The flutists whose embouchures are illustrated are hightly accomplished musicians with better than professionally average tones. Most are professional or semi-professional career people, although one or two are strictly students with fine tones.
The purpose of these illustrations is one of demonstrating the wide variation in embouchures capable of producing a good flute tone.
The following are descriptors alphabetically ordered for each photograph. The photos will appear below in alphabetical order. Please be patient if download time is slow; the graphic is 75K in size.
- A:
A natural, almost perfectly symmetrical embouchure.
- B:
Natural, symmetrical, making excellent use of the lower lip, and retaining optimum distance from the embouchure hole.
- C:
Natural, symmetrical, inclined to be almost too far from the embouchure hole.
- D:
Natural, slightly pulled to the left side; lower lip in position for maximum use.
- E:
Natural, pulled slightly to the left; full upper lip retained high so that inner, more sensitive area of lip is used.
- F:
Natural, symmetrical, flexible lower lip capabilities; slight "tear drop" in upper lip pulled flat rather than to one side.
- G:
Nearly symmetrical but with upper lip irregular in contour and therefore rolled slightly out to use inner surface where irregularities are controllable. (Caution: upper lip must not move too close to embouchure hole.)
- H:
Natural, pulled to the right, with only the playing surface of a full upper lip rolled outward; lower lip in excellent position to perform.
- I:
Both lips full and both lips irregularly contoured; embouchure pulled to the right and located between the irregularities; both lips rolled slightly out to obtain use of more sensitive, inner surface.
- J:
Symmetrical, upper lip almost straight across, thin lower lip rolled out to provide good playing surface.
- K:
Extreme pull to the left to avoid heavy "tear drop"; air enters flute at an angle from the left. (Problematical.)
- L:
Pulled to the right, heavy lips rolled out for sensitivity; no "tear drop".
- M:
Nearly symmetrical; large "tear drop" virtually eliminated by muscular pull in upper lip, lower lip in excellent position for use.
- N:
"Tear drop", both lips irregular, appature pulled to the left, lower lip inadvantageously located, danger of upper lip smothering embouchure hole.
- O:
Very large "tear drop" avoided with appature pulled to the right, lower lip rolled out for maximum sensitivity at point of aperture.
- P:
"Tear drop" avoided by rolling upper lip up and out; relatively irregular lower lip, nevertheless in good position for optimum use.
- Q:
Extremely large and heavy "tear drop" avoided by pulling only upper lip to the right; lower lip nearly symmetrical and in good, natural position for effective use.
- R:
Both lips unusually heavy and irregular; aperture located to the left with flute moved to the left to coincide.