Saxophone Embouchure Tutorial

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  • Опубликовано: 9 май 2017
  • #bettersax #saxophone #saxophonelessons
    Jay Metcalf gives a lesson on the importance of saxophone embouchure to avoid bad habits as a beginner.
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Комментарии • 382

  • @elihodges5593
    @elihodges5593 5 лет назад +490

    I've been playing alto sax for years, and apparently I've been doing it wrong this whole time aaaaaaaaaah. After watching this though, i sound better instantly. Thanks for giving me something new to practice!

    • @pauldavidson4330
      @pauldavidson4330 5 лет назад +20

      Eli Hodges hey it may be 4 months later but I had the same problem! I just realized i need the mouthpiece a lot further out of the cork because I was getting very sharp sounds.

    • @sushi_tech35
      @sushi_tech35 4 года назад +9

      Same here, can't wait to try this technique

  • @benjamin_griffin
    @benjamin_griffin Год назад +34

    I’ve been holding my mouth wrong for more than twenty years. I just hit notes I’ve never been able to ply clearly. I have to completely retrain my embouchure. But that’s ok. Thank you for this. I can’t believe I waited so long to look this stuff up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

  • @johna6648
    @johna6648 6 лет назад +577

    If you had been my teacher 30 years ago, I might not have given up!

    • @thirtythree9938
      @thirtythree9938 6 лет назад +5

      ya boi travis what grade of school band?

    • @djllamma4834
      @djllamma4834 5 лет назад +14

      Commitment is the best teacher - The Jazz on jazz

    • @jonniewadd56
      @jonniewadd56 5 лет назад +4

      @REKTORS REACTS DON'T give up!! Keep trying, it will come...be patient with yourself!!

    • @marcb2120
      @marcb2120 4 года назад +19

      Never too late to pick it up again.

    • @canulker
      @canulker 4 года назад +6

      same here picked it up around 7 years later and found this gem of a channel!

  • @leroyhuman4613
    @leroyhuman4613 6 лет назад +264

    Bought my first Alto today. Feeling amped. Your videos are a tremendous help...thank you so much.

  • @liminal-lesbian
    @liminal-lesbian 5 лет назад +40

    I recently got back into playing alto sax and this video made me realize I've been using the wrong embouchure for a while

  • @mr_beezlebub3985
    @mr_beezlebub3985 6 лет назад +44

    As a sax player who hasn't played in several months, your videos have helped me get back into playing

  • @m.y.p5102
    @m.y.p5102 6 лет назад +73

    Best, most informative embouchure guide I've ever watched on RUclips

  • @PatDavis-qg5no
    @PatDavis-qg5no 4 года назад +5

    Lmao I play trombone why am I watching this

  • @NobodyOwesYouAnythin
    @NobodyOwesYouAnythin 3 года назад +11

    Whenever I feel something going wrong or my sound needs work, I’m always coming back to this tutorial and I’m set straight again. Thanks for this video.

  • @stulast
    @stulast 4 года назад +6

    I make a habit of coming back to this video every week, just to get into my mindset for practice and avoid developing bad habits.

  • @robertbiddulph1919
    @robertbiddulph1919 6 лет назад

    The best embouchure instruction for beginners which I've seen so far! Thanks!

  • @aircanuck
    @aircanuck 7 лет назад +34

    I really mesh your teaching style, your videos have been a tremendous help to me starting out. I really appreciate your efforts!!

  • @nigelyoung1771
    @nigelyoung1771 4 года назад

    Got my alto yesterday and this is the best video I've seen so far. The basics. My own personal sound. I like it.

  • @linako2896
    @linako2896 3 года назад

    You are great!! I have subscribed and will watch your videos religiously ♡. Thank you

  • @thomasyu4581
    @thomasyu4581 3 года назад +3

    Great video ! Jay was sharing the most precious rule of learning. Slow and clear practise is the quickest way to play fast and accurate ! I totally agreed with that. He is a great teacher to follow

  • @lorraineharris243
    @lorraineharris243 3 года назад

    Thankyou so much for sharing your expertise, this is by far the best lesson I have watched , such clear instructions,I have liked & subscribed, 👍😁👍😁⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • @richprice5609
    @richprice5609 3 года назад +2

    Hey Jay- I love your channel. This embouchure video is amazingly right on. I was taught to practice long tones with just the neck and the mouthpiece by Rene Saemes, a local legendary player in San Antonio. You and Rene are the only ones I have seen teaching this. I might add that your explanation of embouchure is the best I have ever seen, clear, to easy to understand making perfect sense and I have studied with some great teachers including the late great Bill Green. Thanks for your great channel.

  • @xxximaginswagonxxx9421
    @xxximaginswagonxxx9421 4 года назад +12

    I play b flat clarinet and bass clarinet, and honestly I still watch this sometimes even though I played for over a year. I watch it again sometimes to make sure I never forget anything

  • @agjul
    @agjul 4 года назад +3

    I just picked up sax again after 16 years of not playing, and this video has been helpful getting me back into it. Thanks!

  • @ethanfox9419
    @ethanfox9419 6 лет назад +3

    Thank you, this helped a lot. Im trying to start on sax right now coming from percussion so there is a lot that i still have to learn.

  • @michaelwalentin9742
    @michaelwalentin9742 3 года назад +1

    Thankyou jay I have been playing for 3 days :- I can play trumpet cornet and piano and wanted to learn my dream instrument, your tutorials and explainations are phenomenal ! Thanks a lot you have helped me tremendously!

  • @isaiahd9947
    @isaiahd9947 4 года назад +5

    Dang. I am coming to this after playing for about 6 months. This has helped me so much with some problems I was having.

  • @kaiwood8496
    @kaiwood8496 4 года назад +8

    I’ve been struggling with this in band a lot and this helped me so much ty my teacher tried helping me with it Thursday and Friday and I still couldn’t get it but this helped and I got the sound and really improved , sometimes I guess someone else explaining in a different way really can help😂🎈

  • @vladimirlopez7840
    @vladimirlopez7840 4 года назад +2

    Great lesson I just got my Jean Paul sax based on your review and now this lesson helped me start getting a better sound

  • @rdeans1
    @rdeans1 7 лет назад +1

    Simple but really helpful and encouraging video.

  • @joeyblue2057
    @joeyblue2057 4 года назад

    Thank you so much. Just getting started with the saxophone and like your points in this video and nice way to just get use to it all. Like knowing I can just play the neck for practice and focus on tone and learning where my sweet spot is...thanks again!

  • @perhaps5095
    @perhaps5095 4 года назад +26

    dang you band teacher for telling me to bite down. Now I've got to practice the correct way instead of understanding it from the beginning

  • @anthonymasiello5464
    @anthonymasiello5464 4 года назад

    Great job on this tutorial. I have a DMA in Clarinet. It was not until college when I took lessons with the school prof. that I learned a propper sax embouchure. It is so very different from clarinet. Your tutorial is perfect for a rank beginner to view. Bravo!

  • @jackscot5952
    @jackscot5952 6 лет назад +54

    Wow. I've been on this video as I practiced for about 70mins now... I'm taking a short break right now. I must say a very big thank you... I have really improved in a short period of time. This is unbelievable

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  6 лет назад +2

      +stephen Smart Glad it's helped. Thanks!

  • @staccato2458
    @staccato2458 2 года назад +1

    I've been playing alto sax for about 4 years, was pretty good at it. Switched to tenor maybe 2 weeks ago, picked it up pretty well but needed a refresher on embouchure, thanks!

  • @rocketsroc
    @rocketsroc 4 года назад

    Thanks for such an understandable instruction. Your way of describing mouth/lip configuration greatly helped a newby like me l.

  • @davidking6126
    @davidking6126 2 года назад

    😀Excellent video. I've been playing the saxophone for 2 years and following advice about tightening my mouth in to an e shape, based on other RUclips tutorials. This was obviously wrong and I improved instantly after following this video. THANK YOU Jay!

  • @mikemccarthy4765
    @mikemccarthy4765 5 лет назад

    nice vid, clear, consise and easy to follow thanks.

  • @jaromir5929
    @jaromir5929 4 года назад +3

    Best embouchure tutorial I've seen. Even in the paid courses they don't explain it that well.

  • @morphoice
    @morphoice 2 года назад

    Most helpful video! Thank you

  • @jethroanderson6484
    @jethroanderson6484 3 года назад

    Awesome advice man. Super super helpful

  • @estebanvenegas89
    @estebanvenegas89 5 лет назад

    Perfect video! Im happy i saw it now and not too late

  • @john-salvatorereppucci1433
    @john-salvatorereppucci1433 5 лет назад +2

    I Am A Beginner On Sax To Play Jazz Band, Very Informational And I Understand Every Word!

  • @wayneking4521
    @wayneking4521 4 года назад

    I'll be getting my first Sax this weekend Yamaha Yas296 Alto. This has been very helpful to me. Thanks

  • @NC-ns5se
    @NC-ns5se 6 лет назад +12

    Thanks so much for this! This is awesome for music educators who have to teach middle school band.

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  6 лет назад +4

      +Nicole Chui Thanks! My kids teach themselves music with RUclips videos all the time. I wish we had this when I was that age!

  • @dalepickering6040
    @dalepickering6040 2 года назад

    JUST BOUGHT MINE .. ARRIVED IN CASE ,BEAUTIFUL . THANKYOU FOR THESE LESSONS OL MATE... PUT THE REED ON . CANT SEEM TO GET THE POP LOOKS EASY

  • @ryeen0284
    @ryeen0284 2 года назад

    ive been playing 5 and a half years and was never taught this the right way. In fact my most recent teacher ENCOURAGED tightening my bottom jaw - biting down on the reed - rather than the corners of my mouth. I didn't realise until a last night that I was doing it wrong but my sound has improved tremendously and obviously the corners of my mouth are tired. Thanks so much!

  • @pessimisticdiabetic717
    @pessimisticdiabetic717 Год назад

    Stopped playing for around 4 months, started renting my own tenor and this has helped me a crap ton with getting better sound!!!

  • @theodoresladovichjr.8923
    @theodoresladovichjr.8923 6 лет назад +66

    Great video. After an absence of 30+ years, I had my alto reconditioned and am starting up again. I was experiencing embouchure fatigue and your advice was valuable and timely. Thanks and keep up the good work!

    • @Arthur5000
      @Arthur5000 5 лет назад +1

      Best of luck I'm also starting up again after 10 years

    • @terria1254
      @terria1254 2 года назад +1

      Did it come back for you??? I've been absent for 30+ years as well and tried a soprano and sucked (I had played alto very well from age 7 - 17).

  • @robertochiappella7211
    @robertochiappella7211 Год назад

    Thanks, this is well clearly explained 👍

  • @Whatzzzz999
    @Whatzzzz999 4 года назад

    Brilliant! Thanks for the info!

  • @earthelenagarrett6003
    @earthelenagarrett6003 5 лет назад

    Such a great teacher!

  • @timedriverable
    @timedriverable 6 лет назад +1

    I've been playing flute for awhile and am happy with my embouchure. Thinking about giving the alto a go. I heard that it could be a slight advantage when starting with the sax having already developing somewhat of a embouchure. Eric Dolphy is one of my inspirations.

  • @johnwade7430
    @johnwade7430 4 года назад

    Really useful; thank you for this.

  • @andyd3955
    @andyd3955 Год назад

    Thanks have been struggling with my bottom lip feeling sore, this will help Many Thanks !

  • @matthewworsfold3746
    @matthewworsfold3746 3 года назад

    Very help and given my teacher

  • @DD-it1th
    @DD-it1th 2 года назад +2

    This is a good bit of advice. I never played a saxophone before and decided to but a tenor sax a few weeks back. I practice up to 2 hours a day. I understood the issue of my embouchure tiring and thus my playing faltered towards the end of my practice sessions. So now I take breaks and practice like this:- start session playing long notes and tonguing, take a break and play scales practicing until I can’t get them wrong, take a break and play tunes (as set by my tutor). It increases my overall practice sessions but I’ve started to maintain a good sound albeit a few frustrating errors, but it’ll get better over time. I’ve only been playing for less than 3 weeks but I absolutely love it. Oh and I’m 54.

  • @billdavies6158
    @billdavies6158 3 года назад

    Thank you so much for sharing,I've had my sax 4 days never picked one up in my life,I thought I was to old to learn(66)but I will do exactly as you say,thanks once again.

  • @rgeno6091
    @rgeno6091 2 года назад

    Thanks for the tips/video

  • @janiabmusic
    @janiabmusic 4 года назад

    this helped so much thank you !!

  • @yoshihammerbro435
    @yoshihammerbro435 6 лет назад +142

    Why doesn't anyone teach you this stuff? Also I got my sound better then before but I'll keep on practicing to get an even better sound

    • @windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823
      @windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 5 лет назад +2

      Just play 10 or 15 minutes several times a day on stuff you want to know. Keep it up so it gets ingrained in your mind and you can't forget it.

    • @marcb2120
      @marcb2120 4 года назад +1

      I don't think my jr high teacher really knew a lot of this stuff. I learned most by taking a few private lessons during the summer.

  • @DTflame
    @DTflame 2 года назад

    This helped so much! I just got a Bflat tenor saxophone today for my bday. Thank you!

  • @dimitrihernandez2658
    @dimitrihernandez2658 Год назад

    I am turning 68 in a couple of months and just started playing. I play congas and some flute. I love the sound of the sax and really appreciate your tutorials. Thanks!
    I need to work on breathing and posture in addition to good tone. Working on it.

  • @zubeirshaikhsaxophoneplaye3383

    Really helpful sir 🙏❤️

  • @zipherdias420
    @zipherdias420 5 лет назад

    Wow, first second I got my sax, didn't know how to even get a sound out of it(somewhere I got a duck sound tho lol). Then I watched this and within two days it started to sound like an actual saxophone, I'm still a "work in progress" but this was a huge help, thnx man, keep up the good work.

  • @erica9146
    @erica9146 4 года назад

    THIS GUY IS AWESOME. :D I tried to play today for the first time in 10 years and didn't even know how to properly put on a reed!

  • @earlgrant4
    @earlgrant4 4 года назад +1

    I like your sound and instructional videos. I was a very good alto player and won a music scholarship to a University in NY. 30+ years ago. I have not played since and have started back. Now my tone sucks and my embouchure is terrible. It hurts when I play. I’ll be practicing these techniques with the hope of getting my good sound again. Thank you.

  • @ryanbaldonade7257
    @ryanbaldonade7257 3 года назад

    This video really helps for beginners like me thanks

  • @digitalwizard79
    @digitalwizard79 3 года назад +2

    The “draw string” piece was so helpful. I had the top and bottom down but the sides (corners) were not tight allowing squawks through. I just started yesterday but wanted to make sure my embouchure was on point before going too far. Thanks! Subb’d

  • @jasiel7896
    @jasiel7896 7 лет назад

    Thank you so so so really much. I was watching lots of sax embouchure but i didnt see any progress. THank you so much. Now I can blow the sax Thank you again. I am just a beginner.

  • @kdub6400
    @kdub6400 4 года назад

    I'm a beginner and I have been trying to learn how to play my sax for a while but could never get it right with the sound. This video has helped A LOT in showing me what I was doing wrong. Thanks for the video and your help.

  • @hassannuhu8380
    @hassannuhu8380 2 года назад

    Wow! This is great

  • @amyspringrose9231
    @amyspringrose9231 4 года назад

    Very encouraging, tks

  • @lifeinoahu
    @lifeinoahu 5 лет назад

    i liked the part telling how the throat should be shaped when playing. . its very difficult to notice the difference of AA or OO instead of UUs when you are a toal beginner.
    i immediately subscribed your channel. great lecture videos!

  • @raymondminnaar5592
    @raymondminnaar5592 3 года назад

    Thanx so much, u r a true help

  • @renib1159
    @renib1159 5 лет назад

    Thank you very much..These are things my teacher never told me so clearly...:)

  • @mosesolanrewaju266
    @mosesolanrewaju266 2 года назад

    This is amazing.

  • @CarlyWaarly
    @CarlyWaarly 4 года назад

    Just started to play, mid sixty's, never to la................. Played today on..tune a day, going well, also played a backing track / play along, "One note Samba" (Jazz book). However, did eventually get a tired embouchure and notes went off. These videos are amazing, concerned about my bottom lip folding over though recall Stan Getz does this. Will practice daily now that it is mentioned. Thanks, loving all your videos!

  • @robertgalinas9820
    @robertgalinas9820 2 года назад

    Appreciate the video.

  • @americanatheart110
    @americanatheart110 3 года назад

    IM 52. Fan of KG wen i was 25. Shuld hav started then itself. But not too late. I bought ASaxo 2 months ago. My goal is 2 play my most fav song, I just called. And I started with it right away. Learning all the wonderful tips from RUclipsrs as I go. Thank u so much.

  • @r4inxs510
    @r4inxs510 5 лет назад +1

    Awesome video! My teacher also showed me a pretty cool exercise to strengthen the embouchure and making sure to work with your diaphragm. You'll need only your mouth piece your s-bow and a medium sized ballon (around double the size of a normal party ballon when empty and around triple the size when blown up, the walls have to be a bit thicker than a normal party ballon to give a bit resistance.) You start every practice session by putting the ballon on your s-bow and do the following 3 exercices.
    1 : you'll blow up the ballon with only hair through your mouthpiece without sound trying to have steady strong and long blows from your diaphragm
    2 : you'll blow up the ballon again but this time with a steady and long tone (remember if you breath air will escape the ballon which will also remind you to take quick breaths and play long notes) the note will add more resistance for your diaphragm. In this exercercise you realy start training your embouchure.
    3: You do the same as in exercise 2 but this time you improvies rythms to a metronom click. This will get you thinking a bit more about rythms add again a bit more resistance (it will take a bit longer to blow up the balloon) and you'll have to remember to not move your jaw while using your tongue to play the rythms.
    As a very new player you will most likely have to take 1-2 min breaks between the three exercises. You can blow air through your mouth while having your mouth slightly closed to help them recover faster between exercises and get the blood flowing
    This exercise helped me a lot with a my embouchure and other differnt things as a beginner still serves me as a great way to warm up befor practice.

  • @hugemantiddies5523
    @hugemantiddies5523 4 года назад +1

    My elementary band teacher didn’t teach us how to set up our instrument AT ALL. We had to learn from the 6th graders and each other ( I started in 5th grade). Going into middle school I was so so with my embouchure, some correct and some wrong. Thankfully, my middle school band teacher taught me the correct way. This helped me with the things my middle school band teacher didn’t mention, thanks!

  • @sonnybrasco9735
    @sonnybrasco9735 5 лет назад

    Nice video. Thank you

  • @Metqa
    @Metqa 3 года назад

    Thanks for This Video and for your response on the other vid. I finally am able to make a sound that doesn't sound like a dying goose. Yay! and my MP and neck sounded like yours at 2:25. I know you said not to worry about it at first, but it really means a lot to me that I finally did get it to match.

  • @triangulardeath472
    @triangulardeath472 5 лет назад +1

    I am doing mouthpiece testing tomorrow and this helped not make me as nervous

  • @minibori1893
    @minibori1893 3 года назад +1

    I was having trouble and I found this vid very useful

  • @annebateman6326
    @annebateman6326 5 лет назад

    great tutorial!

  • @letx.jailyn1583
    @letx.jailyn1583 4 года назад +2

    i switched from flute to alto sax today and i’m excited

  • @dodgewyndel8325
    @dodgewyndel8325 6 лет назад

    nice advise. thanks

  • @maggieb7442
    @maggieb7442 5 лет назад +3

    This video saved my mental life! I just got my sax and was having a hard time setting my mouth into place, I was about to say “I give up, I’m not playing...” and this was the first video I saw and I’m soooo glad. THANK YOU 🙏

  • @Iris-vo5gd
    @Iris-vo5gd 6 лет назад

    Thank you!!😍

  • @idongesitvictor4944
    @idongesitvictor4944 Год назад

    Great one

  • @Media-courses
    @Media-courses 6 лет назад +1

    Excellent info

  • @jant0
    @jant0 3 года назад

    Thank you

  • @BEMBAJOEM1
    @BEMBAJOEM1 6 лет назад

    this helpful thank you

  • @COvayurt
    @COvayurt 4 года назад

    I hope those suggestions will be in my mind if i can start to play the sax after the pandemic :)

  • @AlanFoothillsAV
    @AlanFoothillsAV 2 года назад

    Thanks Jay, for these videos. Like others here mentioned as well, I was a self-taught beginner and had been doing it all wrong for years by curling my lower lip in too far. I'm assuming that explains why I could never get beyond a 1.5 ~ 2 reed? Now, while using only the mouthpiece and neck like you showed to find my embouchure's "sweet spot," I hit a spot where it sounds like the mouthpiece/embouchure suddenly becomes resonant? At that point, the tone became much louder, clearer and easier to maintain with less pressure. Does that make sense? Wow! what a revelation! Thanks again.

  • @HyperFlie
    @HyperFlie 6 лет назад

    hi i just got i sax i really appreciate that you made this video to help beginners just like me

  • @danielrocha2581
    @danielrocha2581 3 года назад

    Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you..... I'm a begginer and I almost quit, but then I saw this video, greetings from México!

  • @chadhenman8145
    @chadhenman8145 3 года назад

    I haven’t played a sax for almost 20 years. I bought another one and I can’t wait for it to show up.

  • @Kiyomiangelaf
    @Kiyomiangelaf 4 года назад +1

    Thank u sir..
    I'm planning to start ....

  • @sarahjohnsonj06
    @sarahjohnsonj06 2 года назад

    helped me a lot coming from clairnet to tenor for jazz it's different

  • @AraaBlast
    @AraaBlast 6 лет назад +3

    This helped me more then anything ive seen so far.

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  5 лет назад

      Carlen, Great to hear this from you thanks!

  • @rvbsmurty
    @rvbsmurty 2 года назад

    Very useful sir

  • @figarofeegarrooooo2782
    @figarofeegarrooooo2782 6 лет назад

    Very helpful