Thanks so much for the description, John. I think it will take a few more reads to understand what you are saying, but I certainly greatly appreciate your efforts! Your comment that “more tension is less” is interesting and certainly strikes a chord. I have noticed that I sometimes get a note with no discernible tension when the same pitch takes a lot of apparent tension at other times, but I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing differently. I think it may possibly be to do with jaw position. The lower the jaw is, the more “preset” tension there is anyway at the aperture corners, so less need for extra tightening? That’s my current theory, anyway. I’ll keep on exploring; probably start right at the bottom end of the instrument and see how far I can relax and still get a note out. Thanks again!