Klarinet Archive - Posting 000148.txt from 2011/05

From: Richard D Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Question for the sax doublers out there
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 16:03:26 -0400

Dear Rachel,

I started the clarinet when I was nine. That was in 1951. I also play sax, =
flute and bassoon.

The first thing to remember when playing the sax is that the saxophone is n=
ot like playing the clarinet. Sax is played in the center of the pitch spec=
trum. (Clarinet is played near the top with a much tighter mouth.) If you u=
se a clarinet embouchure on the sax the tone will be very pinched and tight=
sounding. The saxophone embouchure is much more relaxed and the lower lip =
is softer than what you would use to achieve a lagit sound on the clarinet.

The sax should enter the mouth from quite a straight angle, while the clari=
net angle is about 30=B0 out from your head and body. Don't let the saxopho=
ne hang naturally from the neck strap, but push the bottom of the sax out s=
omewhat to keep the neck coming into the face nearly at a right angle. Your=
head should be looking straight ahead. You should not have the head down o=
r have a need to raise it upward when blowing on a saxophone.

Hope this helps. I do recommend at least a few lessons with a professional =
saxophonist to get the above happening.

Best of luck. After learning to play clarinet, saxophone is relatively easy.

Richard Bush
=

On May 25, 2011, at 10:41 AM, Rachel Roessel wrote:

I use a Neotech strap, so the area that contacts my neck is wide enough. I =
find =

that if I tighten it more than I have it, the sax is too high (meaning the =
neck =

and mouthpiece are above my mouth closer to nose level). I do put the mouth=
piece =

in my mouth straighter than I do on clarinet (I have thought about embouchu=
re =

issues being the culprit).

Having not taken a sax lesson ever, I'm sure I'm doing something wrong; I'm=
just =

not exactly sure what. I'll keep looking.

Rachel

________________________________
The neckstrap should be enough. Maybe you just arent adjusting it correctl=
y? I =

played sax for 5 years and the CLARINET was heavy to me when I swtiched to =

clarinet. ( I played sax before starting clarinet) with sax, you ARE supp=
osed =

to blow a little more straight into the mouthpiece unlike clarinet. Maybe =
you =

are leaving too much slack in the neckstrap to try and play it like a clari=
net. =

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