Play octave note c sound
![play octave note c sound play octave note c sound](http://themoderntrumpet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Pedals_Overtones.png)
Try adjusting the embouchure till you can make that pitch on the neck and try the sax again slurring from C to 4th line D. With the mouthpiece approx halfway on the cork, the pitch should match Ab on the piano.
![play octave note c sound play octave note c sound](https://www.onlinepianocoach.com/images/CmajorScaleParalell.gif)
If this is not the problem, using your #3 reed (not the 1 1/2) take off the neck and mouthpiece and play the neck only to see what pitch is produced. Also fingering G and striking the thumb key hard should produce no bouncing of the neck key whatsoever. Also keeping the thumb key pressed going from G to A should close the body octave and open the one on the neck. When you press the thumb key you should see the body octave key (small pad) open about 3/16". Do this by fingering low G and then pressing the thumb octave key. On this clip I am subtoning for the first few notesįirst check to see if your octave mechanism is operating correctly. The problem is it is hard to subtone on high notes!! This technique is hard to explain, but involves a very soft embouchure, with the bottom lip pushed very slightly forward, and a moist reed. In fact, if you can easily get down to those low notes, you are probably subtoning!! Store this embouchure for future use, as it is a lovely sound. I think I could always get to top D without much trouble, but it is only now after nearly a year that I can get to top f# without "playing up to it" and that is still tough when my mouth is tired.īTW, The idea is to be able to play every note without altering your embouchure at all, so if you have to tighten to player in the upper register, then this is your embouchure!! In reality though, I think we all tighten a touch I certainly do because I like a fuller tone on the lower notes (this is call subtone, and might be what you are doing without even realizing it!) So, as long as you are not "biting" dont be alarmed if your mouth aches at first. It takes a long time to build up those (until now) underused muscles.īoth of the teachers I have had get sore lips after prolongued playing, my current teacher had a terrible mouth after a workshop weekend (5 hours a day playing) and he has been playing and teaching for 30 years! Now, no-one told me this either: but initially playing the sax can be tiring on the mouth. This means drawing in your mouth like an elastic band, as hard as you can. The basic idea is not to let any air escape from around the mouthpiece. I think you have answered your own question, to a degree, and Mr Teal's advice is pretty sound, although some people here suggest a different embouchure, his still works OK We didn't touch the high notes with him as a study material though but he played the whole range of the sax.Īs I mentioned in my another post I yesterday tried #1.5 Vandoren reed that came with my sax kit and it was really much much easier to blow than #3 but it didn't help to produce the higher notes easier, only the low notes wich is the subject of my other post.Ĭongratulations on taking up the alto, you have made a good choice. The sax was checked by my teacher before he went on vacation. My equipment: Trevor James Classic alto with stock mouthpiece and #3 Vandoren reeds. It sounds to me like those beginners with 'low notes' troubles get high notes naturally while the opposite troubles me. I've read lots of stuff on sax tone production including Larry Teal's 'Art.' book and watched some instructional videos like Walter Beasly's 'Tone.' but I don't remember that I noticed any emphasis on the tight embouchure for high notes. I saw some posts where it was mentioned that higher notes require tighter emouchure but I haven't seen a single post where it was really stressed.
![play octave note c sound play octave note c sound](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RBYqdBqogo4/maxresdefault.jpg)
I probably tense up as well as those notes look really difficult for me. I have to blow hard as well, I don't know why as I do it intuitively. As a result I can play those high notes at the edge of my physical abilities. I can play relatively smoothly up to C# but when I hit the octave key with D fingering to produce the second octave D there is no change in pitch from the lower octave D unless I squeeze the mouthpiece really hard as I perceive it. I have problems with notes that engage the octave key. I have no troubles with low notes on my alto starting at low Bb up to C# open. I 've found many posts in which beginners complain about low notes.