Tone or Sound As we get older, how do we hear ourselves?

[6441]

This thought came to me when @Mark Hancock mentioned he wasn't sure there was a big difference between synthetic and cane reeds in the BOTM post this month. (I'm paraphrasing.)

It is a fact that most people (if not all) lose some high frequencies as they age. Eventually, if you get where some of us are, well over sixty, there's a significant difference in what we hear and what someone age 25 hears. I wonder if anyone has an approach to help mitigate this issue? Or is it an issue at all? When I record, I often use EQ if I feel there's an "edge" to the sound I don't like. I suppose that translates to unwanted "brightness" in saxology? (Are there any saxologists out there?) In all my explorations of embouchure, reeds and mouthpieces, I'm still not in a stable state when it comes to tone. Anyone have thoughts about this?

 

[Pete Effamy]

In all my explorations of embouchure, reeds and mouthpieces, I'm still not in a stable state when it comes to tone. Anyone have thoughts about this?

I know you're a freak when it comes to practice Randy - mr 10 hours per day - so I always question whatever I'm about to say to you. However quickly much of your playing is accelerated by your work ethic I can't believe that all aspects keep pace at the same rate. There is also your lifetime of experience as a fantastic guitarist too. Not as a sax player though - and to say this, I have to presume that there would be similar aspects lacking for me should I take up the guitar in a parallel fashion.

My concept of tone, or perhaps how to bring the sound from my head into my horn went through a few stages over many years. Clarinet is much easier than the sax because there are far less types of tone - it imposes itself far easier than a saxophone.

Painters go through different periods, usually fairly spread out too. Their eyes change of course (reference Monet) and so the example with musicians and ears works well.

In all my explorations of embouchure, reeds and mouthpieces

Do you think that your conclusions will be the same in 3 years?

I tried synthetic reeds (Fibracell) about 30 years ago. Played on them for about 6 months and then tried cane again and was astonished at the difference. I haven't been near one since. I'm sure that they must be better now, but they don't have many (any?) users amongst the guys that I revere - so that's rather damning.

 

[6441]

I know you're a freak when it comes to practice Randy

Guilty! Although since I've been up since 3AM today, I haven't quite got it up to do my usual 2 hour session this morning.

Also guilty, I explore too many things, introducing variables a young beginner would never be allowed. But I am finding certain reeds work better at different times.

The third charge against me is that I complain quietly or aloud about how after listening to music for 50+ years, I need mainly to be able to play all I've heard that I'd like. I said so here in many of my early posts. It doesn't stop me sharing what I think are very good insights into creating playing music.

I probably will change my mind about a lot of things in three years.

By the way, my world-class teacher first questioned my mouthpiece (I think I told you the story privately about the 4C, the Syos and ligature) and the latest return he said it sounded good. "Stick with it." I like it and though I try the others from times to time for the heck of it, I like the Syos the best. Once warmed up, I like the wider Syos, too, it's louder and brighter. Purple for ballads, blue for funk and blues.

As much as I enjoy hearing from you, the initial question was for anecdotes about how our hearing changes as we get older. I take it you're no millennial, either. How's yours?

 

[Pete Effamy]

I take it you're no millennial, either. How's yours? 🙂

Pretty bad. No tinnitus thankfully but in-ears did for me on 63 dates in 2014. A bit Mutton. Mutton Jeff.

 

[6441]

A close friend of mine lost much of his hearing in one ear when a drummer crashed a cymbal next to his head as a joke. Some joke! I hear the ocean most of the day and night.

 

[Pete Effamy]

A close friend of mine lost much of his hearing in one ear when a drummer crashed a cymbal next to his head as a joke. Some joke! I hear the ocean most of the day and night.

Yes, I know I’m digressing but - I also have to pop my ears many many times per day. Been like that for years. When I do, I can hear loads more. No idea what it is - doctor in the house?!

 

[6441]

This is a pretty informal thread, it's wide open to #hearing, #ears, #ageing, #britishspellcheckers and #playingsaxophone

 

[Pete Effamy]

This is a pretty informal thread, it's wide open to #hearing, #ears, #ageing, #britishspellcheckers and #playingsaxophone

They’re all me...

 

[6441]

Wait, I got one: How about the funny names musicians have given to standards and other tunes. A friend told me that Elvin Jones used to ask Trane to "play that song, Virgil".

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7UArkjs5RA

 

[Pete Thomas]

I am aware that I have some hearing damage, and have had for years because I had tests done. It concerned me as a producer. I think there is a dip at around 4kHz. I expected therefore that I would therefore do mixes wit that frequency too loud. I asked my usual mastering engineer about this, who said that wasn't happening. If it was he would have needed to do extra EQ to balance that but he didn't.

he told me that the human ear, or rather the brain as it receives the signals, will somehow compensate so in other words my mixes are still OK. I needn't worry.

Yet.

 

[6441]

rather the brain

Yes, this is known to be true, the brain is responsible for perception. An example I heard was that when your eyes see a ball coming towards you, if the brain didn't interpret the speed, you get hit by it every time.

Thanks for the personal story, I'm glad you haven't had trouble, especially as a producer.

 

[Pete Thomas]

he told me that the human ear, or rather the brain as it receives the signals, will somehow compensate so in other words my mixes are still OK. I needn't worry.

Something to do with using the frequencies either side. This was also confirmed by my audiologist.

Thanks for the personal story, I'm glad you haven't had trouble, especially as a producer.

Well, I keep trying to retire anyway 🙂

 

[Halfers]

I have to admit I'm using the word 'Pardon' a little more than I used to. Perhaps it's down to playing live music. I'm also finding my arms are too short for reading, so it might just be down to the inevitable unstoppable process.

If there is any blame on playing, then I put it down to the inability for Guitar Amp manufacturers to make a fully usable Volume pot. I don't know about going up to 11, all the Guitar amps our guitarist owns have been ear blastingly loud at 2 on the Master Volume and virtually silent at 1.5!

 

[6441]

You know, I'm sure, how to get guitarists to turn down.

 

[GCinCT]

At 58, I haven't noticed any kind of hearing loss or issues. Perhaps they're subtle and I haven't detected them or maybe they are lurking to hit me when I cross the threshold of 60.

Vision is another story. About 6 months ago, I started wearing glasses for the first time. Reading without them was becoming increasingly difficult.

 

[Halfers]

You know, I'm sure, how to get guitarists to turn down.

I will give him credit, he really isn't a typical guitarist. Try getting a solo out of him - it's like getting teeth out of a stone...! He's the only guitarist I know who complains he's too loud..

 

[6441]

My bar band was tested before and after a gig and then the next week before we played. Definite hearing loss, but it came back to normal after a day. I've lost highs, I know, but I can still her pretty well, cars far away coming down the street.

 

[Pete Effamy]

You know, I'm sure, how to get guitarists to turn down.

Put a chart in front of them?

 

[6441]

Correct.

 

[Nick Wyver]

I've got pretty standard old person's hearing loss - top end going and worse in my right ear. I've got aids that I use if I'm not playing. They're ok for listening to music cos they've got a program specifically for that. I can hear cymbals again.