Saxophone Octave Key Adjustments
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- Опубликовано: 4 июл 2022
- The octave key on a saxophone neck often gets bent up and needs to be adjusted. Today I show you how to make both adjustments and how to prevent this from ever happening to you.
Have a repair question you’d like answered? Just leave a comment, write me an email or follow and message me on Instagram at RepairMasterclass.
Till next time, play it loud and play it a lot!
Music on today’s video is from Podington Bear.
Thank you very much for guiding me through a simple but yet so important repair. I was about to run to a repair man. I really want to educate myself on the mechanics of this wonderful instrument. This channel is a perfect start.
Glad I could help. Be sure to check out repairmasterclass.com for all of the courses I offer on how to repair and maintain your instrument.
Very useful information, thank you very much!
My octave key is activating pretty ok, but doesn't come back down that responsively.. will definitely keep this tutorial at hand! And probably will study the correct neck position, and potentially lubricting the key mechanism too (just herited the sax from my mom, and the instrument has been unplayed for over 10 years or so)
Thank you!
Congratulations on the new-to-you horn! If it's been sitting for awhile, it would be worth your effort to take it to a good local tech for them to have a quick look. Pads and cork, like us, wear out over time even (and especially if) we're just sitting around. Have fun with and play it a lot and play it loud!
Thanks a lot
Thanks a lot ! very useful, regards
You're welcome!
Very informative.....many thanks
My pleasure.
Do you know how to tighten the octave key spring cause mine is loose and when I hold the left middle finger pearl it moves down if it’s pointed down
This is a great question and one that is a bit difficult to answer. There are more versions of the octave mechanism than any other part on the sax! It's a bit annoying really. Each one is adjusted in a slightly different way.
Here's the basics: The lift spring (whatever spring lifts the octave mech off the body, should be ONLY strong enough to do so - which is really weak spring tension. The spring on the neck key will over power this lift spring when allowed to by pushing down your ring finger.
Now, what I'll add to this right now is, if it was working a few days ago but isn't now, it's not the spring. There is something else that is bent, dirty or too tight. Go easy when attempting to fix this mechanism; it's a tricky one! I'll do a video on this soon.
Hello when i press the g key and try to press my octave key button it feels loose and also for some reason i cant play anything lower than a A in the staff.
Sorry for my delay, I was gone for a short spell. The issue you're describing sure sounds like an octave key issue, and the key on your neck is being held OPEN - which is why you can't play below A on the staff. Bend that octave key! Bend the loop of that key further away from the body. See 0:53 of this video. If everything else on your sax is working great, then this should do it.
Mine does not close
Then bend that octave key a little at a time until it does. You can do this!