[William Baldwin]

If the tutor tells me I need a different mouthpiece or reed, I will definitely listen. But I don’t think I’m going to try to become an expert in that area. Thanks for your help, anyway.

[William Baldwin]

OK, thanks very much everyone. I think I will follow sxpoet’s advice and see how it works out.

[William Baldwin]

As I mentioned earlier, I already tried a lot of different mouthpieces and reeds, without success. But I’d be prepared to give it another go, if I knew what I was looking for.

My understanding is that MPs vary in several different respects: the tip opening, the facing curve, the baffle and chamber, and the external shape all play a part. If someone was able to tell me, OK sounds like you need a shorter facing combined with a more bulbous external shape, then I could go looking for that. But at the moment I have no idea where to start.

[William Baldwin]

Hi guys, thanks for your suggestions.
It’s alto sax, not tenor. I want to believe that a mouthpiece will solve my problems, but it’s not that I can’t get the sound I want, it’s the fact that I can’t get it reliably, because my embouchure changes while I’m playing.

[William Baldwin]

This is actually the second time I’ve tried to master the sax. The first time, I tried many mouthpieces and reeds, but none of them gave consistent results. This time, I decided to start with a beginners mouthpiece that has a reputation for being easy to play, the Yamaha 4C. I also bought the 5C and the 6C. The 6C has the widest tip opening, but seems to be the worst in terms of the bottom lip problem I’m having.

[William Baldwin]

Thanks for your help, Johnny. I took another look at the video you mentioned, and I am using that position for the bottom lip when I’m concentrating on that aspect of my playing. The problem is that when I’m thinking about the notes, fingering etc, my lip position changes and I suddenly realise that I’m not making a good sound. Then I realise that my little bit of beard is actually in contact with the reed. So I do a reset, and now I’m making a better sound again.

[William Baldwin]

Is my problem a bit unusual, because I’ve never seen it discussed anywhere? I know that some sax players are told by their teachers to put their bottom lip right over their teeth, which causes this problem. But that’s not the case with me, my lip just goes there by itself.

[William Baldwin]

Thanks for replying. I tried a thicker reed, it does help in a way, but it’s hard to blow and I don’t have much control over the tone.

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