I just switched from playing clarinet to alto saxophone and I'm having embou

Question:im used to staying really tight for upper register clarinet and now that ive started playing the alto sax, im having trouble staying loose. i always end up with a chapped lower lip, and i cant seem to be able to play the lower register notes and sustain them. do you have any tips?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: im used to staying really tight for upper register clarinet and now that ive started playing the alto sax, im having trouble staying loose. i always end up with a chapped lower lip, and i cant seem to be able to play the lower register notes and sustain them. do you have any tips?

Switching instruments can be excrutiating.
When playing your saxophone, just keep a relaxed mentality....realise in your mind that you are playing a different instrument and that your mouth will have to do different things. Keep it in your subconcious (or even concious) that you need to follow the requirments for that instrument.
Also, keeping chapstic with you is a very good idea...remember to wet your lips when you get the chance (such as at a rest) and KEEP REMINDING YOURSELF to relax the mouth.
The key really is your mind. There aren't any other tricks.
You will soon get the hang of playing your saxophone.
Trust me, I went through the exact same experience.
Good luck!

Definitely loosen up, but more in your throat than your embouchure. Your throat should be really open like you're saying "aaahhh", especially in the low notes.

I'm a clarinet player too, and switched to tenor sax for pep band. I had the same problem you are having, for clarinet you always need so much tightness!!!

I had another tenor sax player talk to me about it. What he did was have me go to a piano and start at a middle C. Play that note, and sing it, and then play up the C scale (matching pitches on the piano) until you can't sing any higher. The way your throat, tongue, everything, felt when you were singing that high note is how your throat and everything should be while playing the sax. Really open.

Also, try moving the position your tongue is in, try bringing it down for low notes. That may help.