All good advice. Here's one more. I had a teacher at Berklee make me play my lessons with as much mouthpiece in my mouth as I could and still get a sound. I had to play entire exercises and etudes this way. Talk about flat! But it did get me to open up and there were LOTS of overtones in the sound.
None of my instructors ever touched on this and I struggled with biting and intonation as well as no body to the sound. I had never known about practicing with just the mouthpiece. Within a few days my tone has changed drastically and I am playing in tune. Master your larynx and master the saxophone. I can’t thank you enough Jamie. This is a GAME CHANGER that I wish I had known 30 years ago. Better late than never I guess. Thanks again Jamie
Duuuude! I am an absolute beginner at 54 years of age and had stumbled across your channel last night and watched your lesson 3 for beginners and am stoked that "I found you!" (heh heh) I was struggling with my embouchure and your lesson, albeit that I only tried your technique today at 18:45 has already changed my sound "grassy 4r5e maximus" many hours still to go but from one grateful fellow player "thank you!" As you say "get your sax together!" I say "get your sax on!" Chapeau 😀
About, the title, I am starting fom scratch, I am 64+ D1:I bought my Dolnet 50's no sound ;) (mouthpiece, neck, saxo) D2: a few sounds with mouthpiece or neck, nothing with saxo D3: some notes with mouthpiece and neck, nothing with saxo D4: this lesson, different notes with mouthpiece, neck and saxo YEPP! thanks I mean it is better to start with lesson 1 (from my point of view), great lessons, thanks
Great timing Jamie! I just got feedback from a very experienced (40+ years) repair tech/saxophonist who heard me play in his shop. He noted that I was biting too much which caused me to play sharp and pull my MPC out way too far on the cork. He then demonstrated what he meant by playing on my horn with my same MPC and the sound he got blew me away! My sound was airy and thin compared to loud, full, rich sound he got. And he showed me on his tuner how much flatter he was playing. It's exactly what you are talking about. Time to start working on those exercises from TTM! :)
@@GetYourSaxTogether although I tried this in my practice session today, and my mouthpiece (Wolfe Tayne circa 1980), can only seem to go on so far, so I can't seem to make it sharp. Thoughts (aside from getting a new mouthpiece, which I probably will later this year).
True, transformed my sound. You can also "Kazoo" your sound and it helps. Also, altissimo, is not bite, you sing the note, and then you play it (it is by your throat NOT your embouchure you get the high pitches). If you kazoo 1/2 note down, you get an awesome overblown fast cool growl.
Jamie - thanks for this video! I have been playing a long time, 40+ years and I have struggled with intonation that whole time. Your advice to tune sharp and play flat is what I have been missing for a long, long time. Love the QE2 fog horn reference - my neighbors have commented on my practicing since I watched this video. Keep up the good work!
tune sharp, blow flat, INCREDIBLE ! this is night and day ! though it is not easy to be steady when blowing flat (using a tuner) : it requires not only a good steady air pressure, but also keeping the "mouth configuration" in the same position steadily
This is really helpful. I'm just starting out and really struggle with hitting the lower notes. I can run down the scale to low B flat, but if I start at low B flat I'm always an octave out and very squeaky. Lots of useful tips for me to try tomorrow, like NOT BITING! Thanks.
Great job, Jamie. Everything you demonstrated is what my teacher has taught me. All these exercises are good for warming up. Keep up the great work. Love what you do 👍🏾✅️💯🎶🎷
Geez, wonderful video. Volume behind the lips is somewhat variable, larger volume is lower tone reinforcement and smaller volume is higher tone reinforcement. Anna Maria Hefele on RUclips can do both simultaneously it's called polyphonic singing, her tongue goes to the top of her mouth forming two chambers, she can vary the fundamental pitch and an overtone pitch, either one independent of the other with complete control. There is also a interesting inexpensive thing called a nose flute, you blow a recorder like whistle through your nostrils and it has a lead for your lips, you vary the volume behind your lips to change pitch. I'm also seeing more information on www about 3000 Hz overtone that is a apparently pleasant tone to hear for most people.
I just started playing 2 weeks ago and I am happy I found this!! :) I can learn it right from the start! I have been struggling with getting a weird sound and this was it, I was biting too hard and not really using my throat properly. Thank you!!
Great presentation Jamie!!! In my big band the lead alto often asks me to “play softer, stay under my sound.” This happens most often when I feel my sound is richest, not really louder. Love your thoughts on this. TIA, Elliot
Thank you Jamie, you have helped me work out what i was trying to do. I have been playing higher octaves on the lower octave to get that relaxed sound then moved up to the top and try and replicate it but now I know how im trying to achieve it. All the best
Loved this video! I already train only with the mouthpiece, and its game changing for sure, in one week my sound were something else entirely! One thing I also do is to go the chromatic scale down the lowest I can, it helps a lot too in controlling the amount of air, shape and sound! Subscribed!
Mr.JAMIE The AWESOME ❤🎷❤ WIZARD thank you so much! DANKE SCHÖN ❤🎷❤ I am so thrilled, pleased, happy and so so motivated by all your tutorials. You doing a REAL GREAT JOP for me as a real beginner. Professional GUIDANCE is so important. So much needed. So much appreciated when it is done well. VERY VERY WELL like you are DOING it. Thanks. Deep ADORATION. BIG BIG THANK YOU. ❤🎷❤ You with your """GET YOUR /MY SAX TOGETHER""" you are making me 😂 HAPPY AS A HIPPO BLOWING MY TENOR 🎷 TAKE CARE WISH YOU THE BEST 🙏 AUM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADME SIDDHI HUM 🙏
Happy New Year Jaime. Great video. I am working on getting my embouchure relaxed, improve my sound, and build endurance. I have struggles with it. Your videos have helped me with this challenge. I greatly appreciate all your videos and love for Saxophone and playing good music. Thanks my Friend : )
thanks for the nice content my question is does it apply on the upper register too? I mean the upper secon octave and the palm keys, So you think opening the throat no matter the heught? Thank you
Hello! Please tell me when I blow with only the mouthpiece and the neck of the alto saxophone like this with the technique explained by you, what note should be on the tuner? so I can tell if I'm biting too tightly or not. I suspect that if I sing categorically it will be a higher note than it should be! I need a reference from which to start. Thank you.
Eddie lockjaw was a biter. But that was in the old days. I found I could create a 5th in over tones slowly just by anticipating it inside my mouth vs when I just squeeze and push which works too but it’s not consistent
Hi Jamie, thanks for the video - very helpful. I would be very interested in your interpretation of what John Harle calls the reed fan. Do you consciously blow at the reed in different directions? I’d also appreciate some help getting a stronger altissimo range, starting from altissimo G. Cheers
Hi there, just looking for some advice! I know that I’m supposed to tune sharp and play flat, but I seem to have maxed out how far in I can push my mouthpiece. There’s still some cork visible - but I’ve tried narrowing it down with sandpaper, and I still couldn’t get the mouthpiece any deeper in. This leads me to believe that it’s because of the physical structure of either the sax or the mouthpiece that I can’t tune sharp. Does this problem ring any bells? Should I start scouting for another mouthpiece, or is there some other hack you’d recommend? At the moment, when I keep my embouchure loose, all my high notes come out flat.
For a start you might be blowing TOO loose. That’s possible. Everything had a limit. The neck is probably hitting the inside of the mouthpiece chamber?
This is so awesome!!! I HAVE A QUESTION - this video makes perfect sense and I've experienced a lot of what you are talking about, but how do you play softly? My particular style on tenor is that soft breathy sound. How do you opn up and play louder as you are suggesting but at "p" dynamics?
Great video! Keep hearing about mouthpiece exercises but this is the first time I've seen it demonstrated! One quick question though. I can get my low notes bang on, but I get into the palm keys and they flat like pancakes!! 😢 Like, a full half step flat!! Any ideas what might be going sideways? I've found reed placement affects it some, but it's always a struggle. (And if I push the mouthpiece on any further I'm going to punch out my reed, I swear!
@@GetYourSaxTogether I think that makes it a lot easier to explain as many players understand how whistling works and how the tongue moves and the oral cavity changes. Also when whistling you have to hit the right pitch only by using your oral cavity.
I think so many students get caught in the ‘bite’ issue because of the myth that playing a harder reed makes you a better player, but in reality you need to match the reed to the mouthpiece and use your embouchure to contain the air and control the sound.
Yes. In college, I was taught I needed a stiffer reed (and I thought I needed it prior to), but guess what? It’s a combination of how much we practice, and the tip opening. I kept purchasing Legere reeds that are too stiff, discouraged from using them, but this week I stepped down to 2.5 on alto…game changer on the D’Addario Jazz Select 5….I can create the upper harmonics when projecting, I didn’t want to quit practicing.
I have played saxophone since 7th grade. Studied in college and beyond. I am perplexed as to why I can get a great sax tone but I cannot produce a sound other than a high pitched squawking sound when I blow on just the mouthpiece. I can get a sound with the neck attached. Also several of my students have their mouthpieces pushed pretty far in on the neck as it is and to blow flat and get a big sound would cause them to choke off the sound by pushing in all the way. Are they on too soft of a reed or is there some other reason they are flat. For years I have told my students to say "ee"" at the back of the tongue to improve intonation and it has worked. Is this wrong as long as they are not biting the reed and have the fish fave embouchure?
None of it is wrong if it works! Re your mouthpiece, I can’t diagnose over a RUclips comment. If you go to any video description you can book in a lesson with me and we can look at it there??
I have a question, I was wondering if I could play soprano sax with no teeth or dentures? Currently I do play bagpipes with no issues because I have developed strong lip and cheek strength.
If i have my lip loose, and dont bite with my lip over my teeth it just sounds really airy. Do i have my lip too loose, or do i just need to blow harder?
Hi there, nice vid! One question if you allow me, which i 'm struggling to find the answer : everybody say don't bite, but where does my bottom teeth go then? Are they just like floating under the lips, without even touching them? I've already watched dozen of videos about embouchure and i can't find the answer. Great channel, thank you for all your work
Thank you so much for your answer. I've been trying without the teeth touching the lip but couln't seem to manage to build the embouchure. As i understand it, it's like the "anchor point" for your cheeks muscles to build around. Thank you again, it's very nice of you to take time to answer. Cheers
"Trying to play a xylophone with a blanket on it"! Great description. I spend ages in my practice room with my teeth off the mouthpiece, it's slowly paying off, especially on the bari.
“Tune sharp, blow flat” this is gold, I read to blow every note like a low Bb and it really helped my tone but noticed I had to sharpen the mouthpiece a lot, I guess I need to continue at this 😅
The “Tune sharp, blow flat” advice is right because it is so hard to bend notes up, and if you try to you'll mostly choke off the sound. When you loosen up the tone is louder and you have more room for expression and vibrato. Some notes tend to be flat on a saxophone and when you are tuned sharper those notes are easier to correct.
Hi Jamie. I have a question. I love the full sound I get when I release jaw pressure. But when I release jaw pressure and go from a low A to a high A for example, the A won't go up an octave when pressing down the octave key! It does work when I bite a little bit. How do I jump octaves without adding jaw pressure?
14:57 answers you question. I’ve been working on voicing and it will transform your sound. Remember Jamie is giving you the clues to teach yourself how to play. The hardest thing to do is unlearn habits, Ugg
But will voicing with my throat actually help with this? Because it's not that the notes up an octave are flat or too high. The problem is that when I release jaw pressure and I go up an octave the notes that come out are an octave below, even though I'm pressing the octave key...
@@boaz7634 you need to raise the larynx, and at the same time, be aware not to bite the reed, and also keep the muscles in the neck relaxed, there are just a few things going on at the same time, which you all need to control accordingly, maybe a good thing to start, is to separate these, into small practise sessions, in the end, they will fall into place and make sense, and you will do them without thinking about it anymore
You want to develop awareness of your throat shape or voicing. Overtones is an approach. Do the mouthpiece exercise and work on the bend range while focusing on keeping the lower relaxed, also take in more mouthpiece (this takes the lower lip pressure out of the equation and makes you work on the air stream.) also stuff a rag in the bell, finger low Bb with the octave and play overtones. This will open the throat and then you will have to play with the back of the throat to control your airstream and this is how you get your overtones and your awareness of your voice. Remember, the saxophone is the outer instrument and you have to develop the innerinstrument that starts at the Reed And goes down to your lungs.
@@GetYourSaxTogether yes, yes, you are right. But come on. I was joking because he is so well known for having such a composed expression while playing :)
I teach saxophone. Sometimes, most of the time, I am not telling my students exactly what they have to do. The instruction itself could be too much for them. I nudge them in the right direction. I don't know how to explain it.
Early on, I made the mistake of letting the weight of the saxophone rest on my lower lip. In order to let the reed vibrate, it's extremely important to make sure you're supporting the sax with your upper teeth to let your jaw free 😉
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All good advice. Here's one more. I had a teacher at Berklee make me play my lessons with as much mouthpiece in my mouth as I could and still get a sound. I had to play entire exercises and etudes this way. Talk about flat! But it did get me to open up and there were LOTS of overtones in the sound.
@@robertfogleman4889 interesting!
None of my instructors ever touched on this and I struggled with biting and intonation as well as no body to the sound. I had never known about practicing with just the mouthpiece. Within a few days my tone has changed drastically and I am playing in tune. Master your larynx and master the saxophone. I can’t thank you enough Jamie. This is a GAME CHANGER that I wish I had known 30 years ago. Better late than never I guess. Thanks again Jamie
This is fantastic to hear!
Juniorsaxman same here. I discovered it by accident one day when I yawned while playing!
Same!
Duuuude! I am an absolute beginner at 54 years of age and had stumbled across your channel last night and watched your lesson 3 for beginners and am stoked that "I found you!" (heh heh) I was struggling with my embouchure and your lesson, albeit that I only tried your technique today at 18:45 has already changed my sound "grassy 4r5e maximus" many hours still to go but from one grateful fellow player "thank you!" As you say "get your sax together!" I say "get your sax on!" Chapeau 😀
You’re so welcome mark. Good luck! 🙏🏻
You are the most fun sax teacher on here. Thank you!
Thanks so much! 🙏
About, the title, I am starting fom scratch, I am 64+
D1:I bought my Dolnet 50's no sound ;) (mouthpiece, neck, saxo)
D2: a few sounds with mouthpiece or neck, nothing with saxo
D3: some notes with mouthpiece and neck, nothing with saxo
D4: this lesson, different notes with mouthpiece, neck and saxo YEPP! thanks
I mean it is better to start with lesson 1 (from my point of view), great lessons, thanks
Awesome 🙌🏻
Great timing Jamie! I just got feedback from a very experienced (40+ years) repair tech/saxophonist who heard me play in his shop. He noted that I was biting too much which caused me to play sharp and pull my MPC out way too far on the cork. He then demonstrated what he meant by playing on my horn with my same MPC and the sound he got blew me away! My sound was airy and thin compared to loud, full, rich sound he got. And he showed me on his tuner how much flatter he was playing. It's exactly what you are talking about. Time to start working on those exercises from TTM! :)
Yes! 👍
Not even 5 minutes in, and I've learned so much. Thank you for getting right to the point and straight into a solid lesson.
Great! You're welcome
Your expertise, and your articulate understanding of it, compete explosively with your passion for communicating. It's a joy to see and hear.
Awesome, many thanks. 🙏🏻
Tune sharp and blow flat. Mind...officially...blown. Breakthrough tip. Thanks Jamie.
Thank you! 🙏🏼
@@GetYourSaxTogether although I tried this in my practice session today, and my mouthpiece (Wolfe Tayne circa 1980), can only seem to go on so far, so I can't seem to make it sharp. Thoughts (aside from getting a new mouthpiece, which I probably will later this year).
@@billganon3357 saw off some of your neck? (I’m kidding!!! 🤣)
Been playing professionally (mostly classical) for 15 yrs and this has been one of the best, most intuitive videos. Thank you
Awesome thanks! 🙏
Best person teaching online! Jamie rocks!
Thanks! 🙏🏼
I saw yesterday for the first time one of your videos. I improved my tone inmediatly with your tips! You are great!
Great job! 👍🏻
This tip would have saved many, many, too many years for me struggling with my embochure.
True for so many!
True, transformed my sound. You can also "Kazoo" your sound and it helps. Also, altissimo, is not bite, you sing the note, and then you play it (it is by your throat NOT your embouchure you get the high pitches). If you kazoo 1/2 note down, you get an awesome overblown fast cool growl.
Glad you're getting results Rich 👍
Jamie - thanks for this video! I have been playing a long time, 40+ years and I have struggled with intonation that whole time. Your advice to tune sharp and play flat is what I have been missing for a long, long time. Love the QE2 fog horn reference - my neighbors have commented on my practicing since I watched this video. Keep up the good work!
Thanks David. Keep on blowin'!
The perfect sax teacher!
Thank you ! 🙏🏻
Thanks Jamie, you are a great, and I mean great, teacher . . "When the disciple is ready, the master appears"
Thanks!
tune sharp, blow flat, INCREDIBLE !
this is night and day !
though it is not easy to be steady when blowing flat (using a tuner) : it requires not only a good steady air pressure, but also keeping the "mouth configuration" in the same position steadily
Yes!
This is really helpful. I'm just starting out and really struggle with hitting the lower notes. I can run down the scale to low B flat, but if I start at low B flat I'm always an octave out and very squeaky. Lots of useful tips for me to try tomorrow, like NOT BITING! Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Great job, Jamie. Everything you demonstrated is what my teacher has taught me. All these exercises are good for warming up. Keep up the great work. Love what you do 👍🏾✅️💯🎶🎷
Great to hear!
Geez, wonderful video. Volume behind the lips is somewhat variable, larger volume is lower tone reinforcement and smaller volume is higher tone reinforcement. Anna Maria Hefele on RUclips can do both simultaneously it's called polyphonic singing, her tongue goes to the top of her mouth forming two chambers, she can vary the fundamental pitch and an overtone pitch, either one independent of the other with complete control. There is also a interesting inexpensive thing called a nose flute, you blow a recorder like whistle through your nostrils and it has a lead for your lips, you vary the volume behind your lips to change pitch. I'm also seeing more information on www about 3000 Hz overtone that is a apparently pleasant tone to hear for most people.
Interesting stuff!
Great guy he’s a good teacher
👍🏻
Hi Jamie,
Yet another outstanding and easy to understand video! These lessons are priceless. You are by far the best on the net! Very grateful!
Steve
Wow, thanks!
I love this, thanks for sharing
Thanks so much!
Hello. Thanks for the exercices and your smill 😊
My pleasure 😊
I just started playing 2 weeks ago and I am happy I found this!! :) I can learn it right from the start! I have been struggling with getting a weird sound and this was it, I was biting too hard and not really using my throat properly. Thank you!!
Great! Glad to help
Absolute gamechanger for me! Much richer sound and I'm able to accurately play overtones now!
Great!
Thank you great lesson, I learned today I something totally new👍
I'm so glad!
Thank you Jamie for a great tip you shared , God bless you more
Thank you!
Thanks so much and have a good weekend ❤❤❤❤
You too!
This is one amazing video, super helpful!! I’ve added this to my practicing and wow. I already feel like I’m improving!! Thanks for sharing!!
You're so welcome!
I want to learn this!
Practice hard, Practice smart and above all else Enjoy your music!
Hi Jamie, your the best instructor and it's so helpful for me as an absolute beginner. Greetings from Germany 😊
Thanks Michaela! 🙏🏻 Enjoy your saxophone journey!
this video is exactly what I needed!
Awesome!
Thank you. This is valuable!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great presentation Jamie!!! In my big band the lead alto often asks me to “play softer, stay under my sound.” This happens most often when I feel my sound is richest, not really louder. Love your thoughts on this. TIA, Elliot
Yeh I have to tone down my sound a lot to blend in big bands.
thank you jamie
Thank you ! 🙏🏻
Thank you Jamie, you have helped me work out what i was trying to do. I have been playing higher octaves on the lower octave to get that relaxed sound then moved up to the top and try and replicate it but now I know how im trying to achieve it. All the best
Glad I could be of some help.
Amazing thanks for this❤
You're so welcome!
got my saxophone 2 days ago, i'm 17, ima try my best 💪
You can do it!
Hi Mr Anderson. It's very interesting lesson. Thank you so much!
You are welcome!
Loved this video! I already train only with the mouthpiece, and its game changing for sure, in one week my sound were something else entirely! One thing I also do is to go the chromatic scale down the lowest I can, it helps a lot too in controlling the amount of air, shape and sound! Subscribed!
That's great. Keep up the work. Thanks
Mr.JAMIE
The AWESOME
❤🎷❤
WIZARD
thank you so much!
DANKE SCHÖN ❤🎷❤
I am so thrilled, pleased, happy and so so motivated by all your tutorials.
You doing a REAL GREAT JOP for me as a real beginner.
Professional GUIDANCE is so important. So much needed. So much appreciated when it is done well. VERY VERY WELL like you are DOING it. Thanks.
Deep ADORATION.
BIG BIG THANK YOU.
❤🎷❤
You with your
"""GET YOUR /MY SAX TOGETHER"""
you are making me
😂 HAPPY AS A HIPPO BLOWING MY TENOR 🎷
TAKE CARE
WISH YOU THE BEST
🙏
AUM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADME SIDDHI HUM
🙏
Thanks!
Great lesson. Thanks
Thank you! 🙏🏼
This is just what I have been looking for.
Great!
Great lesson Jamie. I wonder how to apply this in the high register on the horn?
Depends how how you mean, but it’s a general principle for everything you play.
Happy New Year Jaime. Great video. I am working on getting my embouchure relaxed, improve my sound, and build endurance. I have struggles with it. Your videos have helped me with this challenge. I greatly appreciate all your videos and love for Saxophone and playing good music. Thanks my Friend : )
You're welcome, that's great!
thanks for the nice content my question is does it apply on the upper register too? I mean the upper secon octave and the palm keys, So you think opening the throat no matter the heught? Thank you
That’s a bit more of a complicated answer than I can put here!
Good morning. What neck strap are you using in this video? Thank you.
That's a Dave guardala neck strap. Kinda expensive for what it is, but nicely made.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Thank you very much. Very nice, but over my price point. Take care.
Great lesson guy
Thanks! 🙏🏼
@@GetYourSaxTogether Ok
Out of all my Saxophone Teachers that I've had only 1 Teacher cover this
Shame on the others!
I love to play saxophone. Just stating at the age of 57. I am following your good tips. Thak a lot for your blowing tips.
That's great!
Hello! Please tell me when I blow with only the mouthpiece and the neck of the alto saxophone like this with the technique explained by you, what note should be on the tuner? so I can tell if I'm biting too tightly or not. I suspect that if I sing categorically it will be a higher note than it should be! I need a reference from which to start. Thank you.
I used to give reference pitches, but I don’t do it anymore because there’s a bit more to the equation than just the pitch.
Xylophone with a blanket 😊
😊
Jamie, sei grande!
Thanks!
13:00 I couldn’t help but think of Kill Bill 😂
🤣
Eddie lockjaw was a biter. But that was in the old days. I found I could create a 5th in over tones slowly just by anticipating it inside my mouth vs when I just squeeze and push which works too but it’s not consistent
I hear ya.
Hi Jamie, thanks for the video - very helpful. I would be very interested in your interpretation of what John Harle calls the reed fan. Do you consciously blow at the reed in different directions? I’d also appreciate some help getting a stronger altissimo range, starting from altissimo G. Cheers
This for altissimo ruclips.net/video/kURzx_fZ6Ho/видео.html. I don’t blow up and down actually but I know many people teach that as it can be helpful.
I could watch this man do frog impression for days ❤
😂
How do you break the habit of changing lip pressure? And how can I get more control of my larynx?
Practice the recommended exercises. You will see improvement after only a few days.
This sure helps & might be why my sax playing sounded like I was squeezing a sick goose for so long.
Brilliant! 😆
Tune sharper and blow flattt... that is great ideaaa..
👍
Mental Jamie! I love it xx
🙏
Love this J 💕 x
Thanks!
Hi there, just looking for some advice! I know that I’m supposed to tune sharp and play flat, but I seem to have maxed out how far in I can push my mouthpiece. There’s still some cork visible - but I’ve tried narrowing it down with sandpaper, and I still couldn’t get the mouthpiece any deeper in. This leads me to believe that it’s because of the physical structure of either the sax or the mouthpiece that I can’t tune sharp.
Does this problem ring any bells? Should I start scouting for another mouthpiece, or is there some other hack you’d recommend? At the moment, when I keep my embouchure loose, all my high notes come out flat.
For a start you might be blowing TOO loose. That’s possible. Everything had a limit. The neck is probably hitting the inside of the mouthpiece chamber?
This is so awesome!!! I HAVE A QUESTION - this video makes perfect sense and I've experienced a lot of what you are talking about, but how do you play softly? My particular style on tenor is that soft breathy sound. How do you opn up and play louder as you are suggesting but at "p" dynamics?
Well, you can’t really. You can play in a subtone breathy style but you can’t really do that at a very loud volume.
Great video! Keep hearing about mouthpiece exercises but this is the first time I've seen it demonstrated! One quick question though. I can get my low notes bang on, but I get into the palm keys and they flat like pancakes!! 😢 Like, a full half step flat!! Any ideas what might be going sideways? I've found reed placement affects it some, but it's always a struggle. (And if I push the mouthpiece on any further I'm going to punch out my reed, I swear!
I guess you’re just voicing those high notes too low?
Why is voicing never compared to whistling although what is happening in the oral cavity is so similar? Or did I get it completely wrong?
Yup, you’re right. That’s how you change notes when you whistle. Great point. 👍🏻
@@GetYourSaxTogether I think that makes it a lot easier to explain as many players understand how whistling works and how the tongue moves and the oral cavity changes. Also when whistling you have to hit the right pitch only by using your oral cavity.
@@christophbrylka6256 fair point.
Refined knowledge like a crystal💪💪
Thanks!
I think so many students get caught in the ‘bite’ issue because of the myth that playing a harder reed makes you a better player, but in reality you need to match the reed to the mouthpiece and use your embouchure to contain the air and control the sound.
👍
exactly my issue!
So true
Yes. In college, I was taught I needed a stiffer reed (and I thought I needed it prior to), but guess what? It’s a combination of how much we practice, and the tip opening. I kept purchasing Legere reeds that are too stiff, discouraged from using them, but this week I stepped down to 2.5 on alto…game changer on the D’Addario Jazz Select 5….I can create the upper harmonics when projecting, I didn’t want to quit practicing.
What about mouthpiece cushions? I tend to bite through them with my upper teeth after several weeks. I don't bite the reed though.
It’s likely that you’re using too much pressure on the top of the mouthpiece with your teeth I’m guessing. Or you might just have very sharp teeth!
I have played saxophone since 7th grade. Studied in college and beyond. I am perplexed as to why I can get a great sax tone but I cannot produce a sound other than a high pitched squawking sound when I blow on just the mouthpiece. I can get a sound with the neck attached.
Also several of my students have their mouthpieces pushed pretty far in on the neck as it is and to blow flat and get a big sound would cause them to choke off the sound by pushing in all the way. Are they on too soft of a reed or is there some other reason they are flat. For years I have told my students to say "ee"" at the back of the tongue to improve intonation and it has worked. Is this wrong as long as they are not biting the reed and have the fish fave embouchure?
Thank you for all of your videos! They are awesome!
None of it is wrong if it works! Re your mouthpiece, I can’t diagnose over a RUclips comment. If you go to any video description you can book in a lesson with me and we can look at it there??
I have a question, I was wondering if I could play soprano sax with no teeth or dentures? Currently I do play bagpipes with no issues because I have developed strong lip and cheek strength.
Who knows? Give it a go!
This video hit me like a truck! It's gonna change the way I play woodwinds!
Awesome!
Good stuff!
Thanks Rob!
I liked the first one
👍🏻
Фонемику - конечно надо знать! Это же основа Тембра Саксофона особенно в Роке. я на Фонемике написал целый Рок-Роман на 21000 страниц🎷
21,000 pages?
@@GetYourSaxTogether yes
Hello do you still teach classes now
Yeh! www.getyoursaxtogether.com/teaching
If i have my lip loose, and dont bite with my lip over my teeth it just sounds really airy. Do i have my lip too loose, or do i just need to blow harder?
Yeah, try blowing harder or maybe a softer reed?
@@GetYourSaxTogether Thanks, I thought I may have moved up to early
Hi there, nice vid! One question if you allow me, which i 'm struggling to find the answer : everybody say don't bite, but where does my bottom teeth go then? Are they just like floating under the lips, without even touching them? I've already watched dozen of videos about embouchure and i can't find the answer.
Great channel, thank you for all your work
Well, yeh. A bit of your bottom lip cushions between your bottom teeth and the reed.
Thank you so much for your answer. I've been trying without the teeth touching the lip but couln't seem to manage to build the embouchure. As i understand it, it's like the "anchor point" for your cheeks muscles to build around.
Thank you again, it's very nice of you to take time to answer.
Cheers
I learned one thing-I need to take the blanket off my xylophone.
There you go!
"Trying to play a xylophone with a blanket on it"! Great description. I spend ages in my practice room with my teeth off the mouthpiece, it's slowly paying off, especially on the bari.
Thanks Laurie. Keep at it!
“Tune sharp, blow flat” this is gold, I read to blow every note like a low Bb and it really helped my tone but noticed I had to sharpen the mouthpiece a lot, I guess I need to continue at this 😅
👍
The “Tune sharp, blow flat” advice is right because it is so hard to bend notes up, and if you try to you'll mostly choke off the sound. When you loosen up the tone is louder and you have more room for expression and vibrato. Some notes tend to be flat on a saxophone and when you are tuned sharper those notes are easier to correct.
@@enoffz8021 yup!
Also: If you blow hard with too tight an embouchure, the reed closes of and you get silence. 🤫
Hi Jamie. I have a question. I love the full sound I get when I release jaw pressure. But when I release jaw pressure and go from a low A to a high A for example, the A won't go up an octave when pressing down the octave key! It does work when I bite a little bit. How do I jump octaves without adding jaw pressure?
14:57 answers you question. I’ve been working on voicing and it will transform your sound. Remember Jamie is giving you the clues to teach yourself how to play. The hardest thing to do is unlearn habits, Ugg
But will voicing with my throat actually help with this? Because it's not that the notes up an octave are flat or too high. The problem is that when I release jaw pressure and I go up an octave the notes that come out are an octave below, even though I'm pressing the octave key...
@@boaz7634 you need to raise the larynx, and at the same time, be aware not to bite the reed, and also keep the muscles in the neck relaxed, there are just a few things going on at the same time, which you all need to control accordingly, maybe a good thing to start, is to separate these, into small practise sessions, in the end, they will fall into place and make sense, and you will do them without thinking about it anymore
You want to develop awareness of your throat shape or voicing. Overtones is an approach. Do the mouthpiece exercise and work on the bend range while focusing on keeping the lower relaxed, also take in more mouthpiece (this takes the lower lip pressure out of the equation and makes you work on the air stream.) also stuff a rag in the bell, finger low Bb with the octave and play overtones. This will open the throat and then you will have to play with the back of the throat to control your airstream and this is how you get your overtones and your awareness of your voice. Remember, the saxophone is the outer instrument and you have to develop the innerinstrument that starts at the Reed And goes down to your lungs.
👍🏼 🙏🏼
I have issues with playing the lower b flat
Join the club man! 🤣
Every time I see Jamie play the horn when his throat opens up it reminds me of a bullfrog 🐸 But dang, does it help create a better sound.
🤣
But you found a stock image of a xylophone with a blanket on it 😂
Well, no, I added the blanket on top! 🤣
Jamie, I did that loud 'Q-E2 ' foghorn blow you recommended and not good...... All my neighbors showed up at my door with boarding passes.
🤣
This is the most important lesson for sound correction.
Lesson #2 is harder and it’s called “Be Michael Brecker”
yeh, you know that! Although it's probably even harder to "Be Kris Lewis".
@@GetYourSaxTogether HAHAHA!! Where do I send my $20 to?
@@KrisVComm 🤣
omg you safed me
🙏
8:50 now don't watch any videos of Ralph Bowen to see that:)
Look at Ralph's throat at the 32 min mark - ruclips.net/video/r9J3B_6LBrE/видео.html
@@GetYourSaxTogether yes, yes, you are right. But come on. I was joking because he is so well known for having such a composed expression while playing :)
Great Jamie
Thanks! 🙏🏼
Looks like Jamie broke into Jay's studio and stole his wood/acoustic foam panelling.
Do you think he’ll notice? 😉
I teach saxophone.
Sometimes, most of the time, I am not telling my students exactly what they have to do. The instruction itself could be too much for them.
I nudge them in the right direction.
I don't know how to explain it.
Different students different teaching needed.
I'm finding it hard getting a good sound out, I'm a complete beginner lol
Yeah. Go back to my beginner playlist!
@GetYourSaxTogether I've watched it over twice I just have to make the time to practice without annoying my wife 😅
Early on, I made the mistake of letting the weight of the saxophone rest on my lower lip. In order to let the reed vibrate, it's extremely important to make sure you're supporting the sax with your upper teeth to let your jaw free 😉
Thanks so much! 🙏
Voice don‘t bite is the opposite of what Sigurd Rascher taught. But he was a more „classic“ Player…
And that is not the sound we want…😊
All true.
I vind it very hard to play high notes without biting
Keep practicing, it will come.
Having lost bottom teeth, what difference does this have on the bite?
I’m honestly not sure. Maybe you can tell ME?
Leaking, badly maintained sax can induce these forcing habits also
Ask me how I know….sax must be operating properly to blow comfortably
🙏🏻