Not definitive, but from what I can tell, there are two schools of thought. One is that losing one's chops (embouchure) is akin to losing one's teeth (chops). So, someone with awesome chops has an awesome embouchure, and by extension is talented on whatever musical instrument one plays.

The other is the "chops" is the result of spending time practicing in the woodshed. Makes me wonder if that's also where the term "axe" (your instrument) came from.


John

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