Air leak when drawing double notes?
Wed, 02/09/2022 - 08:27
For the long sustained notes in Gary's Blues, I can sustain a single note (3rd chorus) but I often run out of breath with the double notes versions (4th and 6th chorus). I think I start fully empty.
I suspect several causes.
- I have not yet found how to precisely dose how much 5 to put in my 4. I extend my lips opening to the right, and often I get hole 5 all of a sudden, and too much.
- I may be leaking air through the sides of my mouth in the process (I don't think through my nose). I noticed that for holes 1 and 2 earlier, and it is hard to be aware of it.
- When playing the whole piece, there is also a "rising" effect that leads me to play 6th chorus louder, and it doesn't help...
Is it the key for not inhaling too much with double notes: to dose the 2nd one so I need barely more air than a single note?
Or it is normal to inhale much more for double notes, and I must just train my overall breathing endurance? (and how should I do that?)
Hello again ÉricD.
1) Using less of the upper note will be easier on your breathing.
2) I highly doubt that you're leaking air from the sides of your mouth... never seen a student do this.
3) The rising effect is a positive thing... the song is coming to a dynamic climax.
If you're truly getting rid of all your air before playing that two-note combination, then the most likely culprit is that your nose is opening as you release the dip bend. Simply plug your nose with your non-holding hand to check this.
Using less of the upper note will help.
Also, if you're playing the slower-tempo version of the song, this makes the breathing harder as well. Playing softer until you get to the full tempo version is a good fix.
Lastly, this is a known challenging area for breathing... you will get better at it over time (our body is amazing at figuring stuff out without us being consciously aware of it).