 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Gnomon
Date: 2002-06-14 07:44
This isn't a fingering question, but some of you sax players might like to comment. I'm a clarinetist who has just started to play sax (wbout a week ago). I can play all the notes up as far as third octave F without any problems, but I can't get the low notes. D in the first octave is the lowest note I can go. The only way I can get low C is to push the mouthpiece far into my mouth, at which stage I lose all control, and the note comes out like a foghorn. Is this normal?
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Author: Timothy Anzalone
Date: 2002-06-17 03:35
Low tones can be hard to focus and make them speak at first, also you might consider having the horn checked for leaks. also if you are playing on an old(1920's/30's) horn with a modern mouthpiece (closed chamber) or a modern horn w/ an open chamber mouthpiece there is an accoustical anomoly which occasionally occures and can cuase the low notes not to respond very well. This can be overcome with practice and focus
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Author: Katie
Date: 2002-07-22 18:25
I am also mainly a clarinetist and when I first started playing the sax abou t 2 years ago I found the low notes very difficult as well. I think the main problem is that when you are playing the clarinet, the emouchure (sorry if it's spelt wrong!) has to be quite tight. Where as on the sax, it needs to be much looser, especially for the low notes. You should have your mouth in almost an 'O' shape, with the bootom lip tucked in less. You do still need to rest your top teeth on the mothpiece though. Also experiment with different strengths of reeds and position the reed slightly differently to see if this helps.
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Author: i am canadian
Date: 2002-07-26 01:00
Yes it's normal. When I first started playing I did the same thing and now I get the notes really easily.
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