Embouchure
I am new to the site. I would consider myself a "lazy" intermediate player. I was not sure where to jump in so I figured I would go for the Chro, because I would be able to work on my tongue skills, chro, and 3rd position licks all in one.
The first lesson is great. I love the detail. That lesson alone was worth this months sub.
My question is when you are tongue blocking, do you keep the tip of the tongue right behind your teeth? I am trying to use the flat surface of the tongue and not the tip, but i find myself laying the tip of the tongue on my rear gum line.
Welcome to the site. I know you didn't post this in my question and answer section, but I thought I would chime in. Most players place the tip of their tongue slightly under the holes of the chromatic. Placing it behind your bottom set of teeth should be fine, I don't see any issues with that... experiment.
Thanks for the quick responses. As I began working on the pulls (which frankly I have always had trouble with until i watch the videos and worked with them in detail) it all makes better sense. I have to keep it a bit higher for some effects, then set it behind the teeth slightly for octaves. Seems to be saving me a ton of breath also.
Great licks on that Second Study, I am going to use a few tonight. Also, the intuitive approach in lesson one really helped solidify the thought processes that have been going on when I am improvising on the Chro.
Great, glad to hear.
When I'm tongue blocking the chrom, I use the top surface of my tongue to block the holes. The tip of my tongue touches the bottom of the mouthpiece and the inside of my lower lip, and rests on top of the ridge of my lower teeth.
When I widen my embouchure to play octaves, the tip of the tongue stays on the underside of the mouthpiece, while the lower lips and teeth pull away because of the dropped jaw and wider mouth opening.
When I narrow down to block only one hole and play the holes on either side, the tip of my tongue touches the inside of the UPPER lip, because I'm blocking the hole using the narrow "cord," a sort of front-to-back ridge that runs along the underside of my tongue.
When I'm tongue blocking the chrom, I use the top surface of my tongue to block the holes. The tip of my tongue touches the bottom of the mouthpiece and the inside of my lower lip, and rests on top of the ridge of my lower teeth.
When I widen my embouchure to play octaves, the tip of the tongue stays on the underside of the mouthpiece, while the lower lips and teeth pull away because of the dropped jaw and wider mouth opening.
When I narrow down to block only one hole and play the holes on either side, the tip of my tongue touches the inside of the UPPER lip, because I'm blocking the hole using the narrow "cord," a sort of front-to-back ridge that runs along the underside of my tongue.
David would do a much better job of describing it, but here it goes.......
Generally speaking I find it more comfortable to use the "middle tip" of my tongue on the Chro with my tongue usually even with and slightly above my lower set of teeth. The top of the harp is usually is past my upper set of teeth held at a slightly upward angle.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
P.S. If you are looking for a response directly from David, this question would probably get a quicker response in the Questions for David part of this forum......at least in my experience.