experienced sax players can use their lung control to mimic the behaviour of a dark or bright mouthpiece, which is where playing long tones vastly helps in playing a long smooth note, you’re getting better at playing a note by holding a smooth note and also getting more control in delivering a steady speeded up air stream note. Giving a stronger blowing note compared to weaker sounding note.
But then your lungs are fighting against the barrel design of the mouthpiece and the tip opening. But the most import thing that works with any mouthpiece is the long tones control, if that’s bad, then you will find it harder to control any mouthpiece.
correct embouchure control, gives a better seal around the mouthpiece, a lot more noticeable on the clarinet (clarinet players make more loud piercing squeaks than sax players). How you pronounce the note when you blow is very important and does make a difference in the ex say HEE and blow exactly how you say HEE and it will sound different than if you say HAW and blow exactly how you say HAW – the difference between a tense and and a relaxed embouchure. You can try this out by trying pronouncing different vowels while blowing.
The last thing that i am guilty of is gripping the keys too tightly, if grip something tightly then all your body tenses up and affects the lungs and other muscles. can make playing sound rushed.
my two pennys worth (imho)
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