Saxophone beginners beginning and ending notes

[stringy]

Thanks to everybody who replied to my previous questions. When practicing individual notes, do i just blow and hope i get the right pitch or should my tongue be covering the mouthpiece before i start. Also, should i end a note by just stopping blowing or is there a technique for both of the above questions. Just two more questions. Practicing long notes, how long should i try and blow each note, and what should i be aiming to accomplish?
Any practice tips will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

 

[kevgermany]

Stringy, I've deleted the other thread.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I like to play the saxophone with my mouth covering the mouthpiece. It's a musical instrument. Be musical. Take a deep breath, blow as long as you can, the note will stop when you run out of air. Don't forget to inhale at the end of this procedure or you may pass out.

 

[jbtsax]

When practicing individual notes, do i just blow and hope i get the right pitch or should my tongue be covering the mouthpiece before i start.

Excellent question. I have never liked the word "attack" so I will instead refer to the "entrance" of the note. Basically there are two types of entrances, a "tongued" entrance and a "breath" entrance. Different syllables are used for different styles, but I will just describe the regular style of tonguing used most of the time. You take a breath, set the embouchure, set the tip of the tongue against the tip of the reed, blow (feeling the air pressure behind the tongue), and then pull the tongue off the reed allowing the air to pass as if saying "tu".

That sounds quite complicated, but it is not. To mimic the sensation of tonguing, pretend there is a bit of lint on the tip of your tongue and spit it off. The motion of the tongue and air when doing this is exactly how it feels when you make a tongued entrance on the saxophone. The difference between a tongued entrance and a breath entrance is that you take a breath and go "Hoo" into the mouthpiece instead of "Tu" (or "Too). The important thing to remember about tonguing is that the tongue starts the sound not by hitting the reed but by releasing the reed and the air at the same time.

Also, should i end a note by just stopping blowing or is there a technique for both of the above questions. Just two more questions.

On longer note values, yes you end the tone by stopping the air. Sing a note on a "La" and then stop the note. Do it the same way on the saxophone. On short notes that are played in a sequence with "tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu" articulation, the tongue actually stops the previous note as it starts the next note. Sometimes in jazz music the style calls for a short note to be stopped with the tongue like "TUT", "DOT", or "DAUGHT"! However this is generally not done in regular or classical music.

Practicing long notes, how long should i try and blow each note, and what should i be aiming to accomplish.

A way to practice that I use with my students is to play long tones while looking at a clock with a second hand. For example, "start on the 12 and hold it till the 6". It makes it more challenging to play with a tuner trying to keep the pitch of the note as steady as possible. Another variation is to start soft on the 12 and crescendo till the 6, or the other way around. You can be creative and come up with lots of variations on your own. Once you have mastered one level, then challenge yourself to make it a bit more difficult and practice that. The possibilities are endless. Good luck. I hope some of these ideas help.

 

[Grand Master Sax]

A good excercise for beginners (or anybody) that helps with tonguing and familiarizing yourself with fingering and notes is simple scales. Practice holding out the top note on each scale when you play it, and do each scale a few times each slurred and tongued. This will quickly improve your ability to tongue melodies, and make you more comfortable with notes.

Hope I helped!

 

[stringy]

Stringy, I've deleted the other thread.

Thanks Ged, for deleting you've probably guessed i'm a dinosaur where computers are concerned.
Take care,
dave. (real name)

 

[stringy]

Excellent question. I have never liked the word "attack" so I will instead refer to the "entrance" of the note. Basically there are two types of entrances, a "tongued" entrance and a "breath" entrance. Different syllables are used for different styles, but I will just describe the regular style of tonguing used most of the time. You take a breath, set the embouchure, set the tip of the tongue against the tip of the reed, blow (feeling the air pressure behind the tongue), and then pull the tongue off the reed allowing the air to pass as if saying "tu".

That sounds quite complicated, but it is not. To mimic the sensation of tonguing, pretend there is a bit of lint on the tip of your tongue and spit it off. The motion of the tongue and air when doing this is exactly how it feels when you make a tongued entrance on the saxophone. The difference between a tongued entrance and a breath entrance is that you take a breath and go "Hoo" into the mouthpiece instead of "Tu" (or "Too). The important thing to remember about tonguing is that the tongue starts the sound not by hitting the reed but by releasing the reed and the air at the same time.

On longer note values, yes you end the tone by stopping the air. Sing a note on a "La" and then stop the note. Do it the same way on the saxophone. On short notes that are played in a sequence with "tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu" articulation, the tongue actually stops the previous note as it starts the next note. Sometimes in jazz music the style calls for a short note to be stopped with the tongue like "TUT", "DOT", or "DAUGHT"! However this is generally not done in regular or classical music.

A way to practice that I use with my students is to play long tones while looking at a clock with a second hand. For example, "start on the 12 and hold it till the 6". It makes it more challenging to play with a tuner trying to keep the pitch of the note as steady as possible. Another variation is to start soft on the 12 and crescendo till the 6, or the other way around. You can be creative and come up with lots of variations on your own. Once you have mastered one level, then challenge yourself to make it a bit more difficult and practice that. The possibilities are endless. Good luck. I hope some of these ideas help.

A good excercise for beginners (or anybody) that helps with tonguing and familiarizing yourself with fingering and notes is simple scales. Practice holding out the top note on each scale when you play it, and do each scale a few times each slurred and tongued. This will quickly improve your ability to tongue melodies, and make you more comfortable with notes.

Hope I helped!

A good excercise for beginners (or anybody) that helps with tonguing and familiarizing yourself with fingering and notes is simple scales. Practice holding out the top note on each scale when you play it, and do each scale a few times each slurred and tongued. This will quickly improve your ability to tongue melodies, and make you more comfortable with notes.

Hope I helped!

Excellent question. I have never liked the word "attack" so I will instead refer to the "entrance" of the note. Basically there are two types of entrances, a "tongued" entrance and a "breath" entrance. Different syllables are used for different styles, but I will just describe the regular style of tonguing used most of the time. You take a breath, set the embouchure, set the tip of the tongue against the tip of the reed, blow (feeling the air pressure behind the tongue), and then pull the tongue off the reed allowing the air to pass as if saying "tu".

That sounds quite complicated, but it is not. To mimic the sensation of tonguing, pretend there is a bit of lint on the tip of your tongue and spit it off. The motion of the tongue and air when doing this is exactly how it feels when you make a tongued entrance on the saxophone. The difference between a tongued entrance and a breath entrance is that you take a breath and go "Hoo" into the mouthpiece instead of "Tu" (or "Too). The important thing to remember about tonguing is that the tongue starts the sound not by hitting the reed but by releasing the reed and the air at the same time.

On longer note values, yes you end the tone by stopping the air. Sing a note on a "La" and then stop the note. Do it the same way on the saxophone. On short notes that are played in a sequence with "tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu" articulation, the tongue actually stops the previous note as it starts the next note. Sometimes in jazz music the style calls for a short note to be stopped with the tongue like "TUT", "DOT", or "DAUGHT"! However this is generally not done in regular or classical music.

A way to practice that I use with my students is to play long tones while looking at a clock with a second hand. For example, "start on the 12 and hold it till the 6". It makes it more challenging to play with a tuner trying to keep the pitch of the note as steady as possible. Another variation is to start soft on the 12 and crescendo till the 6, or the other way around. You can be creative and come up with lots of variations on your own. Once you have mastered one level, then challenge yourself to make it a bit more difficult and practice that. The possibilities are endless. Good luck. I hope some of these ideas help.

JBT,

Thanks for taking the time to send me such a thorough and helpful explanation. It really is appreciated.
Stringy, UK.

 

[stringy]

A good excercise for beginners (or anybody) that helps with tonguing and familiarizing yourself with fingering and notes is simple scales. Practice holding out the top note on each scale when you play it, and do each scale a few times each slurred and tongued. This will quickly improve your ability to tongue melodies, and make you more comfortable with notes.

Hope I helped!

A good excercise for beginners (or anybody) that helps with tonguing and familiarizing yourself with fingering and notes is simple scales. Practice holding out the top note on each scale when you play it, and do each scale a few times each slurred and tongued. This will quickly improve your ability to tongue melodies, and make you more comfortable with notes.

Hope I helped!

Thanks GM, I'll definitely start practicing the scales.
Stringy. UK

 

[stringy]

I like to play the saxophone with my mouth covering the mouthpiece. It's a musical instrument. Be musical. Take a deep breath, blow as long as you can, the note will stop when you run out of air. Don't forget to inhale at the end of this procedure or you may pass out.

Very good advice Bear. Looked at myself in the mirror when trying to blow a long note. My face resembled a red tomato ready to explode. You may have saved my life!

 

[Colin the Bear]

😱It's the blue colour you have to beware of.