I found when I started playing bari, my intonation on alto and tenor both improved immensely. I was a biter at one point, but bari really made me loosen up, and it's nearly perfect now. Before I had issues with most notes above g being rather sharp, and altissimo was even sharper. Now even my altissimo notes are within a few cents, and usually more on the flat side.
OH MY HECK - THANK YOU FOR THIS! I have played with soooooo many people who think they tuned one note, then start pushing buttons and screwing up the whole ensemble because they don’t think they are the ones out of tune, it MUST be someone else! Ugh. Hallelujah for this. Hopefully less experienced players will take this to heart. Now it would be great if you followed this with a tutorial on how to hear pitches, pitch match and/or general intonation. Some people are just “tone blind” 😂
Great tips, Dave! One other thing that this practice helps - when you get in the habit of listening to yourself play each note to stay in tune, it enables you to listen to the other musicians and stay in tune with them. I have played in a group where the piano is out of tune. Not much you can do about that, except play in tune with the piano. If you are prepared, you can make it work.
Great work! Informative as always. I am at the kindergarten skill level with this tuning on the fly topic. I would also recommend getting a cheap USB leak light to make sure keys are sealing. Two items I had to work through 1/ S1 side alternate C did not match middle C. 2/ using palm key D as middle D did not match traditional middle D fingering. You can make adjustments to the horn yourself or if in any doubt a service tech can fix this up. Double check any other alternate fingerings you use.
Nice when checking each note also consider a 12 tone row to remove your ears from possible referencing (even chromatic will lock your ears in to potentially adjusting the pitch)
Good detailed instructions! My low Bb & B are hard to play in tune and I haven't figured out how to adjust them (embouchure-wise) yet. I also have 3 tunes in my regular repertoire in C# (E concert) that I play with backing tracks. One of them (a ballad) takes a lot more effort to play in tune. It just occurred to me that the track might be slightly out of tune.
Thank you for this is so helpful. I tune to a generalised range, eg. all but low Bb are good. But Low Bb is always sharp, eventhough it is about 30 cents plus sharp, really bothers me. I have tried everything, I compared to my student sax and is also Sharp which suggests it is me, but I am lost on how to correct. If I change embouchre too drastichally it impedes on my playing other notes. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks
My teacher Gary Campbell told me and showed me how to play the instrument in tune. He played my horn and adjusted the keys in relationship to the tone holes . Lo and behold, the note was played in tune. He also told me and showed me that you need to blow the horn in tune. Your breath support makes a big difference.
I can give my horn to 5 people and it will have 5 different intonations on every note…and it’s perfectly regulated. I’ve talked with literally thousands of saxophonists and have never had anyone have a horn that just played in tune. Remember, instruments don’t play in or out of tune…instrumentalists do.
The one constant tuning issue I have is that I can get most notes in tune or just ever so slightly flat and can lip them into tune, but my middle D or E is always very sharp and I haven't been able to get those notes in tune without pulling out the mouthpiece more and making most other notes a bit too flat to get into tune. I don't know what to do to fix that. I have this issue both on my alto and soprano saxophone.
Those notes are traditionally sharp, but if they're WAY too sharp I would get the horn looked at by a tech. Sometimes keys are open or closed too much, might be a leak, etc.
All saxes are sharp on middle D, even my Selmer Supreme! Do voicing work as Dave says, plus/or alternative fingerings to fix. Low B will pull it down, and best of all it’s subtly adjustable.
interesting video Dave, yes my Purple Logo Yamaha alto plays very sharp in the palm keys, so I have to adjust for that. BTW is that a BSS mouthpiece you're using now?
That's a common issue (palm keys being sharp) and yes it is! It's an M-Series 8 (matched with BSS 3.5 silver box reeds and a superlative ligature) - BEST setup I've ever played by far!
I know this is out of subject but, can u confirm/reassure something for me. An acquaintance of mine said he can get an "unauthorised authentic" Yanagisawa for a cheaper price . Im guessing its the same-ish with unauthorised authentic shoes or am i wrong? I know there can be flaws on it but do you have any experience with these "unauthorised authentic" Saxophones?
Saxophone notes are inherently out of tune with each other (some brands / examples vastly more than others); see the chart in Teal's "The Art of Saxophone Playing" (done by classical students at Michigan on presumably primo, medium bow "Sanborn series" VIs, given the date) Accordingly, "intonation is left up to the player." One has to HEAR the note's intonation.
Your default setting to me just means your horn is not properly adjusted to play in tune and you’re not blowing the horn in tune. This system you’re presenting sounds very, very cumbersome.
…you do this once and then you’re good for years and years of gigs, recording sessions, and other high-profile performances where you have to play perfectly in tune. Seems worth it to spend a couple hours on this for a lifetime of good playing.
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➡ www.davepollack.com/freemasterclass
I found when I started playing bari, my intonation on alto and tenor both improved immensely. I was a biter at one point, but bari really made me loosen up, and it's nearly perfect now. Before I had issues with most notes above g being rather sharp, and altissimo was even sharper. Now even my altissimo notes are within a few cents, and usually more on the flat side.
Amazing to hear! Alto players tend to bite wayyyyyy to hard and that's why so many have a sharp and thin sound.
OH MY HECK - THANK YOU FOR THIS! I have played with soooooo many people who think they tuned one note, then start pushing buttons and screwing up the whole ensemble because they don’t think they are the ones out of tune, it MUST be someone else! Ugh. Hallelujah for this. Hopefully less experienced players will take this to heart. Now it would be great if you followed this with a tutorial on how to hear pitches, pitch match and/or general intonation. Some people are just “tone blind” 😂
I’m so glad you dig this! I really hope it helps people - that’s why i do what i do
I’m a drummer but this totally helps me understand what runs through a horn player’s mind. 😄
Thank you Dave. Great stuff as always!
🙏🙏
Great tips, Dave! One other thing that this practice helps - when you get in the habit of listening to yourself play each note to stay in tune, it enables you to listen to the other musicians and stay in tune with them. I have played in a group where the piano is out of tune. Not much you can do about that, except play in tune with the piano. If you are prepared, you can make it work.
Yes!! Part of being a member of an ensemble is blending and balancing with all of them, and pitch is a big thing.
thanks bro needed this literally today
Awesome!
Great work! Informative as always. I am at the kindergarten skill level with this tuning on the fly topic.
I would also recommend getting a cheap USB leak light to make sure keys are sealing.
Two items I had to work through 1/ S1 side alternate C did not match middle C. 2/ using palm key D as middle D did not match traditional middle D fingering. You can make adjustments to the horn yourself or if in any doubt a service tech can fix this up.
Double check any other alternate fingerings you use.
Not looking at the tuner then looking at it😏🔥🔥
Nice when checking each note also consider a 12 tone row to remove your ears from possible referencing (even chromatic will lock your ears in to potentially adjusting the pitch)
Good detailed instructions! My low Bb & B are hard to play in tune and I haven't figured out how to adjust them (embouchure-wise) yet. I also have 3 tunes in my regular repertoire in C# (E concert) that I play with backing tracks. One of them (a ballad) takes a lot more effort to play in tune. It just occurred to me that the track might be slightly out of tune.
Thank you for this is so helpful. I tune to a generalised range, eg. all but low Bb are good. But Low Bb is always sharp, eventhough it is about 30 cents plus sharp, really bothers me. I have tried everything, I compared to my student sax and is also Sharp which suggests it is me, but I am lost on how to correct.
If I change embouchre too drastichally it impedes on my playing other notes. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks
My teacher Gary Campbell told me and showed me how to play the instrument in tune. He played my horn and adjusted the keys in relationship to the tone holes . Lo and behold, the note was played in tune. He also told me and showed me that you need to blow the horn in tune. Your breath support makes a big difference.
I can give my horn to 5 people and it will have 5 different intonations on every note…and it’s perfectly regulated. I’ve talked with literally thousands of saxophonists and have never had anyone have a horn that just played in tune. Remember, instruments don’t play in or out of tune…instrumentalists do.
The one constant tuning issue I have is that I can get most notes in tune or just ever so slightly flat and can lip them into tune, but my middle D or E is always very sharp and I haven't been able to get those notes in tune without pulling out the mouthpiece more and making most other notes a bit too flat to get into tune. I don't know what to do to fix that. I have this issue both on my alto and soprano saxophone.
Those notes are traditionally sharp, but if they're WAY too sharp I would get the horn looked at by a tech. Sometimes keys are open or closed too much, might be a leak, etc.
add low B key as a matter of course to middle D, Eb and E; either fully pressed or just a touch as required by your horn.
You'd better start on a slightly sharp tuning and NOT having to bite on those two notes. Then you know you have to me way looser
I have this same problem and idk how to fix it :(
All saxes are sharp on middle D, even my Selmer Supreme! Do voicing work as Dave says, plus/or alternative fingerings to fix. Low B will pull it down, and best of all it’s subtly adjustable.
interesting video Dave, yes my Purple Logo Yamaha alto plays very sharp in the palm keys, so I have to adjust for that. BTW is that a BSS mouthpiece you're using now?
That's a common issue (palm keys being sharp) and yes it is! It's an M-Series 8 (matched with BSS 3.5 silver box reeds and a superlative ligature) - BEST setup I've ever played by far!
Is it custom made tip opening for you? @@DavePollack
Nope - they should have 8s in stock
Nice Hoodie, and strap! =)
BSS all the way!
@@DavePollack ohh snap, ligature and mp too?
@@MDDSET Yup! M-Seres 8 mouthpiece, superlative ligature, 3.5 silver box reeds.
I know this is out of subject but, can u confirm/reassure something for me.
An acquaintance of mine said he can get an "unauthorised authentic" Yanagisawa for a cheaper price . Im guessing its the same-ish with unauthorised authentic shoes or am i wrong? I know there can be flaws on it but do you have any experience with these "unauthorised authentic" Saxophones?
…doesn’t sound very “authentic” to me…i’d stay far away
@DavePollack tysm, was hoping it would be the same as the shoes 😅
Saxophone notes are inherently out of tune with each other (some brands / examples vastly more than others); see the chart in Teal's "The Art of Saxophone Playing" (done by classical students at Michigan on presumably primo, medium bow "Sanborn series" VIs, given the date) Accordingly, "intonation is left up to the player." One has to HEAR the note's intonation.
I'd rather be sharp than out of tune any day 😊
😂
What happens if the note is flat and the mouthpiece is already all the way in? 😄
Make sure your embouchure isn't way too lose, get the horn checked out, and try a different mouthpiece.
@DavePollack Thanks Dave. Yes, in my quest for a better tone, I might be dropping my jaw way too low. True that I've also now moved to a V16.
Change your cork....might be just what you need.
@DrWil13 Thanks Will. That sounds right. I also found that adjusting the neck strap height is making a difference.
Your default setting to me just means your horn is not properly adjusted to play in tune and you’re not blowing the horn in tune.
This system you’re presenting sounds very, very cumbersome.
…you do this once and then you’re good for years and years of gigs, recording sessions, and other high-profile performances where you have to play perfectly in tune. Seems worth it to spend a couple hours on this for a lifetime of good playing.
I would do that over a drone, just to use the ears instead of a tuner
That works great!
What app you are using for drones?
I'MNEVER OUT OF TUNE
Just responding to thumbnail clickbait, not even watching lol
Thanks for the algorithm boost 🙏
❤️
Out of tune = wrong notes. I don’t see the problem here.
Wrong notes are fine...playing out of tune isn't