Beginner Sax Beginning alto sax - Advice on mouthpieces and reeds

[Colin the Bear]

Forget everything you leaned on bamboo. Anything you have learned on bagpipes is also irrelevant.

 

[kevgermany]

I understand that it is normal to fit them halfway or so to get the right tuning, but, are mouthpieces supposed to be able to go all the way in if you need to?

It's only a starting point, you really need a tuner, phone apps are good. Mouthpieces should slide on as far as needed. Also octaves should be in tune. The way to do this is adjust the mouthpiece position so that both octaves are equally out of tune, then adjust embouchure until both at the correct pitch. Use notes at the top of the sax such as B or C, when the tube is shorter, it's more sensitive to mouthpiece position.

However there are always compromises, you will learn to make these adjustments automatically as you listen to yourself playing and work on keeping in tune.

Do let Griff give it a once over.

 

[McAldo]

It's only a starting point, you really need a tuner, phone apps are good. Mouthpieces should slide on as far as needed. Also octaves should be in tune. The way to do this is adjust the mouthpiece position so that both octaves are equally out of tune, then adjust embouchure until both at the correct pitch. Use notes at the top of the sax such as B or C, when the tube is shorter, it's more sensitive to mouthpiece position.

However there are always compromises, you will learn to make these adjustments automatically as you listen to yourself playing and work on keeping in tune.

Do let Griff give it a once over.

Thanks for explaining so clearly, that's fascinating, tomorrow I'll give it a go and see what I manage.

 

[McAldo]

Forget everything you leaned on bamboo. Anything you have learned on bagpipes is also irrelevant.

Thanks, I am sure you are right and I have been making a conscious effort trying to start from fresh, but probably it will take some time and practise to rewire my lips.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Decades?? really?? I gonna be dead before play soundly then...

Starting late in life on sax, I've resigned myself to this. The easy bits are still fun though

 

[McAldo]

It's only a starting point, you really need a tuner, phone apps are good. Mouthpieces should slide on as far as needed. Also octaves should be in tune. The way to do this is adjust the mouthpiece position so that both octaves are equally out of tune, then adjust embouchure until both at the correct pitch. Use notes at the top of the sax such as B or C, when the tube is shorter, it's more sensitive to mouthpiece position.

However there are always compromises, you will learn to make these adjustments automatically as you listen to yourself playing and work on keeping in tune.

Do let Griff give it a once over.

Griff kindly checked my alto last week and there were indeed a few leaks, now fixed.
He also sanded up the cork so now the mouthpiece go in more easily.
Now the bottom notes are easier to get and it is easier to keep it in the lower register, thanks again

 

[Jeanette]

Griff kindly checked my alto last week and there were indeed a few leaks, now fixed.
He also sanded up the cork so now the mouthpiece go in more easily.
Now the bottom notes are easier to get and it is easier to keep it in the lower register, thanks again

Brilliant news

Jx