Klarinet Archive - Posting 000544.txt from 2003/02

From: Michael Cudahy <mcudahy@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Quick query on the soprano sax
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 17:47:01 -0500

Bill,

I recently bought a soprano sax, after years of playing mostly clarinet. Mine is
new, so it's a different scenario, but I've already been through several rounds
of having adjustments made, including an adjustment to the G# key that was
necessary in order for me to play the lowest notes. (Not sure what you mean by
"low G," though; low notes on Bb saxes are Db-C-B-Bb.) Saxes often need
adjustment, especially if they are either (1) new, or (2) old. (In between,
things hang together pretty well.) Anyway, my advice would be to have a
technician look at the instrument--he or she could quickly see if it's leaking
by putting a light inside. Then you'll know whether your embouchure is causing
the problem.

One thing I've discovered that's helped me in the transition from clarinet to
soprano sax is to keep in mind the more relaxed sax embouchure *all* the time,
in all registers, rather than just thinking about it when I go for the low
notes, as I was doing at first. In the higher registers you can get away with
using your clarinet embouchure, so it's natural and tempting to do that and then
try to change the embouchure just for the low notes. Bad idea. Using a true sax
embouchure all the time gives better results in all registers and helps you be
ready for those low notes.

Mike Cudahy

Bill Semple wrote:

> I have played the clarinet, and only the clarinet, for forty-three years.
> Recently, my dixieland band asked me to play the soprano sax on a few tunes,
> using an instrument built in the 1920's and gifted to the band by its long
> time reedman, who unfortunately succumbed to cancer last year.
>
> I've managed to get some decent sound out of this thing (it's a Conn), but
> when I hit low G, it lets out a honk like a goose and jumps an octave. If I
> am extra careful, and distend my embouchure just so, I can get that lower G.
>
> Is overblowing a soprano sax easily done, and is this the problem, or do I
> have leaks? Of course I know I should check for leaks, but I am also
> interested in the acoustical properties of this instrument and its penchant
> for doing oddball things.
>
> William T. Semple
> Office: 202-364-2466
> Home: 540-364-4823
> Cell: 540-903-6645
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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