How to play double lip embouchure pt. 2

Second installment on how to play and teach double lip embouchure.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• clarinet
• ridenour
• double
• lip
• french
• embouchure
• pedagogy
• teaching

[jerchiury]

hello also i am have some dificulties of staying the same reed-lip position when i am playing fast passages such as the arppegios in Mozart's concerto. my clarinet just move too much from the finger movements. any recommendations? thank you for the last tip.

[billyboy647]

@jerchiury You are slamming and banging with the fingers--being heavy handed. You need to practice playing with light fingers and relaxing. Also, you probably need more development in your embouchure, getting more strength in the upper lip.

[jerchiury]

hey i am starting to play double lip because i love the tone it produces. but now i have trouble getting the high notes above the high D with the 234 fingering. i figured that not enough pressure is put on the reed. can you give me some ways of how to put lots more pressure on the reed? (so i can play the very high A)

thanks.

[billyboy647]

@jerchiury If you have trouble with high tones your reeds are not of proper strength/balance (balance is most likely the problem), Your tongue position is probably too low. Try that first: high/back tongue position. Finally, if you want to add pressure to the reed then lift the clarinet with your thumb, snugging the mouthpiece/reed wedge more firmly against the lips. DON"T BITE!

[Spectonimous]

I wonder if I'm doing it wrong bc my teeth touch the inside of my lip and it hurts..

[billyboy647]

@Spectonimous You're biting...closing the jaw and IT HURTS. If you were creating an opening and then bringing the clarinet to your face without any closing WHATSOEVER--you'd not be in pain. Also, USE BALANCED REEDS!

[cowgirl14zz]

I have been playing clarinet in my school band for about five year's now. I never heard of "Single-lip" or "Double-lip" until now. I have been having problems lately with biting my bottom lip, but is it and can I use it in my band? Should I ask my teacher about "Double-lip" ?

[venskus2009]

Is howard klug a good teacher?

[billyboy647]

@unknowen1013 You're probably playing unbalanced reeds that cause you to bite for tonal clarity and response. Don't do that. Get my ATG Reed Finishing system so you can play well balanced reeds all the time. Also, put a layer or two of cigarette paper over your upper teeth...but don't let it be a crutch to keep you biting. Biting--bad, bad!

[billyboy647]

@Spectonimous Yup, you're biting by closing the jaw--don't do that. Bring the horn to the face, not the face to the horn.

[venskus2009]

are your gonna make a low C contrabass? im over my paperclip but cant afford a selmer model 41

[unknowen1013]

it seems to hurt my upper lip because my teeth are kinda sharp so I don't last very long even if I practice everyday my lip just dies

[billyboy647]

My sense is the issue is not an "either/or" issue, but a both/and. Just use the right tool for the right job. I find double lip superior for about 95% of my playing. Single lip playing begins to deteriorate in quality quickly that double lip instantly restores. Your instability is due to either doing it incorrectly, playing badly balanced reeds, or you just need more time to develop.

[humbertsin1994]

I still find double lip to be an "aid" and "practicing technique" for single lip playing.

[billyboy647]

Not if you are practicing and snugging like I describe. If you're doing it the way I describe you'll have no problems at all with stability. Many people also switch back and forth, depending on context---if you play double lip you'll play single lip well automatically, but the reverse is not true.

[humbertsin1994]

Hi. I believe that there are advantages. However, there is also the major disadvantage of instability, e.g. when playing fast repertoire.

[billyboy647]

Yes, I think once you have the mechanics of playing french embouchure (double lip) down the only other issue that can cause problems is poorly balanced reeds. My ATG system takes care of that really easily. With balanced reeds to play on progress should be steady.

[nadja1316]

hi, thanks for the answer!

I asked this 2 ,month ago when I tried hard to play double lip. I trained every day and now it works really good ! Thanks for your really helpful video!

regards from Germany!

[billyboy647]

Yes, most everyone can do it. The only two problems are 1. If the player has an underbite; that is not good for clarinet playing usually. and 2. If the player has a very short upper lip and teeth so long he or she can't get the upper lip under the teeth.

[billyboy647]

Very well said; You need to do it right to get all its possible benefits.

I can only add that you'll need good, efficient equipment to help you do it right. Poor equipment will force you to do unnecessary things and often develop into bad habits, hard to break!

[nadja1316]

is it possible for anybody to learn it if he has the will?

[trumpetharmonica]

Hí Billy

I´m a Double Lip player on my alto saxophone, work´s fine for me. I just start to play that way, I´m selftought from start.

With teeth on mouthpiece, for me I get to much salive in the intrument, not so good, so Double lip is great for me!

You give me good tipz , Thank´s very much!

JDB

[billyboy647]

himrasmus 101

I hope it's helpful to a lot of people. double lip is a great method for tone production. Practicing it cures lot of problems, even if you don't make it your primary means of tone production. But you need to do it right to get all its possible benefits.

[himrasmus101]

Love the vids Tom, they are just awesome.

[klarinetta]

Another comic from Tom Ridenour :)