Playing the saxophone Are subtones used only on tenor?

[BeBopSop]

Are subtones used only on tenor? is there any youtube footage of alto players using subtones?

 

[Chris]

Paul Desmonds tone is classed by some as 'subtone'. Also 'Johnny Hodges'

Chris..

 

[thesaxman71]

check out Phil Woods on a tune called "the summer knows", if i remember right he uses it in that, great player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzbS6fxA6ZU&feature=player_detailpage

 

[BeBopSop]

check out Phil Woods on a tune called "the summer knows", if i remember right he uses it in that, great player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzbS6fxA6ZU&feature=player_detailpage

Yes, near the end more noticeable (just after the farty bit), not as pronounced as say Ben Webster or Stan, but I suppose easier to get on tenor or alto bottom notes may be.

 

[BeBopSop]

Paul Desmonds tone is classed by some as 'subtone'. Also 'Johnny Hodges'

Chris..

Or are they just 'quiet' players?

 

[Chris]

Or are they just 'quiet' players?

Well John the info came from here http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-subtone.html

Chris..

 

[altissimo]

there's some examples here -
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?196484-Good-alto-Subtone
including -
Art Pepper - http://youtu.be/-HS-cyiXzsE
Matana Roberts - http://youtu.be/--KmcmiwtHA
Willie Smith - http://youtu.be/gbwPtRHUS24

 

[thesaxman71]

thats a 1st, bebopsop, referring the legend alto player Phil Woods' playing as farty in the same sentence, you heathen 😉

 

[Jules]

Jan Garbarek does some crazt sub-tone stuff on his soprano....

 

[BeBopSop]

thats a 1st, bebopsop, referring the legend alto player Phil Woods' playing as farty in the same sentence, you heathen 😉

Yes what was I thinking!!! but when I was listening nr the end, it made me jump! I thought it was me at first🙂))

 

[BeBopSop]

Thanks altissimo, I must admit I had never heard of Willie Smith until now.What a great player! I think listening to these samples, I must try to play at different levels of volume etc, listening back to myself recorded, I play everything all at the same volume (usually loud), thanks

 

[altissimo]

I'd not heard of Willie Smith either, until I googled 'alto sax subtone' - I'll be searching youtube for more of his great playing...
One thing I did find was that there's a variety of opinions on what subtoning ctually is and how you do it. We all recognise it when we hear it, but defining it seems to be more difficult...

 

[aldevis]

Cannonball anyone?

 

[Mack]

I've always concentrated on my sub tone on alto - to the point that I now find it hard to produce any other sound. I have spent the last few weeks trying to "harden up" my sound, while not losing the subtone when required. Easy on the high notes, but I find it hard to play low notes without subtone. Having the ability to play dynamically is what I'm after- listen to Cannonball on "Serves Me Right" from the album "Things Are a getting Better" for a demonstration. So many alto players have that hard edged glass cutting funk sound (Dulfer / Sanborn) when the alto is capable of much more than that. Only wish I could produce it..!

 

[jrintaha]

I've always concentrated on my sub tone on alto - to the point that I now find it hard to produce any other sound

It's the same for me, except on the tenor. My teacher remarked that I've got a great tone for this song when I played Take Five (on the tenor, yes), but when it was time to improvise major blues on Watermelon Man, she said "OK, you can seriously stop subtoning now", and it took me a good while to get back to playing with a normal tone.

 

[altissimo]

Cannonball anyone?

I was trying to find examples of Cannonball Adderley's subtone - next time Kev complains about alto saxes sounding too ducky,
make him listen to this -
http://youtu.be/wsxcZ8qNCAQ
http://youtu.be/RC34kEH4J_U

 

[dubrosa22]

Steve Coleman's solo record 'Invisible Paths' features some subtone on alto and any John Zorn solo that isn't a b###tearing screamer (not that often honestly)

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 4

 

[aldevis]

http://youtu.be/wsxcZ8qNCAQ

Is exactly the track I had in mind! 🙂
I think I will buy the vinyl. Again.

 

[kevgermany]

I was trying to find examples of Cannonball Adderley's subtone - next time Kev complains about alto saxes sounding too ducky,
make him listen to this -
http://youtu.be/wsxcZ8qNCAQ
http://youtu.be/RC34kEH4J_U

Thanks. Guess that's roughly where I've been aimimg. I'm getting there.