Saxophone beginners Being ready to play at a jam session

[AlonW]

I went to a local jam session last night, there was a lot of sax players there! I noticed people sometimes had their mouthpieces already on their necks when they pulled their horn out. I was thinking of tuning up at home and just putting the neck/mpc in the bell and showing up. Is this a good idea?

 

[Pete Effamy]

I went to a local jam session last night, there was a lot of sax players there! I noticed people sometimes had their mouthpieces already on their necks when they pulled their horn out. I was thinking of tuning up at home and just putting the neck/mpc in the bell and showing up. Is this a good idea?

Nooooo. Cork compression and all that.

 

[jazzdoh]

I can not see what benefit there is to having the mouthpiece on the neck ready, it takes seconds to put it on the neck.

 

[turf3]

Nooooo. Cork compression and all that.

Not an issue for the hour or so it might take to drive to the jam session.

 

[turf3]

I can not see what benefit there is to having the mouthpiece on the neck ready, it takes seconds to put it on the neck.

Well, it's more about putting the reed on and getting it wet. Goes a lot faster at home in good lighting than trying to get it lined up in the dark bar. On the rare occasion when I participate in an open session, I typically put the whole mouthpiece/neck/reed together, shove it down the bell in a sock, so I can assemble the horn and be ready to play in just a few seconds.

 

[MikeMorrell]

I've never played in a jam session so I don't have much right to comment. I do play in a couple of amateur bands. And though it may seem tempting to do my 'neck/mpc/reed' setup at home for rehearsals/gigs, I don't think I'd ever do it. Absolutely no criticism of those who do!

On the one hand, for me, setting up at the location is kind of a 'ritual': unpacking and setting up my sax stand, unpacking and setting up my sax, strap, mpc and reed. Making sure that my strap is supporting my sax mpc at the right height (and adjusting as necessary). Making sure that my reed and mpc are wet and there's a good seal.

And then - most importantly - finely adjusting the reed position on the mpc - so that I get the tone I want and can also play reasonably well over my usual range of low and high notes. These reed adjustments are usually 'parts of a mm' which I can adjust during a performance but I try to get a good start. If things aren't working out so well on the mpc/reed (despite adjustments) I often go back to minor strap adjustments.

And finally 'tuning'. Although my 'tuning' can vary slightly depending on whether my sax is warmer or colder, I try to get it within 'acceptable margins' from the get-go and maybe adjust slightly from there.

So basically, I don't think that I'd have 100% faith that any 'set-up' I'd did at home would remain an 'out-of-the-box' perfect setup at the location. If for no other reason, differences in temperature, humidity and slight differences to my 'strap height' (depending on what I wear and where I place my strap).

To repeat, I've never played in a jam session so I don't have much right to comment. At my band rehearsals, members are there 15-30 minutes beforehand so they've all gone through similar 'set-up rituals' before we start rehearsing.So forgive my ignorance but what's the rush that drives you towards being able to play within a few minutes/seconds?
How much more 'peace of mind' might it give you to turn up 15 minutes earlier? I find it difficult to imagine that all sax players jump on stage at the same time!

At least in my Pop/Rock Band, our 2 guitarists, drummer and keyboard player take a whole lot longer (20-25 minutes to 'set up' than I do on sax.

So my recommendation (without any experience or knowledge of the jam session) is just to do what feels most relaxed and comfortable to you. Don't feel any pressure that you have to copy other sax players. If you choose to prepare differently (at the location) then that's OK too. In the very worst case, you might not be 'first up' as a sax player. But I put it to you that a relaxed and comfortable 'setup' might help you enjoy your jam session participation more. Whether you're 1st, 2nd or 9th up!

Best wishes,

Mike

PS. IHMO, at any location, there's almost always a 'space' (such as outside or the gent's toilet!) where you can take the time to adjust your strap and reed as necessary. And 'tune' your sax. Yes, I've been there 🙂

 

[mrblackbat]

Not an issue for the hour or so it might take to drive to the jam session.

And then the several further hours waiting to play.
But still, not really going to be an issue.

But, I've never really had any issue with just putting the mouthpiece and reed on at a jam. Why would I shove the assembled neck down the bell of my horn when there's a perfectly good protected section in there for it to go into?

 

[Colin the Bear]

I have a mark on all my saxophones where the mouthpiece sits.

Blow air through mouthpiece and neck (no sound) to warm it before you play.

 

[jazzdoh]

Well, it's more about putting the reed on and getting it wet. Goes a lot faster at home in good lighting than trying to get it lined up in the dark bar. On the rare occasion when I participate in an open session, I typically put the whole mouthpiece/neck/reed together, shove it down the bell in a sock, so I can assemble the horn and be ready to play in just a few seconds.

I get that,I put the reed on at home then put the mpc in a small neoprene pouch and then fit the mpc on neck at the gig, never liked putting the neck or the mouthpiece in the bell.

 

[thomsax]

Before I leaved home to play at a jam I had already .....

..... place the reeds in a glas with little water by having them to soak up 1- 2 hours before.
..... put on my harness.
.... if it's cold and winther maybe put a warm snake into the tube of the sax.
.... warm up your body with voice exercises in the car. Even if yu are not going to sing.

When I arrived at the jam I used to ....

.... get in touch the chjef of the house band/jam leader.
.... open the sax case to acclimate the sax. Martin saxes are tricky when it's cold.
.... find a spot /corner for my sax stand or case.
.... put reed and ligature on the mouthpice, put mouthpice in the neck, attach the neck to the sax and play some licks.
.... adjust the pitch.
.... tune with the other musicians. If there is a acusitic piano it will decide.



.

 

[mrblackbat]

Sounds like a lot of effort....

 

[thomsax]

To be able to play/sing at a blues and rock jam I've been .....

.... listening to lots of blues and R&R music through the years. The song catalog in your head is important.
.... memorising chord-progressions, - changes, lyrics . Blues and R&R are easy stuff. You get a quick responce .... .
.... pratctising to reach out with my sax. And here it comes; you must be able to play loud and with a full tone.
.... learning to listen to fellow musicians. Improvise and catch the moment with just an easy riff, filling .... .

The other things I do with my equipment is natuaral for me. As a former chef the "Mise en place" was important to do a good job and to be able to improvise. And that goes for a soccer and hockey players as well. Of course, the pshysical preparations is differnt and more important when it comes to soccer and hockey, basket, handball ..... .

The latest (hopefully not my last) jam a joined some guys were not familiar with the song "Dust My Broom" (Elmore James) and they couldn't play in concert D (E tenor/B alto). They were just not enough Blues & Rock. Nice and good players and in the end we played something in the style as "Dust My Broom". And that's what a jam should be.

 

[turf3]

The latest (hopefully not my last) jam a joined some guys were not familiar with the song "Dust My Broom" (Elmore James) and they couldn't play in concert D (E tenor/B alto). They were just not enough Blues & Rock. Nice and good players and in the end we played something in the style as "Dust My Broom". And that's what a jam should be.

Seriously?

I just listened to this recording (studio recording) and it's a straight 12 bar blues with a quick 4. I would suggest that anyone who sets themself up to play blues, jazz, or rock and roll and can't handle a 12 bar blues in D with a quick 4 is NOT a "good player".

But at any rate, you adapted, taking advantage of the disadvantages, and that's what you do with an open jam.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

This ain't quick.
Gotta get me a Dobro.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jcGY7NbaQw

 

[turf3]

Just for reference, "quick 4" means you go to the four chord in the second bar then back to the one chord in the third bar. It's like the second most common variant of the 12 bar blues.

Learning to play 12 bar blues in sharp keys is like "Rock and Blues Sax 101" material.

The whole POINT of grinding rumpty rumpty blues like this is NOT complex chord changes, tritone substitutions, or technical showoffery. The POINT is to take simple base material and impose your own personality on it without losing the essential character of the music. You can do a perfectly acceptable solo on that using only these notes (key of concert D):

first four bars: D
Second four bars: F, then D
bars 9, 10: E
Bars 11, 12: D

 

[thomsax]

Seriously?

I just listened to this recording (studio recording) and it's a straight 12 bar blues with a quick 4. I would suggest that anyone who sets themself up to play blues, jazz, or rock and roll and can't handle a 12 bar blues in D with a quick 4 is NOT a "good player".

But at any rate, you adapted, taking advantage of the disadvantages, and that's what you do with an open jam.

The young horn players (sax player and trumpet player) were roughly 20 years old. They are taught to play jazz and from what I heard they are good jazz player. But they learned pretty fast but of course they had amore jazz approach. Keep in mind that I'm living on the country side of South Sweden. I guess we are just 30-40 hornplayers in a radie of 50 km and just a few who are into electric blues and rock & roll. So we can't judge so too hard.

I like to listen to other versions as well.

Here is Albert King playing Dust My Broom with Steve Douglas on tenor sax.

View: https://youtu.be/psSL_v7I_JI?si=rKD9Y7pUkvOxWk5R

 

[thomsax]

The first time I heard about "quick four" was on a jam in Copenhagen back in the mid 70's. An older sax player told me to play the IV chord and then back to the I chord. And he also told me to look at the singers hand, One finger for the I chord, four fingers for IV chord and five fingers for the V chord. It was new for me and I learned it at blues jam. A good school

 

[AlonW]

I've never played in a jam session so I don't have much right to comment. I do play in a couple of amateur bands. And though it may seem tempting to do my 'neck/mpc/reed' setup at home for rehearsals/gigs, I don't think I'd ever do it. Absolutely no criticism of those who do!

On the one hand, for me, setting up at the location is kind of a 'ritual': unpacking and setting up my sax stand, unpacking and setting up my sax, strap, mpc and reed. Making sure that my strap is supporting my sax mpc at the right height (and adjusting as necessary). Making sure that my reed and mpc are wet and there's a good seal.

And then - most importantly - finely adjusting the reed position on the mpc - so that I get the tone I want but can also play reasonably well over my usual range of low and high notes. These reed adjustments are usually 'parts of a mm' which I can adjust during a performance but I try to get a good start.

I like the careful ritual of setting up too, but there were so many people in such a small space, I just don't think that would be practical. I have a kiwi neck pouch that will fit my neck plus mouthpiece with reed on and slide into the bell. I want to find a good reed, get perfectly in tune, and just pop my cap on my mouthpiece, put my neck in the bell, and go to the jam. I'm sure it will be fine when I take it out to play an hour or so later.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Not an issue for the hour or so it might take to drive to the jam session.

Granted. Do you also have your horn on your lap as you park with a handbrake turn and leap onto stage with 4 bars to spare?

 

[turf3]

Granted. Do you also have your horn on your lap as you park with a handbrake turn and leap onto stage with 4 bars to spare?

Well, that's kind of a misrepresentation of things.

Personally I find it beneficial to just pull a neck-mouthpiece-reed, ready to play, and put it on the horn, just so I'm not sitting there fiddling around with the little bits. Obviously this would depend on the particular situation of the particular session. Since I don't always know how a session runs, when I'm going to a session I've never been to before, I either get there way early, or I put the stuff together in advance.