 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Jeff
Date: 2005-03-02 22:59
I have a dumb question(as usual) are your lower teeth supposed to be on the tip of your lower lip? And if they are not near the tip of your lower lip what effect will that have on your sound...and could anyone show me a detailed diagram or picture of correct embosure.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jeff
Date: 2005-03-02 23:00
Oh and could you show me a picture of a good clarinet holding angle?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-03 00:57
I dont have pictures, unfortunately, but you're supposed to have the teeth on the tip of your lower lip. I have noticed that if I use more lip it is harder to articulate and my tone goes out the window...but that's just me. You also get this fun "rash" on the skin underneath your lip if you use to much- I have pet named it "clarinet lip". What you should make sure of is that there JUST lip on the reed, none of the skin underneath your lip.
-Lindsie
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2005-03-03 12:59
Just where the heck is the tip of one's lip?
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-03-03 15:09
BobD wrote:
> Just where the heck is the tip of one's lip?
well, the very end of it! if you flatten your lip, you'll see a lot of available space there, and one should put the teeth on the tip...or I guess edge on the lip. or that has been my embrochure at least...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-03-03 15:19
Jeff -
It's not that difficult:
1. Your lower teeth should be directly beneath the point where the reed leaves the rails, and also directly beneath your upper teeth.
2. Put about 2/3 of the red part ("lipstick area") of your lower lip over your lower teeth.
3. Tuck your upper lip down tight in front of your upper teeth, so that it does most of the support, and your upper teeth do as little as possible. (Better yet, play double lip.)
4. The various parts of your face should be where they are when you're face is relaxed. Watch in a mirror as you make and then relax your embouchure.
For maximum resonance and for solos, pull down with the area between your lip and the tip of your chin, to pull your lower lip out so that it is stretched thin and only about half of the red part is over your lower teeth. The smaller amount of lip against the reed creates more vibration and increases the high partials.
For less resonance and better blend, do the opposite. A "plumper" lip, and more lip in contact with the reed, progressively diminishes the high partials.
Lindsie -
Many male professional players grow a tiny bit of beard below their lower lip, just to avoid the rash, which is caused by ingrown hair. Flutists and trumpet players seem to suffer from it even worse than clarinetists.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2005-03-03 21:24
Lindsie...I'm almost afraid to ask if you're kidding. Since I've had the Botox injections it's hard to find either the tip or the edge of my lip ....or that big space you mention.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-03-03 22:40
Attachment: Embouchure-1.jpg (21k)
Attachment: Embouchure-2.jpg (38k)
Attachment: Embouchure-3.jpg (17k)
Attachment: Embouchure-4.jpg (27k)
Attachment: Embouchure-5.jpg (24k)
Jeff,
Here are some pictures to help you visualize the embouchure. Forgive the grotesqueness of my face. ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif)
These pictures are in order to show what they mean by "where the red starts" on your lip and where the teeth might be placed. We are all different in our shapes and so yours may vary. But this should give you some idea.
In the next post I will put some pictures of embouchures of people from various "schools" of clarinet playing.
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
Post Edited (2005-03-03 22:43)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-03-03 22:48
Attachment: MoodyEmbouchure.jpg (31k)
Attachment: MoodyMatejaEmbouchure.jpg (29k)
Attachment: ResendezEmbouchure.jpg (38k)
Attachment: FooteEmbouchure.jpg (31k)
Attachment: HeffernanEmbouchure.jpg (35k)
Here are five pictures of myself and others in our band on tour and their embouchures. Notice the angle of the clarinets as well. I believe that most of us are classically trained in these pictures. Players in the pictures graduated from: Eastman, Michigan, New England Conservatory, U of MO, etc.
Hope they help. All of the players in these pictures have wonderful and pure sounds. All professionals.
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Julie
Date: 2005-03-04 00:13
hmm... I dont put that much mp in my mouth (at the top)- guess I should take more in...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jeff
Date: 2005-03-04 00:23
Everyone..THANK YOU! I had my lower teeth in the wrong area for years and never realized it since I got very good comments about my sound, but I was never satisfied with it. When I moved my teeth...the difference was incredible! Thank you all!!!!(dances)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-03-04 00:25
R. Moody:
Ref. your embrouchure pix:
Gee, does every (non-redheaded) wind in the Cont. Army Band use Rovner's?
JDS
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cKaSully16
Date: 2005-03-05 07:15
I have a question as well. I can get my embouchure to look "right" except for one thing..when I tongue I can see movement when I look in the mirror. Sometimes my chin moves when I change registers. Any suggestions?
Thanks
"Music is the silence between the notes."
-Claude Debussy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jArius
Date: 2005-03-05 07:34
Wow, I didn't know any of this... for 10 years I've been playing with my lower lip sucked in as far as possible i.e. halfway down my chin. Maybe the lack of private lessons has something to do with it...
Jeremy Bruins
Proud member of the too-much-time-on-my-hands club.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Marco
Date: 2005-03-05 11:02
I am learning Clarinet now! The pictures are very useful for me. Playing Clarinet is fun! Marco
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
