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Crooked lips

 
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John
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Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Posts: 6

PostPosted: 2011-07-11, 05:58    Post subject: Crooked lips Reply with quote

It seems like my lips naturally want to make a shape where the stream exits a little to one side. This happens also when I whistle. I can get a relatively good sound from my shakuhachi with this stream, but I do have to hold it a little to one side to get the best volume. I have tried to get the opening to shift to the middle and it becomes very weak and when I apply tension to my lips they quickly do the shift to the side position. I'm wondering if it's worth stopping everything right now and just trying like hell to get the stream to come out from the middle or if I should just keep on trucking with the stream a little to one side. Any long time players who have crooked lips?
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Brian Tairaku Ritchie
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Joined: 18 Mar 2011
Posts: 635
Localisation: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

PostPosted: 2011-07-11, 06:19    Post subject: Crooked lips Reply with quote

There's nothing that says you have to hold it in the middle. Just do what's right for you. A lot of good players hold it to one side or the other.
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John
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PostPosted: 2011-07-11, 06:42    Post subject: Crooked lips Reply with quote

Thanks Brian, good to know good players don't all have naturally symmetrical lips! Now I can return to focusing on improving all the other reasons my playing isn't so good, at least those I have a better chance of doing something about.
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Brian Tairaku Ritchie
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Joined: 18 Mar 2011
Posts: 635
Localisation: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

PostPosted: 2011-07-11, 07:17    Post subject: Crooked lips Reply with quote

Better this (i.e. playing to the side).



Than this (no lips).

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