Saxophone beginners Come on now, join the band....(Beginners blog)

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cappers said:
I've posted this because I was asked to continue my bluffing-it-in-a-band saga. Read on if interested.

Played at beach front cafe nearer home a couple of days ago. Only about a dozen in the audience but they were bobbing along and gave genuine applause after each number. Some came over afterwards to chat with us and said they enjoyed it.

I soloed to Summertime, Oye Como Va, Moanin', and Green Onions. As usual I hated my sound but felt comfortable with my simple improvs. To me I sound nasal. I usually use 2.5 Alexander DC but used a 2 for some reason, would that make it sound nasal?. The high notes sound a bit strained so wondering if it's me perhaps biting a bit? It was the finale so maybe my embouchure was tired?

Comments welcome. Thank you.

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All comments about your progress (and future progression) have already been said. All of which I wholeheartedly agree.
Just 2 comments:
- you're absolutely not 'bluffing it a band'! Just the fact that you've been asked to play solos proves my point
- musicians are (always) their very worst critics; they notice all sorts of 'imperfections' (to their own personal standards) that the audience don't notice at all

So most of all, take away the audience appreciation (including for your solos). Sure, we can all improve. And I'm 100% sure that you will.
I might comment on your request for 'tips for improvement' but please take the time to just enjoy (and celebrate!) your performance, your solos and especially the positive feedback from your audience.
 
Thanks for all the positive comments and encouragement 🙂 ***
I'm probably being over critical but not happy with my sound, or at least what I hear on recordings.
I will do more work on my long tones, breath support and voicing to try and reduce any nasality.
Onwards and upwards!

*** The support here especially for beginners is marvellous :clapping:
There is a recent post on SOTW where someone played their new vintage mouthpiece they got for a steal off eBay, and asked for comments. He got: 'Tuning issues throughout' 'out of tune' 'flat' 'thin' 'poor voicing' 'weak breath support' etc.

Then our very own @mrblackbat responded: "There’s zero positivity here; nothing to go and help the guy know what to do to work on it. No encouragement. Just a big old “you suck” stick."

Thanks for sticking up for the guy; you praised what he could do and pointed out nicely how he might improve. :thumb: Honesty is important but it doesn't have to be brutal, and that's not 'sugar coating' as one person responded!
 
MikeMorrell said:
All comments about your progress (and future progression) have already been said. All of which I wholeheartedly agree.
Just 2 comments:
- you're absolutely not 'bluffing it a band'! Just the fact that you've been asked to play solos proves my point
- musicians are (always) their very worst critics; they notice all sorts of 'imperfections' (to their own personal standards) that the audience don't notice at all

So most of all, take away the audience appreciation (including for your solos). Sure, we can all improve. And I'm 100% sure that you will.
I might comment on your request for 'tips for improvement' but please take the time to just enjoy (and celebrate!) your performance, your solos and especially the positive feedback from your audience.
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@cappers,
I really liked the 'solo recording' that you posted. Especially in terms of 'musicality' and 'phrasing' Many beginning/intermediate sax players are tempted to fill their solos with 'notes'. Mainly to show off their technical abilities. You avoided this and you played your (musical) solo in 'phrases', leaving gaps between these.

Compared to the band, your solo sax sounded a bit 'flat'. I have no idea whether and how you and your band 'tune up'. You can obviously tune up by ear (with help from your conductor) with a piano as a baseline. But there are many mobile phone apps apps that allow you (as a sax player) to 'tune up'. No recommendation, but the app I use is Saxophone Tuner. My normal and closest position of my mpc on the neck just about enables me to play in tune.
 
MikeMorrell said:
@cappers,
........

Compared to the band, your solo sax sounded a bit 'flat'. I have no idea whether and how you and your band 'tune up'. ......
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Yes, and grateful for pointing this out. It's what i want - constructive criticism.

The band tunes up to concert A played on keyboard and I do a quick check with TE Tuner app. I thought I was too sharp so pulled the mpc out a bit. I must stop fiddling as I know where the sweet spot is now.

That aside I need to do more work on breath support and voicing to improve my overall tone.

Re 'musicality' I find improvising the most enjoyable aspect of playing. Have to take care not to get carried away.....I went half a bar over my solo on 'Oye' but it blended in :rolleyes:
 
cappers said:
Thanks for all the positive comments and encouragement 🙂 ***
I'm probably being over critical but not happy with my sound, or at least what I hear on recordings.
I will do more work on my long tones, breath support and voicing to try and reduce any nasality.
Read more…
You can sort out whether the “nasality” that you hear in the recording by making a recording of something else that you can hear in real time, then compare the real deal to the recording. Is the recording true to the source, or is the recording responsible for the “nasality” (either in its recording fidelity or the playback response)?
 
Well I've certainly witnessed a lot worse on gigs over the years ! The general 'tone' isn't bad at all.
At least you can hear it more in context with the band on this recording.
Shove your MP on a bit more, you can always get away with being a bit sharp much more so than being flat 🙂
 
@cappers hats off for taking the solos.

I have taken a step back from soloing with the orchestra. Firstly because I'm currently playing Bari, and my partner in crime has missed a few rehearsals so it's all on me... And my timing is shocking, and is something I am focussing on.

My teacher focussed on sound quite early on. His logic being if you sound rubbish, why would you feel motivated to play.

I have been complimented on my sound, and it's not because they're vintage horns, I've test played friends more modern horns and got a similar sound.

I am quite a lazy player and don't always support the my air enough (still half decent sound), if I concentrate on blowing from diaphragm it becomes a much bigger, fuller sound.

Embochure too, nice and relaxed, like a draw string bag pulled around the mouthpiece and let that reed vibrate.

Easily said, but it all goes out of the window when it comes to standing up and playing a solo, especially if your improvising it and there's more 'stuff' flying around your mind.
 
Digger2054 said:
am quite a lazy player and don't always support the my air enough (still half decent sound), if I concentrate on blowing from diaphragm it becomes a much bigger, fuller sound.
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I try and start with a nice full belly and lungs, expanding belly and chest outwards all around without raising the shoulders but subsequent breaths aren't as full. I get so engrossed in what the band is playing that I forget about my breathing so its become shallow and weak.

Stupid thing is when I regularly practised jujutsu and tai chi, abdominal breathing and awareness of the 'hara/dan-tien' was second nature. Time for some chi-gung exercises!
 
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Playing on the beat, is improving.
While you all address the recording gear and placement issues, I'll repeat, in a more detailed way, what I suggested in an earlier post.
At home, after warming up, do the following.
Play the D major scale, (concert C), from D1 to D3, if possible, tonguing each note/tone, playing half notes at 80 bpm, up and down.
Take breaths as necessary with proper breath support.
Then do the same scale, at 80 bpm, quarter notes legato.
Follow this up by playing a tune you know well, reading or memorized, with feeling and expression.
Record with what you have and post it.

This will allow us to hear you, without the distractions of Da Gig. 🎶🏴‍☠️🎶
 
cappers said:
Tonight we rehearsed Blue Train, Cantaloupe Island, Blue Moon, Cold Duck Time, Just In Time, St Thomas, Stolen Moments, The More I See You, The Preacher, This Masquerade, You Are The Sunshine of My Life .... in a the deep-end but loving it.
I think these sessions are going to be very helpful for my progress. A bonus is that they are an easy going, supportive, non-judgmental bunch of people, who are there to have fun.
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Good tune selection and it sounds like you are in a supportive group and are doing well. Aside from putting in the work in the practice room, I think getting out there and playing with a band is essential and one of the best ways to learn. Keep it up.

p.s. Oh man, after writing this response after reading the 1st page of the thread, I realized it's 11 pages long. I need to read the rest and catch up (esp. listen to the recordings you posted). I probably stated what has already been said more than once here, but I still stand by it.
 
Many of us wants to play in a group and there are differnt ways to deal with it. I like to read about what other CS members are doing when they start to play in a group.

I have nerver joined a band (just one exeption; an amatuer Big Band back in the late 70's). I also think it's imortant to play with others. I played at "blues and rock jam". After some months we formed groups and started to play on a more regular basis. We liked the same type/style/genre music and we were also playing at, roughly, the same level. We played easy and basic blues and rock songs. It took 3-6 months with weekly rehearsals before we were ready to play in front of a small audience. Most of the bands I played in were 45-60 min bands. We stopped before the "audience" started to leave.

After 6 years with no or less saxophone I'm ready to put together a new group. I need some help I hope we should have some input and feedback from a muscian from the other side of the pond. He is in his studio/teaching room in Boston and the band is in a woodsheed on the countryside of south Sweden.

When I practice on my own I just play slow songs and songs that I have close to my heart. I don't play up-temo rock & roll horn parts or solos ..... just somethng in this style ..... "play it pretty" just follow the horns with your sax.

View: https://youtu.be/wwXvAn4maLA?si=qUqHWFg8QRxQAEHx
 
cappers said:
I try and start with a nice full belly and lungs, expanding belly and chest outwards all around without raising the shoulders but subsequent breaths aren't as full. I get so engrossed in what the band is playing that I forget about my breathing so its become shallow and weak.

Stupid thing is when I regularly practised jujutsu and tai chi, abdominal breathing and awareness of the 'hara/dan-tien' was second nature. Time for some chi-gung exercises!
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You'd be surprised how many players of ANY instrument forget to breathe whilst playing - and that includes string players!
 
A musician can only become an artist, when they learn to draw. 🙄

IMG_3581.webp
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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