Thank you for your great insight and clear explanations, these are really helpful. I just watched this through without my sax as it's a bit late, so I'm looking forward to watching again tomorrow, tenor in hand! Here's a number eleven from my own experience: don't walk onto the bandstand with anything still in the bell! Yeah, I've done it twice. Those collapsible sax stands designed to store in the bell can be culprits, but for me it was plastic water bottles. Both times were at rehearsal thankfully, especially because the first time took me a minute or two to diagnose the problem.
Hi there I have a inexpensive STAG soprano. It has been serviced but the low Bb sounds like the octave key down. Or it honks. I have played for a number of years on alto in the past. I’m trying to establish whether it is me or the instrument. Your video was very useful will try your techniques out. Thanks for sharing. If you have any further advice please let me know. Many thanks
Dear Sax Cast, Thanks for a very helpful video on low notes. However, please could you sort out your terminology? I am an amateur tenor player, but I was a surgeon before I retired. You are using the word "stomach" when you really should be saying "abdominal wall muscles". The stomach is the bag that food goes into when you swallow it. Secondly, the diaphragm is a sheet of muscle which separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. It is shaped like an umbrella, and when it contracts, it flattens, drawing air into the chest. Therefore, the diaphragm muscle only works when you are breathing in. When you blow into a saxophone, you push the air out of your lungs using the abdominal wall muscles, not the diaphragm. During this process the diaphragm is relaxing. I do hope you don't mind me pointing this out, but I think it is very important. Otherwise, the video was really good!
@@michaellavelle9943 I don't mind at all Michael, great info there. Human anatomy certainly isn't my area of expertise. Over the years I've just learned what to tell people in order to activate airflow in the correct way. I knew that you can't consciously activate the diaphragm so I encourage people to push out their stomach (mostly due to starting with teaching kids and abdominal wall being a step beyond.) I actually never realised that the muscles were responsible for pushing out air, that fascinates me (I feel like somewhat of a neanderthal now but I'll take it!). I'd be interesting to have a conversation on this further if you'd be up for that. There will be a lot of value in getting the anatomy right here for future lessons and my own playing. Cheers for the comment and please get in touch! dan@saxcasts.com or via the facebook group.
I recently started playing, as a matter of fact I've been visiting Sax lessons for just over 2 months now. are self-tearchers good????, I have downloaded Tonestro, which is supposed to help me learn on my own. Is it adviceable for a newb like me to use such a software ?
the problem with being self taught is if you teach your self wrong, itll become a habit. Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent. I'd advise finding a teacher or soemone who is trained so that what you're learning/practicing is right.
Tonestro have spammed my RUclips channel with comments by bots making me think it is a little suspect. I'd get a solid online course and back it up with a great teacher when you can.
So, on point 6: if I am going from G down to F & E, do I switch from blowing cold air to warm? How can I change that without it impacting the embouchure?
Technically you can't as you'll slightly change the throat position at least. Ultimately, you have your own anatomy and experimenting with what works the best for you is the only way. These tips just give you hints along the way.
Question :i am having always difficulty playing the low 3 notes quietly, not a problem playing them loudly . i am doing something wrong? I keep hearing that you need a lot of air flow. so does that mean that it needs to be loud when it comes to playing those notes in particular ? and since I can play them loud does it mean that the saxophone has no problem or it may still have some ? thank you for answering because nobody really talks about this.
If you are holding down the octave key and the sound does change to high then is there not something wrong with your saxophone? Why is it a good thing if the octave key is not serving its purpose?
Due to you being in control of the airflow and sound production. The octave key opens a small vent in the body of the sax and as an exercise manipulating the air in such a way that you force the sax to act how you like its a great way of learning control. Ultimately, you rarely use this (you do use overtones and false fingerings for technique) however there are few better exercises for developing control.
This video is going LIVE at 8:15pm GMT tonight guys. I'll be here to answer your saxophone questions and have a coffee with you! #saxophone www.saxcasts.com
Been switching from Alto to Tenor, and I'm struggling with the low F and E they both go up an octave (when I play my scales, or just randomly, and I can't explain why as I've never experienced this problem with the alto) but not with the D and lower. It feels like the same type of thing you get with a recorder a tin whistle or a trumpet, only without overblowing the notes..
If you've tried everything in the video above It sounds like your sax may well have a leak. Do you have a teacher or tech locally that you could get it checked over with?
Baritone saxes have a special key for an A. Tenors and up don't (as far as i know lol) but i just recently bought my own bari (after graduating highschool 7 years ago lol. But newer ones have a low A, but older ones don't.
It could be that you aren't pressing the Bb key hard enough to seal the pad. Try pressing harder or get someone else to push the key down to alienate this.
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I've never encountered a teacher who could go in to so much detail on technique. This is great stuff.
Thank you for your great insight and clear explanations, these are really helpful. I just watched this through without my sax as it's a bit late, so I'm looking forward to watching again tomorrow, tenor in hand!
Here's a number eleven from my own experience: don't walk onto the bandstand with anything still in the bell! Yeah, I've done it twice. Those collapsible sax stands designed to store in the bell can be culprits, but for me it was plastic water bottles. Both times were at rehearsal thankfully, especially because the first time took me a minute or two to diagnose the problem.
Haha Thomas! I think we've all forgot what was down there once or twice 🤣 Thank you for commenting my friend, really appreciate it! Dan
Best all-round kit bag for dealing with low Bb that I have come across.
Brilliant to hear Michael, thank you for taking the time to comment! 🎷
I can do it now!!! Omg, you are the best
FANTASTIC to hear! Glad to help 😊
Hi there I have a inexpensive STAG soprano. It has been serviced but the low Bb sounds like the octave key down. Or it honks. I have played for a number of years on alto in the past. I’m trying to establish whether it is me or the instrument. Your video was very useful will try your techniques out. Thanks for sharing. If you have any further advice please let me know. Many thanks
Thanks for watching all, hope you found it useful! Please leave a comment below I'd love to hear your thoughts on low notes.
Dear Sax Cast, Thanks for a very helpful video on low notes. However, please could you sort out your terminology? I am an amateur tenor player, but I was a surgeon before I retired. You are using the word "stomach" when you really should be saying "abdominal wall muscles". The stomach is the bag that food goes into when you swallow it. Secondly, the diaphragm is a sheet of muscle which separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. It is shaped like an umbrella, and when it contracts, it flattens, drawing air into the chest. Therefore, the diaphragm muscle only works when you are breathing in. When you blow into a saxophone, you push the air out of your lungs using the abdominal wall muscles, not the diaphragm. During this process the diaphragm is relaxing. I do hope you don't mind me pointing this out, but I think it is very important. Otherwise, the video was really good!
@@michaellavelle9943 I don't mind at all Michael, great info there. Human anatomy certainly isn't my area of expertise. Over the years I've just learned what to tell people in order to activate airflow in the correct way. I knew that you can't consciously activate the diaphragm so I encourage people to push out their stomach (mostly due to starting with teaching kids and abdominal wall being a step beyond.) I actually never realised that the muscles were responsible for pushing out air, that fascinates me (I feel like somewhat of a neanderthal now but I'll take it!). I'd be interesting to have a conversation on this further if you'd be up for that. There will be a lot of value in getting the anatomy right here for future lessons and my own playing. Cheers for the comment and please get in touch! dan@saxcasts.com or via the facebook group.
Great video!
I recently started playing, as a matter of fact I've been visiting Sax lessons for just over 2 months now. are self-tearchers good????, I have downloaded Tonestro, which is supposed to help me learn on my own. Is it adviceable for a newb like me to use such a software ?
the problem with being self taught is if you teach your self wrong, itll become a habit. Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent. I'd advise finding a teacher or soemone who is trained so that what you're learning/practicing is right.
Tonestro have spammed my RUclips channel with comments by bots making me think it is a little suspect. I'd get a solid online course and back it up with a great teacher when you can.
Excellent lesson!
Great video man thanks
No worries Reece. Keep smashing that sax!
So, on point 6: if I am going from G down to F & E, do I switch from blowing cold air to warm? How can I change that without it impacting the embouchure?
Technically you can't as you'll slightly change the throat position at least. Ultimately, you have your own anatomy and experimenting with what works the best for you is the only way. These tips just give you hints along the way.
Here we come good quality D and C
and hopefully C#/B + Bb too! :'D
A tip: you can watch series at KaldroStream. Been using them for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.
@Zion Alberto yea, have been using kaldrostream for since november myself :D
Question :i am having always difficulty playing the low 3 notes quietly, not a problem playing them loudly . i am doing something wrong? I keep hearing that you need a lot of air flow. so does that mean that it needs to be loud when it comes to playing those notes in particular ? and since I can play them loud does it mean that the saxophone has no problem or it may still have some ? thank you for answering because nobody really talks about this.
It's much easier to make notes speak on saxophone when you play loud. Do the notes often jump up the register when you play quietly too?
If you are holding down the octave key and the sound does change to high then is there not something wrong with your saxophone? Why is it a good thing if the octave key is not serving its purpose?
Due to you being in control of the airflow and sound production. The octave key opens a small vent in the body of the sax and as an exercise manipulating the air in such a way that you force the sax to act how you like its a great way of learning control.
Ultimately, you rarely use this (you do use overtones and false fingerings for technique) however there are few better exercises for developing control.
This video is going LIVE at 8:15pm GMT tonight guys. I'll be here to answer your saxophone questions and have a coffee with you! #saxophone www.saxcasts.com
Been switching from Alto to Tenor, and I'm struggling with the low F and E they both go up an octave (when I play my scales, or just randomly, and I can't explain why as I've never experienced this problem with the alto) but not with the D and lower.
It feels like the same type of thing you get with a recorder a tin whistle or a trumpet, only without overblowing the notes..
If you've tried everything in the video above It sounds like your sax may well have a leak. Do you have a teacher or tech locally that you could get it checked over with?
Don't you just love spending more time "down there" ;)?..just fingering rather than fingering and blowing at the same time.Good lesson!!!
Fred Murray wtf lol
@@aidanpark7705 and you thought I wasn't paying attention!! Subliminal messages are my specialty!! :))
Fred Murray i love your humor thank you for making my day sir 😂
Glad you enjoyed....the lesson... Murray lol.
That sounded weirdly sexual 😂
How do you play low a
Baritone saxes have a special key for an A. Tenors and up don't (as far as i know lol) but i just recently bought my own bari (after graduating highschool 7 years ago lol. But newer ones have a low A, but older ones don't.
If you are flexible enough, you can finger a low Bb on sax and stick your knee in the bell to get that extra half tone. I suggest sax yoga...
I need to see the person that will teach me saxophone
P.S. I have very small little fingers so sliding to Bb is difficult as there is a bit of jump.
It could be that you aren't pressing the Bb key hard enough to seal the pad. Try pressing harder or get someone else to push the key down to alienate this.
thast weird im getting the low notes easy but im stuggeling witht he high notes so i guess im wrong way round lol
Could need a slightly harder reed and more open mouthpiece if you're support and embouchure are good
@@SaxCasts what about a synthetic reed do you think they would help better
I have a bigger problem playing low f#. Every other note is fine
Sounds like there might be a leak. Hope you got this sorted!
@@SaxCasts 9 months later, there wasn't anything like that. It was my reed. It was old.
@@BrunoNeureiter haha that'll do it 😂
AH ha was playing with a narrow throat.
That's going to really hinder your Sax playing!
🎷
Thank you David!
You kinda look like elon musk lol! Not really but there are some similar aspects
Think they'd give me a tesla if I went in and asked whilst doing my finest Elon impression?
@@SaxCasts hell ya
Just casually talk about Mars
Markiplier’s gay younger brother
He actually is my straight older brother, how did you know?
Far too much talking,...not nearly enough playing examples...!
Sorry about this, thanks for the feedback!