The embouchure for bassoon uses an overbite jaw position where the lower jaw is slightly behind the upper jaw. There is a little pressure from the bottom lip and none on the top. This can be a big change for single reed players, especially clarinetists. Think whistling to get the embouchure shape.
Try this technique to get understand the bassoon embouchure:
Try this technique to get understand the bassoon embouchure:
- Place the tip of the little finger on your lower lip.
- Now draw the finger into your mouth and take the lower lip with it.
- Then bring the top lip down slightly over the top teeth.
- This is a soft embouchure as opposed the hard of embouchure of the saxophone and clarinet. Since this type of embouchure is different it is important to understand that while the concept is the same is not rigid, because of different sized lips the look will be slightly different individually.
These are the pressure points on the reed
Now let's try it with a reed this time.
- Place the tip of the reed on the your lower lip
- Draw the reed into your mouth, taking the lower lip with it.
- Bring the top lip down with the lip slightly over the top teeth. You should be about 1/8th inch form the first wire.