but back worse again today. It probably doesn't help that my practice sessions were rushed due to lack of time. I will try to take out a bunch of time and calmly focus on embouchure tomorrow and apply some of your advice!
I'll definitely look into the FB group and if I'm still struggling, I might take you up on the offer for a call!
Thanks again! You deserve more likes/subscribers/etc!!
It does not matter (to a certain extent) how long you practice. The important thing is that you are in the moment, focused and concentrated on your task. Even if it's 3 minutes, you can accomplish a lot in that time. Take one thing at the time and spend good quality time on improving.
If you get tired, that's totally normal. Do short sessions of playing balanced with breaks. It's like going to the gym - you do your set and then take a short break. Until you build stamina.
Awesome about the FB group. Tag me once you're in it so I say hello.
Looking forward to talking to you in a call should you need it at any point.
And thank you for your support on the channel. The important thing is I get to help people like you :) Upwards and onwards! Keep me in the loop on how everything goes :)
Grandioso, caro Martino. Un abbraccio
:) Grazie carissimo! :) Abbraccio forte!
When I practice my embouchure with just the mouth piece and neck I get a good sound but once I attach it to the saxophone and try to hit a few keys I’m having difficulties with my embouchure. I think part of it could be the neck strap that was provided. I replaced it because it feels like I’m trying to hold and balance the saxophone. Does this effect your embouchure?
Hey Standfirm2070! Absolutely! The head angle can indeed have an impact on the sound and your embouchure. When it comes to the strap, it's all about finding one that's comfortable for you. Personally, I use the Sax Holder, which works great for me. The key is to maintain a natural tilt of your head without going too high or too low. Happy playing! 😊🎷🎶
Thank you for the tips on embochure.I have been playing the alto for 5 years on and off, and soprano 2 years on and off (just really a hobbyist). In the soprano, I have a hard time playing the notes G# and above when pressing the octave key. Those notes sound thin and forced. How do I make those notes "sing"?
Soprano is quite a beast when it comes to sound control. I would concentrate on getting a nice and vibrant sound on all the notes up to that high G.
What's going on is that you a tensing your embouchure, hence closing the gap between reed and mouthpiece and as a consequence get very little sound, perhaps squeaks or no sound.
Your main focus should be relaxing the embouchure and opening the throat. Watch my video called saxophone basics where I talk about how to relax the embouchure. It's all about thinking about the exhale sound.
Let me know how you get on.
Martino
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Thank you so much for your reply :) Will try this out!
Amazing! Let me know how it goes!
My instructor want me to get a deep sound and am not getting is i want to know more about positioning of mouth
Hey Lucky! The position of the mouth is the foundation then the depth and power of the sound come from abdominal muscles and the openness of the throat in my opinion. Spend the time to refine your embouchure first and the sound will follow. Hope this helps :)
I've just bought my first sax at the age of 60
I've watched lots if RUclips tutorials
I've made sure the reed is on correctly etc
I've even bought a new mouthpiece as my sax was a second hand one
No.matter what I do I cannot produce a sound from it ??
I'm trying exactly how u show in this video to do it 😂
But not sure what to do next ? Any suggestions plz ?
Take the neck + mouthpiece and play really long notes without forcing the sound. Consistent practice and time is what you need :)
For me this is the medium and high G. I feel like I have to put more pressure to avoid the duck sound.
I am not entirely sure what you mean Thierry. If you have to put more pressure to get a sound it just means there wasn't enough in the first place.
Have you watch my other tutorial called Saxophone Basics? I go through the embouchure with important tips as well.
Ive been having issues getting good tone on any notes using the octave key, i can play anything below with decent tone but even middle D sounds thin. I’ve only ever played bari and the two i’ve played still have this issue. I can hit the notes, its just the tone, not sure what to do. Ive practiced long tones and various other things to fix it but it still doesn’t sound right. Its possible for it to be a leak since the ones i use havent been checked in years
Hi Colonel, sorry for my late reply. I missed your message.
Yes, it could potentially be some sax-related issue...either on pads or octave key. it's hard to tell without hearing it and seeing it. Have you tried taking it to a repairman?
Though, the fact that this is happening on both instruments makes me doubts it's the saxophone. You might be tensing too much hence the sound is not coming out as it should. What type of sound are you exactly getting on the other notes apart from that mid D?
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool I’m thinkings its a combination of multiple issues. Both saxes I play are rented from a school and haven’t been taken to a repairman in 5-10 years. One already has a few pad related problems and the other has leaks. The one I currently use also has a shrunken cork and the neck does not tighten into the body properly. I started using more air which seems to help. Any note below Middle D sounds good, but using the octave key hurts the tone. There’s not much I can do except work on my embouchure and try to get the leaks fixed.
Yeah, when saxophones have a problem is really hard to make them sound good. Just double the struggle. Try to repair them if you can!
I'm a beginner adult using a number 2 reed with a number 4 yamaha beginner mouthpiece. I think my biggest problem is holding a note at a consistent pitch.
That’s a great set up. I recommend using vandoren blue n.2. Firstly, aim for a short note and try to keep that consistent. Longer note will be harder to sustain.
Let me know how it goes😀👊🎷
I know I have a general problem embouchure, but I'm not sure what's going wrong. I can produce good sound, and moderate the intonation throughout the horn, but i'm worn out in about 20 minutes, my lips are just finished. I also bite through a rubber mouthpiece in about 6 months. :) Not sure exactly what to do about it though. I've been experimenting with different pressure but I have some serious problems with squeeking and intonation when i change it up. I think i need to re-invent my embouchure. For reference, I'm now playing a tenor for the first time, for the last 8 months. Before that I played only alto and it took 10 years to wear out a rubber mouthpiece.
Eric! Thanks for your message! It's normal for your lips and facial muscles to get tired if you are not used to playing for a long time. This is not a big issue as the more you build up your practice the fitter your lips will be. Remember...play, then take a break...repeat.
Re the biting on the mouthpiece, it just sounds you are really putting a lot of force into the mouthpiece and generally the embouchure.
How is the sound?
In order to advice further I would need to see you. I offer free discovery call where we can talk about planning how to take your playing to the next level (and you can explain things in more details as well).
You can book the call here:
app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
Let me know how it goes! :)
my problem of my embuochure is the sound like a thin can? how to improve it like a pro sounds sir?
There's many things that can be going on here.
1. Your reed is too soft so you are not getting good resistance to create a stronger sound.
2. You might be pinching too much so not a lot of air can go through.
Just some weeks ago I made a video that might help. It's called the Ocean Sound. Check it out in the channel and let me know how it goes :)
I played alto sax for years, but it wasn't until I did a Jazz Summer program that an instructor told me I was biting down too hard against my lower lip. This was extremely frustrating for me. I could get a good tone and it felt like I was playing well and had good control but apparently my technique was all wrong. Evidently I had cultivated a bad habit that left a strong crease in my lower lip. As I said, this was extremely frustrating because I had been learning and playing tunes for years, only to be told later that HOW I had been playing was incorrect. Is it just a question of Re-Learning how to strengthen my embouchure?
Do you mean you were getting a blister in your lower lip?
This is not necessarily a bad thing at all... bad would be if you were tense in your facial muscles and around your lips.
Classical players tend to develop more of that blister because of a firmer embouchure but they’re sound can be extremley open and vibrant.
Pay attention to how you sound and adjust according to that...it’d be interesting to hear how you sound in order to asses😀
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Thanks for the reply! :) No, no blister, but you could see redness and "bite marks" on the inside of my lower lip. Looking at it now, I believe I was tucking my lower lip completely over my lower teeth and using a lot of biting tension to play instead of resting half my lower lip on my lower teeth and developing better muscle control using the sides of my mouth. At the summer Jazz camp, the instructor made a point of saying "If you had thinner lips, you would have bitten right through them!" This was a long time ago but made enough of an impression on me that I lost confidence and switched to guitar instead. I still have my sax and picked it up the other day. As I said, it was quite a blow to my ego/confidence to be told that my embouchure was all wrong after playing for almost 6 years. From what you and other instructors have said, my embouchure should have been much looser. I'm working on it now and it feels a lot different than what I'm used to. It does sound like I was perhaps using more of a clarinet embouchure.
Yes, teachers have a massive influence on the students and have to be careful how to say things.
I’m glad all’s feeling better now. If you need further help let me know😀
I can play a song like "Yesterday" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney nicely the first time, but, the second time around, I begin to struggle to blow out the proper sounds. I begin to blow out a lot of wind. What am I doing wrong? I don't have this problem with all songs.
Iva, thanks for your message. My intuition, reading your message, is that perhaps the second time round you are tired and your facial muscles might just need a short break.
Yesterday is a slow song that requires great control so try taking a break in between and see how it goes.
I have a new video on this that will very likely help you out a lot.
Here it is: ruclips.net/video/seP2sreSvcg/видео.html
Let me know how it goes :)
Hello, I'm having problems playing the F and G note on my alto saxophone. Can you help me?
Sure! Which octave? Low or high?
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool the high octave
It depends on what sound you are getting as a result. The most common issue with high F and especially G is the fact tightness in the embouchure.
If the embouchure is too tight the air will have less space to go through and the note will result in being weak or even rattle in certain cases for G.
What kind of sound are you getting? Feel free to book a call me to see how I can help further
app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
And are there any differences between embouchure on alto and tenor sax? I play alto sax for about 4 years, and sound quite good, and try to play tenor last week, and can not sound as fine, as on the alto.
The embouchure is pretty much the same but you do need to adjust. On tenor you need to be a little bit looser than on alto.
You do need some time and practice to understand the subtle differences between the different saxophones.
The embouchure is the same but the amount of tension/relaxation varies according to the sax you play.
Give it some time and you will be ok😀
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool
Thank you very much for the advice
Sure! Let me know how it goes 😀🙏🎷
I know that using too small of an amount of pressure on your lips makes notes flatter which is something I need to do on my high notes. But it gets to the point where I'm not supporting the mouthpiece with enough pressure. So what should I do to make my high notes sound less sharp?
If you are more of a beginner player, I would not bother with intonation as that is very much related to air control and having the whole "breathing machine"working 100%.
Otherwise, practice playing a note one the saxophone and then checking that on the piano and use your ears to dictate what to do intonation wise :)
hey, my main problem is intonation.. I am very low on all the notes I play! How can I fix that?
You can do few things.
Check mouthpiece position is not to far out
Practice air consistency making sure you are supporting the sound from your diaphragm
Slightly increase tension of your facial muscle to help the reed vibrate a little more.
Air plays a bit role so I would focus on that a loooot😀😀🙏🎷 let me know how it goes
imm not going to discriminate other saxophone players but this guy explains it so well!
Thank you so much for this Sebastian😀😀 really appreciate it!
I have problems with F#, E# notes. They don’t sound right and come out as awful squeaky sounds. What am a doing wrong?
Perhaps your embouchure is too tight and your throat is a closed. If you are struggling with those palm notes I would practice long notes up to high C, maybe C# and D depending on how it goes.
Remember that the higher you go the tighter your embouchure will become and the closer your throat will become. This is because you are mentally putting a lot of effort and as a natural consequence everything shuts down.
To avoid this be sure your other notes are very vibrant with lots of air in and work on keeping your throat open. I did a video on the throat called Open Throat Saxophone Sound that you can check out.
Let me know how everything goes😀
L’imboccatura è la stessa sia per Alto che Tenore? Sennò, quali sono le differenze?
Le basi dell’imboccatura sono uguali per tutti i sax... da sopranino a basso. Ci devono essere dei piccoli accorgimenti nel momento in cui si cambia di strumento. La differenza tra alto e tenore e che sul tenor me devi essere un po’ piu rilassato.
Piu suoni strumenti acuti (alto, soprano, sopranino) piu ‘ tensione’ devi avere.
Piu suoni strumenti gravi (tenore, baritono, basso) piu devi rimanre rilassato.
Spero questo ti aiuti. Fammi sapere😀🎷
I have problem that I play halfstep flat and I must squiesing my mounth so hard. I can't push my neck more into the cork. What can I do?
🤔 it might be you arr actually too loose so you need to add tension to the embouchure for the sound to work better.
Also, intonation depends not only on embouchure solely but also on air flow. Practice long notes looking out of the window and staring at a single spot far away.
This should increase your muscle engagment.
Let me know how it goed😀
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool thank you! I will try
Hi, thanks first for the video lessons they're great. For me the big problem is that if I relax the embouchure the sound starts to get fuzzy/spitty and it gets very annoying. So I put more pressure but then I can't play for long and the sound gets quite tinny in comparison (very little projection). Any recommendations? Thanks a lot. Best regards Dave.
Thanks Spanish Dave! That's a hard one to guess and advice by text. I would need to hear you and see you play to asses what's going on.
You'd need to find the right balance pressure/tension of the embouchure in order for the sound to come out nicely.
I'd recommend booking a free discovery call with me so we can chat a bit more about this and we can discuss how I can help you further.
You can book your call here app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
Let me know if you need further help and if you have more questions. All my best, Martino
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool thanks I will surely do :)
@@SpanishDaive Amazing! Looking forward to speaking with you :)
Yes I can bring my chin up and down
Amazing!
Hello martino! First of all, thank you so much for your videos, really helps a lot! But a have an issue since a long time, i've been taking and paying teachers and seeing every YT video, but can't figure it out how to make it right. The problem is that i have a good sound and almost don't get tired until i start hitting de A + octave key and above, I mean, the higher the note, harder is for me to get a good sound and after a few minutes i get really tired in my lower lip. Im really frustrated because I tried a lot of things, but after playing 30-45 minutes, or a long and hard song my lip gets really tired and cant get the notes out. It doesn't hurt so much because i dont bite like when i was a beginner but it is like i dont have strenght to keep playing.... I would be so thankfull if you can give me any tip or excersice to try to figure this out.
Thank you anyway!!
PD: Sorry if my english isnt perfect, Im from Chile
Hola Sergio! Thank you so much for your text!
It sounds like you might be squeezing a bit to much both with the embouchure somehow and perhaps the throat? Hard to guess.
I would be happy to see you for a free discovery call with no obligation to buy afterwards and see if we can find out what is going on.
app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
Happy New Year😀🤣🎷
Sergio! Hola! Un gustazo! Mira esto esta dificik de adivinar asi por mensaje. Me encantaria que now vieramos para una discovery call -sin costo - para ver si logramos entender como arreglar y corregir este problema.
Aqui te dejo el link:
app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
Cualquier cosa me avisas por aca o email martino@londonsaxophoneschool.com
Feliz Año😀🤣🎷
Muchisisiisima gracias martino!!! Happy new year! I would be so gratefull to take that call, thank you! Also I think that I'ven squeezing to much.... my chin is really constricted when I play, so I think I have to re-set my brain and start all over again. Thank you so much!!! Saludos!
Fantastico! Espero vernos pronto! Ahi podes ver el calendario asi que cuando te vaya mejor. Los horarios estan en hora de Londres... si no te van mandame un email y nos organizamos.
Abrazos!
Muchas gracias !!!! Me inscribi para el martes a las 14.00 de Londres, Muchas gracias!!
Super! Ahi nos vemos🤣🎷
I think I put too much pressure on while playing and it causes a spitty sound all the time but I can't seem to fix my embouchure no matter what I do. Im in high school and I still cant figure it out.
I see, Lazer😀 Don’t worry, having excessive pressure is very common. You want to remain as natural and relaxed as possible so air can flow inside the saxophone.
I have a video on this channel called Your first note in 10 minutes that will be of huge help, I think.
There I explain and demonstrate how to start the sound without any pressure whatsoever and then increase it untill you get a goode note in a relaxed way.
Hope it helps.
Let me know how it goes😀🙏
ruclips.net/video/LnJdiDPiiTk/видео.html
Ciao Martino,
grazie per questo video super utile! Scrivo in italiano per una questione di velocità, ma se è necessario possiamo comunicare in inglese senza problemi!
Sono agli inizi dei miei studi di sax e ancora faccio fatica a capire se va tutto bene con la mia impostazione. Il mio problema specifico sembra essere quello di mordere eccessivamente, tant'è che ho creato dei piccoli solchi sul primo bocchino. Ora ne ho uno nuovo con la protezione apposita, ma vedo che sulla protezione stessa si stanno formando delle piccole tracce lasciate dal mio morso da roditore!
Capisco che ciò che mostri nel video possa aiutare a ridurre la tensione e quindi probabilmente aiutarmi nel mio caso. Ma c'è qualcosa di specifico che posso fare, oltre a questo, per eliminare questo problema?
Oltretutto, non riesco ancora a capire bene quanto imboccare, perché facendolo a 2/3 circa del bocchino, sembro ottenere qualche fischio fastidioso. Sembra io debba imboccare di meno, ma non so se ai fini del suono io possa ottenere un suono ricco quanto desiderato.
Aiutami a capire, se puoi!
Grazie!
Ciao Bea! Grazie mille del messaggio. Da quello che mi dici sembra che tu abbia troppa tensione nell'imboccatura e per qualche ragione il cervello non riesce a capire come fare a rilassare.
E'una cosa comune non ti preoccupare e ci vuole poco a cambiare ma bisogna capire come.
Io ti consiglierei di prenotare una chiamata gratis con me per conoscerci e parlare con calma.
Poi magari fare qualche lezione insieme sarebbe ottimale per aiutarti ad avere un'imboccatura naturale e rilassata.
Ti lascio il link dove puoi prenotare la chiamata a costo zero:
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Ciao! Grazie mille per la risposta! 😊
Purtroppo non vedo nessun link!
Scusami! Eccolo
app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14146512
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool Grazie mille! Ho appena fissato la chiamata! A presto
Fantastico!😀🤣🎷
I just started and I feel like my sound is okay but my lower inner lip gets some pain and some sores. Maybe I’m applying too much pressure.
It is very normal to get a sore bottom lip, especially if you are just starting out.
Many hours of practice will also result in a sore lip. It's just a normal thing that happens to sax players :)
I notice that some people have their ligature screws-down, and some people have them screws-up. Does it matter? (I hope that question made sense)
The ligaturr I use is supposed to be played with the screws down but I have always played upside down since I was 14 as I prefer the sound I get...
I believe if you have a similar ligature experiment what you like best... other ligatures model have screw/s up or down and you have to follow that😀 hope it helps
Thanks so much! I try to do what Paul Desmond does (screws-down 😊)
@@aname3017 NIce! Find your sound and do what you need to do to get that :)
I I'm having issues, it gives sounds when I blow like noise
You are probably still doing too much with your facial muscles. Blow slowly and add no tension/pressure whatsoever😀
@@LondonSaxophoneSchool thanks I've tried it, but I'll need help in improvisation and soloing, it's always hard to do so which makes me hide among my fellow saxophonists
sometimes the mouthpiece doesn't make any sound , how to fix this
Maybe you have too little mouthpiece in your mouth or you are closing the gap so there's no air going through. I've done few other videos on embouchure, check them out as they are going to be helpful for sure!