Sneak peek into Boston Sax Shop founder Jack Tyler's upcoming digital course on Saxophone Acoustics and Mechanics! For more visit: www.bostonsaxshop.com
Your differentiation between positive resistance and negative resistance is fantastic! Negative resistance is a much better descriptor for leaky pads and maladjusted key height than saying a horn is “stuffy” or doesn’t “speak” well in the lower register. Positive resistance is also a great descriptor. My Yanagisawa soprano has so little positive resistance with the curved neck compared to the straight neck that I need to go up a 1/2 strength reed to compensate.
Exactly Jack, love the very clear explanation and distinction between the postive and negative resistance! Every student should know this. While in my Conservatory time, I've fallen into this exact trap of going for a period of time for the least resistance "optimisation" of my setup, until my great saxophone teacher tried to play on it one day and insisted the resistance was so low that he could play it from blowing into it an inch away 😂 Looking forward to that digital course, all the best /Jorre
Positive resistance for me is usually when the air to tone ration is 25:75 So that there a slight “breathiness” to my sound. Half step up or slightly harder reed from BSS does that for me all day every day ✌️
Great timing I was just realizing this today. I've been playing a ton of alto lately although I'm a tenor player usually. Resistance really matters up high on the alto.
Your differentiation between positive resistance and negative resistance is fantastic! Negative resistance is a much better descriptor for leaky pads and maladjusted key height than saying a horn is “stuffy” or doesn’t “speak” well in the lower register.
Positive resistance is also a great descriptor. My Yanagisawa soprano has so little positive resistance with the curved neck compared to the straight neck that I need to go up a 1/2 strength reed to compensate.
Thanks Doug!!
Yes, Yes, YES!!!! Thanks for making a great point.
☺
Awesome breakdown
You’ve explained all that beautifully, makes good sense!
Exactly Jack, love the very clear explanation and distinction between the postive and negative resistance! Every student should know this. While in my Conservatory time, I've fallen into this exact trap of going for a period of time for the least resistance "optimisation" of my setup, until my great saxophone teacher tried to play on it one day and insisted the resistance was so low that he could play it from blowing into it an inch away 😂
Looking forward to that digital course, all the best
/Jorre
Thanks so much!! Glad you enjoyed :)
This totally hits home, Jack. Thanks for talking about it.
Great topic.
Makes perfect sense.
Thanks for this. I always avoided going a bit harder on the reed because of the resistance. Need to give that another shot.
Love it. I’m dealing with the details of this right now.
Positive resistance for me is usually when the air to tone ration is 25:75 So that there a slight “breathiness” to my sound. Half step up or slightly harder reed from BSS does that for me all day every day ✌️
Great timing I was just realizing this today. I've been playing a ton of alto lately although I'm a tenor player usually. Resistance really matters up high on the alto.
100%!
Finally!
True story. Thank you 🙂
Brilliant.
🙏
Resistance isn't futile
🤣
So ive been checking out a few selmer soloists that are D facing what reeds should i pair that with?
Hey Ben!! Since its a very conservative tip opening you would most likely need stronger reeds to gave a decent volume ceiling like a #3 or #3.5 IMO