C# pitch shift

[frankiejb59]

hello. when playing c# (unkeyed) if a played it sharp and fast it sounds smooth and nice but if i play it in the middle of a tune and have to hold if for two beats or more it shifts in pitch like a quarter of a sinewave. Is this normal? No other note does it.

 

[Andrew Sanders]

Perhaps you are tightening your embouchure to compensate for letting your fingers up. That would make the tone bend up.
How long have you been playing?

 

[jbtsax]

I'm having trouble understanding your description. Is it middle C# or the high C# above the staff with the octave key that you are referring to? Also does the note change pitch as you are holding it, or do you just hear a different pitch when you hold it than when the note is part of a series of fast notes?

 

[frankiejb59]

Perhaps you are tightening your embouchure to compensate for letting your fingers up. That would make the tone bend up.
How long have you been playing?

Since April

 

[frankiejb59]

I'm having trouble understanding your description. Is it middle C# or the high C# above the staff with the octave key that you are referring to? Also does the note change pitch as you are holding it, or do you just hear a different pitch when you hold it than when the note is part of a series of fast notes?

Middle C# I think. its played pressing no keys at all, not even the octave key.

 

[kevgermany]

Careful with the terminology here - middle C is the first ledger line below the stave. And the lowest C on the sax.

But - all fingers up is the middle of the three non-altissimo Cs on the sax.

The tone change is probably you tensing up, possibly embouchure. Just practice & relax. Long tones are good for this.

But it's also worth looking to see if the highest open key is sticking, opening part way, then opening up further as you play it, cos that would also give the pitch shift.

 

[frankiejb59]

Careful with the terminology here - middle C is the first ledger line below the stave. And the lowest C on the sax.

Ah then it's the next one up; 3 and a half lines up treble cleft middle c on the sax

But - all fingers up is the middle of the three non-altissimo Cs on the sax.

The tone change is probably you tensing up, possibly embouchure. Just practice & relax. Long tones are good for this.

But it's also worth looking to see if the highest open key is sticking, opening part way, then opening up further as you play it, cos that would also give the pitch shift.

Much appreciated. Embouchure is getting better. Getting more control but I'll play scales using long notes. that should annoy the neighbours . Mechanically the sax is top condition. i got it second hand but it was clearly looked after.