Alto Saxophone moutpiece question?

Question:When i put the mouthpiece in my mouth, do i fold my upper lip under my teeth and press down on the mouthpiece, or do i directly press my top teeth into the mouthpiece and blow? I've been doing the former, but no one has really ever told me which one is right?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: When i put the mouthpiece in my mouth, do i fold my upper lip under my teeth and press down on the mouthpiece, or do i directly press my top teeth into the mouthpiece and blow? I've been doing the former, but no one has really ever told me which one is right?

You can cover your upper teeth with your lips. This is called a double lip embouchure. It isn't wrong to do it, but most people find it is better for their tone and ease of playing to just have their teeth directly on the mouthpiece. I (and many professionals) disagree with the statement of "firmly" putting your teeth on the mouthpiece. The embouchure is made to just seal around the mouthpiece and direct the air into the mouthpiece. It is not meant to grip it in your mouth so that only a vehicle pulling on your saxophone with a rope can take it out. The embouchure is nearly exactly the same as you have your mouth normally. It is like sucking on a straw. You don't clamp on, you just secure it enough to not fall out and to make a seal.

place your top teeth firmly on the mouth peice - and wrap your lip around - you know to fold your bottom lip over your teeth of course -

i always bite down on top.

curl your bottom lip up to the reed and put your top teeth on the mouth piece relax your bite for lower questions and tighten for higher

Bite down on the top, but not too hard. If you bite down too hard you can accidentally go up an octave.

That was a problem of mine when I first started.

You need to put your top teeth directly on the mouthpiece.
Btw, this is a good technique because if you are getting a little squeaky, like if you have a reed not wet enough, then all you have to do is press your teeth more firmly on the mouthpiece. :))))