Tag Archives: embouchure

Individuality of Instruments

Instruments are allot like snowflakes – No two instruments are alike, including same exact models due to condition (extra solder not seen inside, etc.) All instruments have some notes that can use a “tuning fingering” or alternate fingering to assist in controlling pitch tendencies. These alternate fingerings are different for every player due to their: instrument, mouthpiece, embouchure, reed, reed strength, ligature, air stream, and breathing/blowing prowess.

Winter Winds and Weather

All instruments are built to be pulled out (otherwise you can’t tune in colder atmosphere), therefore, in normal weather conditions
All aerophones should be pulled out to be at B flat = 466 cps (cycles per second)
All wind instruments can lip pitches up by tightening the embouchure and lip pitches down by loosening.
All wind instruments can lip notes down to a greater degree than they can lip notes up (less taxing on embouchure.)
Ideal air temperature = 68 degrees. Air from lungs = 98.6 degrees. Freezing is 32 degrees, note differences.
Instruments are designed to reach its true pitch after warming up for at least 5 minutes.
The more metal an instrument has, the longer it takes to warm-up.
Lip muscles also have to be warmed-up and stretched out, otherwise the muscles will be tight, causing sharpness.
All wind instruments* are pulled out to lower pitch and pushed in to raise pitch.
*EXCEPTION – Oboists scrape reeds to play / crow a “C” and all tuning is with embouchure, angle of the oboe or through the intensity of air the air.

Reed and Embouchure Strength

The harder the reed the sharper it is and conversely the softer the reed the flatter it is.
A reed placed too high will lean sharp and too low will lean flat.
Reed charts – are considered a general guideline because of the perception of reed strength.
Mouth pieces and embouchure strength will also affect perception of reed strength.