Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [embouchure]

The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of woodwind instruments or the mouthpiece of the brass instruments.

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Does the lip really vibrate at the same frequency of a brass instrument?

The resonance of woodwind brass instruments can be modeled after a closed cylindrical pipe and calculated by the equation f = (nv)/(4L) where n denotes the number of harmonics, v the velocity of sound propagating in air, and L the length of the…
KMC
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Music Physics Question - Automatic Trumpet Embouchure Mouthpiece

So this might be a bit of a newbie question. I'm a working musician who mainly plays guitar and piano, and uses a lot of sampled instruments and synths as well. I don't mean this to be offensive to any players who might play and love these…
Gio
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I have to loosen my jaw to play the lowest notes on my Bari. Is that normal?

I've been playing saxophone for 50 years, mostly alto but more recently tenor. Just recently I acquired a baritone saxophone, and I've had it tuned by a seasoned technician, so I'm pretty sure it's in great shape. The issue is that, unlike my other…
Cary Jensen
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If I were to switch from playing clarinet (6 years) to starting oboe, how hard would it be?

So I'm aware that oboe is one of the hardest instruments to pick up and learn (partially because of embouchure, reed maintenance, etc.) but I love the instrument and I'd really like to start learning. I've been playing for 6 years currently on the…
Rice Pudding Whale
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Learning the Flute embouchure with a teardrop in the lips?

I'm trying to learn the flute embouchure for an irish (wooden) flute for 2 years now. My teacher mentioned to me that because of the shape of my lips (I'm having a teardrop in the middle of my upper lip): This little piece of flesh always gets in…
Quantumwhisp
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Re-learning bass trombone after many years

Many years ago I was experienced and occasionally substituted for a symphony bass trombonist. When learning, I remember a major breakthrough in sound came when starting with a smaller mouthpiece (e.g. 6 1/2 AL), becoming proficient, and then…
JerryG
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Decades of wrong oboe embouchure

I started learning the oboe when I was 10, and went up to get a distinction at Grade 8 in the UK. However, my lips were nearly always sore, and I realise now that my teeth were biting in to my lip. I am now 44, and finding it very difficult to…
Cass
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How to hit right partials on brass?

Sometimes when playing a trumpet/flugelhorn part on my own, I can't tell if I'm hitting the right partial, usually in the upper register. Sometimes it's too high, other times too low. What is the proper technique to guarantee that I'm playing the…
segiddins
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What are some ways to improve my embouchure stamina besides regular practice?

I'm a saxophone player who recently signed up for a community concert band at a local college, but it's been about 7-8 months since I played with any regularity, and that wasn't much more than once a week. The band I've signed up for meets once a…
ptfreak
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Will learning trumpet damage my single reed embouchure?

I mainly play clarinet and sax, but I'd like to pick up a bit of trumpet to be able to play all the big band instruments (albeit quite badly for some of them). However, I've heard that playing brass instruments can damage your woodwind embouchure,…
rlms
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Tips for going between trumpet and sousaphone from tune to tune?

I used to play mostly trombone in trad jazz bands. I got turned onto the cornet, and there was a need for someone in our area to play the cornet, so I got it "up to speed". For a little while (short to be honest) I tried to double on trombone and…
pixelearth
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Proper embouchure to leak air while playing EWI?

If you read enough beginner resources for Akai EWI players, you'll keep seeing people mention that you need to let air leak out the sides of your mouth while you play, to avoid building up backpressure. See the question "I cannot blow enough air…
Brett
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How to develop pedal tones on brass instrument

I play the cornet and have a decent range (F#3-Eb6) and I am trying to develop pedal tones. However, I've encountered some difficulty (actually a lot of difficulty) in doing this. What is the correct way to play pedal tones on a brass…
American Luke
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How will getting braces affect my embouchure?

I'm thinking of getting braces and was wondering how this would affect my embouchure. I'm a flute player, but not very good. I worry that if I work hard at practicing the flute while wearing braces, I'll ruin my muscle memory for the future when I'm…
Melanie Shebel
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Oboe embouchure issues?

I recently just got a brand new Oboe, and I'm having trouble getting my embouchure right. Please know that I just got it, so I'm still in need of much more practice. I am also a seasoned flute player who can expertly adapt his embouchure when…
Sam
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