 The Fingering Forum
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Author: kari
Date: 2004-12-14 19:46
I am a flute player teaching my self to play the tenor sax and I am haveing troble is there some one out there that can help me Please. I am not sure as to what I need or how to go about teaching my self.
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Author: mls
Date: 2004-12-15 21:48
I was a flute player that taught myself tenor sax, so I kinda know what you're going through.
The biggest problem I had was embouchure, but Theboy_2 put it nicely when I asked someone to describe it back when I first started:
"i know exactly how to help. rest your thumb on your bottom lip and your teeth on the top of your mouth. now this may sound stupid but suck your thumb now. stop sucking and make sure too keep that same embourchure, now replace your thumb with your m/p. instead of sucking you blow. and it should be, if done correctly, a sax embourchure."
As for books I would highly recommend the Standard of Excellence series. It teaches you the fingerings as you go, and has a lot of "for tenors only" exercises to help your technique.
And, if at all possible, try to get private lessons, or at least to play with someone else. I never took lessons, but I played tenor for marching band this year and the people in my section helped me a lot. This year our seniors and our only junior are just amazing. I've learned so much just by talking to them and listening to them play. I really look up to them, and they've really helped me grow as a tenor.
I don't know if I answered your question... I'm just trying to give you some advice as a fellow flute-to-tenor. That was a pretty broad question, so if you clarify a little bit more we'll all try to help.
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Author: Clarinet Girl
Date: 2004-12-22 22:44
You should try Alto sax it would be easier to switch from flute
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Author: Dan
Date: 2005-01-08 16:43
Hey Kari,
There are a couple of books you should check out. One is "The Art of Saxophone Playing," by Larry Teal. Another is "The Universal Saxophone Method," by Paul DeVille. The Larry Teal is a very scientific explanation of the proper way to play the instrument, and the DeVille is analogous to the Wagner book for flute. The guy who said to suck your thumb had good advice; also, keep your tounge high in your mouth, so your lips are saying "ooo" and your tounge is saying "eee." If you actually pronounce the syllable, it will sound French. Make sure your throat is open and relaxed, as the horn reverberates in your lungs. If you're small, get a harness instead of a neck strap: it costs more, but your neck and back will thank you. Remember that the middle C is the second finger on the left hand, not the first, and check out a fingering chart for the palm keys. Keep practicing flute! It's good for your sax chops. I hope I've helped.
Dan
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Author: Doug
Date: 2005-01-14 03:51
I know exactly what you are going through,because I just started playing the tenor sax (my first band instrument)in August of 2004. The hardest thing for me to get use to was blowing instead of plucking or hitting or bowing. It took me awhile to learn, but what I can tell you to help, since you probably know how to blow and play notes on one, is to practice your scales and to sight read lots of music. Do them slow untill you can play them perfect, then speed the tempo up about 10-20 beats each time. If you want to start playing altissimo, remember to put your tung in the back of your throught, kind of like if you were trying to make a cat hissing sound. Also, it helps to press on the reed with your bottom lip in a certain spot. I can't really tell you where, because I just taught myself to do that about 15 minutes ago actually... but I hope these tips have helped. Email me if you want more tips or help.
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Author: Rashad Hayward
Date: 2005-01-29 02:05
well what you need to teach you yourself how to transpose from a C instrument to a Bflat instrument all it is a note higher and then the concert pitches is different notes like concer bflat is C on the tenor Sax and Concer Eflat is F and so on and on and that is some things you need to do and then teach your self the tenor sax emboshoure and it is fingering all fingering for the whole saxophone family but different pitches. Thats it.
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