 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2014-04-19 22:34
I asked this question on the Doublers BBoard last week but had no response, I hope I have more luck here.
I have played amateur clarinet for some years and I have just decided to try the soprano saxophone. I am using a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece with a 2 1/2 Legere reed (the equivalent of what I use on both soprano and bass clarinets) and my embouchure is a disaster.
I play only for my own enjoyment so I am not looking for a teacher. Can anyone give me any suggestions. Many thanks.
Alan
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-04-19 22:43
I dabbled MANY years ago on soprano sax. Perfectly fine match (actually an easier going embouchure) on many levels. Of course I could never get used to the fact that the saxophone actually blows an octave.....crazy.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-04-19 22:54
Relax the embouchure a wee bit, practice looooong tones. Consider cane reeds for a certain time. (your old clarinet reeds may or may not fit). The beak is substantially smaller, less forgiving, so you may simply need "service hours" on the instrument until you're happy with the tone.
SopSax and Clarinet are close, yet still two different animals.
--
Ben
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2014-04-20 02:26
I don't think it's any big deal. Tone production should be easy. Find the strength of reed that allows good response in the low and middle register. Practice these notes until you are comfortable. It might mean you should try a lighter Legere.(excuse the pun) Perhaps a 2 just to get things vibrating. In any case it should not be a strain on your embouchure.
The notes above high C can be dealt with later.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-04-20 03:49
Never play soprano sax like a clarinet - play it like a sax and not like a clarinet and you'll be fine.
The embouchure on soprano sax is more relaxed and remains stable as you go up - never tense up as you go up or you'll go sharp. Also you blow saxes down to pitch as opposed to clarinets that are blown up to pitch.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-04-20 15:17
In my experience leaks can be more of a problem on Sop sax
Bob Draznik
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-04-20 17:40
Definitely leaks will cause a lot of problems on saxes, so make sure all the pads seat well and everything is well regulated otherwise you'll struggle to get the low notes below F easily.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: William
Date: 2014-04-21 20:52
Two additional suggestions: 1) be sure to put the mouthpiece all the way on leaving as little cork showing as possible. This will bring the little sax in tune "with itself" and you can use a more flexible embouchure to aid in tuning; 2) hold the sax more straight out in front of you so that the mouthpiece enters your embouchure on an almost 90 degree angle, not the downward angle that you use for your clarinets.
And play with a much more relaxed embouchure--I like to use an almost double lip to help with the special scooping and vibrato effects that make a sax a sax. Forget the long tones--BORING. Just listen to some sop sax recordings (preferably jazz) and play what comes to mind. Basic rule is HAVE FUN--DONT MAKE IT WORK!!!!!!
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2014-04-21 21:41
Thanks everyone, your suggestions are really working. I was definitely playing just the way I play clarinet. I am enjoying my new embouchure.
Alan
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2014-04-21 23:28
As William has said the mouthpiece placement makes a big difference. Just placing the mouthpiece any place on the cork is not a good idea. You should find a spot where the octaves are in tune. A very general guideline is that the upper octave note will sound flat if you are not pushed on far enough. So when tuning try to do it in pairs of notes. ie... low G and high G, low A and high A. etc. Taking note of how the notes relate to each other and also how they show up on the tuning meter.
As a clarinetist you have a ready made spot to tune to. Just assemble the clarinet and you have a reasonable starting point. The saxophonist has to find that starting point. After you have found an approximate tuning spot you can mark it with a pencil or magic marker. It is just a starting point for tuning.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-04-21 23:38
With saxes I put the mouthpiece on where the instrument blows in tune with itself (on my Yamaha soprano there's not much cork left showing at all - probably around 5mm), then the rest of the tuning is done with your embouchure and most importantly, your ear.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2014-04-21 23:51
Best way I've found to initially tune any size sax is to move the mouthpiece position on the neck to where the lower and upper G's are in tune. Which I think is what Chris P just said.....
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2014-04-22 02:22
One way to find mouthpiece position on the sax. Finger a low C and overblow to get the octave. You may have to trip the octave (register) key to get this to happen - especially on a soprano. Then finger the C above (top of sax). Push in the mouthpiece till they are in tune.
Steve Ocone
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Author: William
Date: 2014-04-22 20:53
Regarding Bruno's posting of Dan Higgins sop sax jam, you've heard him before playing those great sax licks in the movie, "Catch Me if you Can" starring Leonardo DeCaprio.
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