 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2005-03-12 05:55
Book 2 of Me and My Girl has a lot of nice tenor sax in it. This is a first for me but due to a back injury, I find playing tenor slung to the side a painful pastime. Now I play sop and alto saxes directly in front of me with no problem. Are there any devices that might enable me to play tenor a la bass clarinet and save my back ? I know there are issues with neck angle and viewing the music. I have been experimenting with upturned paper bins with a modicum of success.
?? guidance please from seasoned pit doublers ??
I'd be grateful.
BobT
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Author: Erdinet
Date: 2005-03-12 09:55
Have you tried a harness as opposed to the usual neck strap? Instead of a strap that you put on over your head and around your neck, it is a more substantial thing that distributes the weight of the instrument you are playing more evenly to your shoulders. There are a couple of different models out there. I use one when I start to fatigue on Baritone Sax. Just look on one fo the store sites for a saxophone harness.
BTW...this will not necessarily allow you to play with the horn in the middle a la Bass Clarinet. The big problem I always found playing Tenor Sax between one's legs is that your right hand ends up too low to execute cleanly. The harness should however aleviate any back issues you are having with playing tenor sax.
A word to the style conscious though. The harness is a bit ridiculous looking at first. My wife first saw it and named it "The Bari Bra."
Good luck.
Adam
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-03-12 13:16
I agree, Adam, I have one of the bari sax "harnesses" which takes the weight off the neck, putting it on the shoulders and your belt in back [helps keeping pants up !]. Also you might "rig-up" a playing sax stand , like a bari's but higher, to make rt hand access better than front location. You might also try to play some of the tenor parts on bass cl, you should have comparable volumn available down in the chalameau, but not the sax sound tho !! Much luck, others will have had more experience than I. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2005-03-12 13:23
Bob,
I normally play tenor to the side; however, I have some sax buddies who play it in the center and say they have no problems holding it that way. You might need to experiment with it and see if you can adapt to this position comfortably. The suggestion about using a harness instead of a neck strap is a good idea. It's possible that it could help your back.
I had a problem with reading music with one of my vintage saxophones. Happily, I have a repair tech who is excellent. He made a slight change to the angle of the horn's neck without having a negative impact on anything. Just this slight change made a big difference in playing the horn comfortably and reading music. I'm not suggesting that you would want to necessarily do that to your tenor. But, if you have a good repair tech whom you trust it might be a good idea to take your tenor to him, explain the physical problem you're having, and see if he has any recommendations.
Good luck! Roger
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2005-03-12 13:55
Thanks for that guys, greatly appreciated.
Yes I can see the problems relating to neck angle and the ability to see the music, if playing tenor in front.
The sax bra seems way out front for possibilities!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry 'bout that.
I posted on SOTW also and got one reply so far which promoted the saxrax range of playing stands.
No-one's come up with any "self constructions" yet. AS you might imagine I'm experimenting at the moment, and my best shot so far is a wickerwork paper bin with a tortoise bean bag to support the bend !
Looks like the sax has killed the tortoise. It works pretty well with a neoprene sling.
Although a serious request there may be room for a little humour here.
BobT
BobT
Post Edited (2005-03-12 17:02)
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Author: Erdinet
Date: 2005-03-12 14:55
For the record, the saxrax stands are quite good. I see the have a new line of stands that adjust so that they can be played in the stand. Just beware all of Saxrax's stuff is expensive.
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Author: Aussiegirl
Date: 2005-03-13 00:54
the bari bra is cool....last time i doubled on bari for a show i kept it on all the time without realising and decided that i would make a fashion statement....i wore it up to the corner shop and outside...our 1st trumpeter was going to borrow it so he could make a fashion statement too!
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2005-03-13 15:35
If any one is interested - an Update on progress.
All is not lost - visiting my 93 year old parents this afternoon, I procured an unused round stool with an infinite height adjustment.
At its lowest height, I can sit comfortably on its rounded edge, trailing my right leg behind me sufficiently to allow the sax to be played in front. This allows the bell to rest on my left thigh and frees up the bell pads and right hand keys. I've run this for a prolonged time and it does not pose a problem with my back. Not having a back rest to the stool is not a problem, as I sit upright when playing clarinet etc. anyway.
The weight of the slung sax when playing clar was oppressive before, however, the height of the stool allows for complete and safe sax support over both knees when still on sling.
Sometimes reaching for the grey cells instead of the cheque book pays off!
Thank you everyone for your suggestions.
If there's a fellow sufferer out there this may be of some help.
BobT
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-03-13 17:06
Congrats, Bob, sounds like a fine solution and inventiveness on your part. "More than one way to skin a cat", since I'm attempting to rid our neighborhood of stray/wild cats !! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2005-03-14 22:57
WOW! Great photo of Lester...I love it! Thanks.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2005-03-15 17:05
Thanks to everyone - Lester Young photo is a cracker.
I just witnessed a big band on TV - 4 tenors at 45 degrees.
Man that looked awkward !
BobT
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2005-03-15 17:34
There is a product out there called Weight Lifter? and this is basically a place to rest the sax on. One idea that hasn't been offered is this. .. have a peg made for your tenor. I remember years ago seeing a bari sax player with a peg on the bottom of his sax. It might have been a Buffet. Just like a Cello peg it would have to be adjustable. If you find a creative repair person they could probably make something that is detachable. You could still use a sling with this to help control the instrument.
Freelance woodwind performer
Post Edited (2005-03-15 18:12)
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2005-03-15 17:57
Bob,
A lot of good ideas have been presented. No doubt about it, clarinetists are a creative bunch! If nothing else works for you here's a last ditch idea -- get a c-melody and transpose the tenor part. A c-melody is smaller than a tenor and I'd think that playing one would be easier on your back. If you're already used to transposing on clarinet then transposing for c-melody shouldn't be that difficult. Anyway, it's just a crazed idea that came to mind.
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