[BenBrittonJazz]

Today's post is on keeping a loose embouchure. Should be helpful to some.

http://everythingsaxophone.blogspot.com/2011/10/keeping-loose-embouchure.html

 

[evan1]

Thanks Ben - Some nice reading ( + Listening) here.

 

[Atonal]

How did you come to the conclusion that Potter is using a tight embouchure on the Underground album and a loose embouchure on the other?

 

[Christopher]

To me it sounds like Chris was struggling more on the altissimo and transition between highs and lows. Kind of hard to tell with someone as skilled as Potter though. Definitely took a couple of listens to make a decision.

 

[BenBrittonJazz]

How did you come to the conclusion that Potter is using a tight embouchure on the Underground album and a loose embouchure on the other?

From experience. It's obviously not 100% sure (I wasn't there), however I can recreate the sound from the first recording (more or less), and the second with a tighter embouchure. It should be true enough for anyone who tests it out.

 

[BenBrittonJazz]

To me it sounds like Chris was struggling more on the altissimo and transition between highs and lows. Kind of hard to tell with someone as skilled as Potter though. Definitely took a couple of listens to make a decision.

With a too tight embouchure altissimo becomes more difficult. If I start missing my notes in altissimo I know I'm too tight, and once I fix that my altissimo is much cleaner and easier to play.

BTW, lets not get too caught up in semantics. Its not necessarily "loose", it's just not too tight.

 

[Atonal]

From experience. It's obviously not 100% sure (I wasn't there)

That's what I thought....:faceinpalm:

 

[BenBrittonJazz]

That's what I thought....:faceinpalm:

We teach from experience. I can help others recreate these same experiences for themselves.

Edit: I would like to add this is not rocket science. Put more embouchure pressure on the reed and squeeze the reed in at the corners a little and you get a lot closer to the sound on the second recording. Keep your embouchure relaxed and you'll be much closer to the first.