Klarinet Archive - Posting 000886.txt from 1999/06

From: "Patricia Smith" <david-patty@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] sax trouble
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 19:52:29 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: j ha <bbop51@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] sax trouble

> Let's hear it for the self-taught sax players! Having never taken a sax
> lesson, I don't know too much. I have, however, had more paying gigs on
> sax, and that will probably continue. The only signifigant problem I've
had
> on sax has been getting the lower register to sound. I can hit the low D
> consistently, but no lower. Can any self-taught (or even professional!)
sax
> players give me a hand?
> I play alto if it makes a difference.
> Thanks.
> J.H.
Dear J. H.,

I too am primarily a self-taught saxophone mangler (one of my dearest
friends is a fantastic alto player, so no insults to him). My experience
has been that one needs to make sure of 3 factors:
First, angle of mouthpiece can be nearly 90 degrees. It is not a
clarinet, so I don't try to play it that way. The mouthpiece should rest
against the top teeth with the lower lip forming loosely (relative to a
clarinet embouchure) around the mouthpiece. One's jaw needs to be flexible
so as to open or close freely to obtain different timbres as desired.
(Again, what works for me- those of you more in the know...say so!)
Secondly, use a reed with a great deal less resistance than you do for
clarinet. Because the embouchure is different from clarinet, a lighter reed
will 1) provide more resistance, due to how the embouchure forms; and 2)
and, again, give one a more "real" saxophone sound.
Lastly, the saxophone embouchure REALLY relaxes for the lower notes. I
had the same problem with those notes for years and was always relegated to
playing second alto parts for ceremonies (I rarely played in stage band).
One can even work on one's reeds differently for sax than for clarinet. In
my experience, the lowest part of the reed does not need to be as thick as
for clarinet, relative to the rest of the reed.
Again, these basic things have worked for me over the years (as well as
cultivating friends who were great alto and tenor players and could help me
on the job - it was survival of the ears for them and a learning experience
for me), and I hope they are helpful to you.

Patty Smith

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