A lip vibration model using mechanical properties of flesh

Abstract

The mechanics of brass instrument playing extend beyond simple lip tension. While the mechanical properties of human lips vary between relaxed and fully contracted states, these properties alone cannot explain the extensive pitch range achieved by professional brass players. Musicians enhance their capabilities by manipulating their mouth cavities and vocal tracts, which function as Helmholtz resonators that drive lip vibrations. To access higher registers, players employ upstream or downstream techniques that reduce the vibrating lip mass. In the lowest three octaves, the trombone functions as a transmission line responding to lip-generated pulse sequences. Pressure measurements, taken simultaneously from the mouth, mouthpiece cup, and backbore, reveal 180° phase differences between these locations and demonstrate that mouth pressure leads the others during note transitions.