My high notes sound airy

angst1991 · Post by **angst1991** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:29 pm

I don’t think it’s a breath support problem. I think it’s probably more attributed to embouchure.

My lower octave is fine, but notes above an A (first above the staff) just sound forced and airy.

What should I practice to get a more clearer tone?

musical_Kat · Post by **musical_Kat** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:42 pm

I would make sure that you aren't pinching those upper register notes by closing the back of your throat. Try to remember to stay open in the back!

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 8:51 pm

Open throat is sort of like when when you yawn except your mouth doesn't open...

musical_Kat · Post by **musical_Kat** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:38 pm

aiyazdani wrote:no matter what notes i play, they always come out airy. my instructor says that its because i just recently got braces, and is always telling me to "open my throat." i dont get what that means and can someone explain to me how to do it?

I had an instructor put it to me this way once and I think it's the best way i've heard to explain it....think of a backwards pear in your mouth....the wide end is back up almost into the throat and the small end is up front behind the front teeth. Do it without the instrument first.....try to talk this way....look in a mirror...just to find out and adjust yourself to how it feels. It's going to be VERY awkward at first for a while but you will get used to it. When you do a whole new world of sound will open up to you! I promise!

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 5:49 am

Salud!

For me, the understanding of the open throat concept was a major breakthrough. What I thought was "It's like opening the faucet".

Just open up and exhale all your air, with no impedement in the throat, tongue, teeth, lips, nothing. Just open the faucet and exhale all your hot air in one great and strong exhalation. Now try to do this again with just ONE impedement: the lips. Feel the air hitting the lips in the inside and shape them to reduce the air flow. The trick is not to use the throat to reduce the air flow, just the lips. And, of course, when playing you don't have to exhale in full force, specially with the first octave. And exhale HOT air.

It helps to sing while playing, this puts the throat in the "right mood".

This is how it worked for me.