Difficulty playing low notes

[Lisa]

Hi,

I'm having real trouble playing low D and low E (sometimes low F, although that's slightly easier) I just mainly get a squeek. I've tried altering my embouchre, changing the reed, blowing harder/softer/longer, wetting the reed, giving my lips a break and coming back afresh... I even tried loosening the ligature a bit!

:cry:

Is this just going to take a huge amount of practice? Maybe a softer reed? (Although I'm only using 2s!) What am I doing wrong? Surely it shouldn't be this difficult...?

I'll see my teacher again next Wednesday after 2 weeks without a lesson and I fear he'll be disappointed by my lack of progress - this has held me up so much!

:S

Any suggestions?

L

 

[spike]

I can't imagine there's anything wrong with your sax so . . .
Practice, Patience and Perserverance, and maybe drop down to a softer reed. The Bryan 769 comes with a reasonable mouthpiece, just concentrate on the notes that you can play for a while and every now and then try to drop down a step, learning to control just takes a little time. You're doing great already Lisa, don't be in such a hurry.

 

[Saxlicker]

I think getting a decent breathing technique and consistant embouchure will solve it.
Why? because I had that and it took me way too long to solve it.

Heres my thoughts...
You can probaly manage a #2 reed,
If your sax is OK and I'm sure it is,
Introduce a really good breathing technique from the start.

I would hope your teacher is building this in to your schedule anyway, but for me, its worth getting more familiar as early as possible with the concept.

So....
#1
When its too late to play, read about it! do the exercise of laying down with a book on your diaphragm and watch it rise and fall
to help you recognise your breathing is correct. Your stomach / bottom of your lungs should appear to inflate way before the top half of your lungs.

#2
I bet i'm not the first, and I wont be the last to say,
practise long notes.(BUT WITH THE BREATHING TECHNIQUE!!!! DONT FORGET IT)
As boring as it sounds, even a couple of minutes a day on the lowest notes that you don't struggle with, will rapidly improve your strugglers!!

#3 keep that air stream constant and controlled, then as spike suggested, go for that lower note e.tc. e.t.c I PROMISE ITS WORTH IT

 

[Lisa]

Hi chaps,

Thanks, this is very comforting, I feel better. I was starting to wonder about Bryan's health, or whether something was indeed wrong with me!

Believe it or not, I've been using a number 2 reed Saxlicker (how feeble am I?!) I purchased a 1.5 today and will give it a go later-on tonight so cross your fingers for me!

My teacher hasn't really spoken to me about breathing or what to actually do when I practice. I've just been working through Boosey Woodwind Method 1 and playing to the CDs. I'm stuck at the pages which introduce me to low D and E because I just can't make it through a tune. I've been doing the simple breathing exercises it instructs on (eg; breathing 4 beats, holding 4 and breathing out 4) but what you describe sounds more serious so I'll give that a go.

I'll struggle on - I love my sax so I'll persevere!

Thankyou!
L

😛

 

[Saxlicker]

Lisa wrote:
what you describe sounds more serious so I'll give that a go.

Not more serious..but the only way (me thinks)
There is a book called 'the art of saxophone playing' by Larry Teal.

It is considered by some to be the bible (I nearly spelled bibble as in dribble ) for sax players. It describes breathing really well.

The book is heavy going and I confess I haven't gotten too far with it but the 8 quid amazon charge is Probably worth it just for the breathing explaination!

BTW once you understand it, it wont come natural for a while, so don't beat yourself up but don't forget it either!
Have you looked at these?
http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-tone-exercises.html

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-breathing.html

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-diaphragm.html

Good Luck!

 

[suethesax]

Lisa

Don't get too hung up on reed strength. I prefer a softer reed. You should try a few and use what feels best and gives the sound you desire. Also as saxlicker says - long note practice - you'll thank it in the end. 😉

 

[suethesax]

Lisa

Don't get too hung up on reed strength. I prefer a softer reed. You should try a few and use what feels best and gives the sound you desire. Also as saxlicker says - long note practice - you'll thank it in the end. 😉

 

[rico]

i found it hard to get the low notes at first on my rico 1.5s but no i switched to vandoren its so much easy i reccomend getting so

 

[Lisa]

Hi,

I've got a Rico Royal 1.5 reed and it's made a big difference so I'm feeling a little more hopeful. I can hit the notes much more often now. Hope my teacher won't be too disappointed on Wednesday!

I've been doing those breathing exercises too and it's amazing how breathing differently when you blow makes the note come out right!

Thanks for all the advice and support, you're all stars!

L
😉

 

[rs2sensen]

Most of this has already been said, but...

1. Practice in general
2. Practice long tones
3. Keep your throat as open as possible, and use lots of air.
4. Have your teacher check to make sure that you use the proper embouchure and correct amt. of mouthpiece. Theoretically, w/ proper embouchure, every note should be just as easy to get out. It doesn't always work that way, but it sometimes gets close.
5. Focus a lot on controlling your air. Building up air support will greatly improve your tone, and will allow you to get individual notes out easier. By learning to control that air, you can gain a great ability as far as dynamics, ie, getting softer and louder, more expressive, etc.
6. The Art of Saxophone Playing is an excellent resource. I would also consider getting "Top Tones For the Saxophone" by Sigurd Rascher. With the latter, don't use it to work on altissimo, that's far too advanced for you right now, but use it's exercises for breathing and pitch recognition. It makes a huge difference in your overall musicianship.
7. As mentioned previously, Pete's exercises are also well written.
8. You might buy one harder reed to experiment with too. I find it's easier to get notes out on a harder reed, but that's just me. It requires more air, but the pitches come out easier, if that makes any sense. I would consider a 2.5 or 3 Rico. Typically I play on Vandoren Java, but I started on Rico.
9. Christmas Idea. Ask your parents for a Selmer C* mouthpiece. This is a huge improvement from the stock mouthpiece included with most horns, and will make a big difference in both your sound and ease of play.

What Brand/Model Sax and Mouthpiece are you currently using?

Don't worry about your teacher being disappointed. As someone who has taught lessons, the only time I've ever felt disappointment is in a student who refuses to practice, or who shows little interest. Even then, I just except that the student is probably one of those for whom playing sax is not the right thing, although I do try and instill some sort of enthusiasm in them, of course. If you are trying hard, giving it your best, practicing daily, then I think your teacher would be proud, no matter how slowly your performance may improve.

 

[Lisa]

Thanks everyone.

I tried blowing with a #2 reed last night and guess what - I could hit the lows!

L

 

[lee_]

Look at the placement of your ligature on the mouthpiece. If the top of the lig is at or above the vamp (the cut portion) of the reed, you may need to lower the ligature. I've found it's easier to get low if more of the reed is exposed above the ligature. I generally put my lit 1/8 to 1/4 inch below the cut portion of the reed.

 

[Bobby G]

Agreed about lig placement, also only tighten it about... that much.... just enough to hold everything in place.

Empirically yours, Bob

 

[eddieb]

I have a related question, I hope it's appropriate to put it here rather than start a new thread:

3 weeks into my self education and I find that I can get a fairly decent, clear note (lots of long note practice) all the way from low B to high C. The only proviso is that I find I have to slightly slacken my embouchure when going down to low E, D and particularly C and B.
It's only a slight slackening, and tightening again on the way back up.

Is this normal or am I already developing a really bad habit that will be a nightmare trying to break later if I don't stop doing it now?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Ed.

 

[eddieb]

I may have just answered my own question.
Got home to find my new BG ligature had arrived.
It's immediately much easier to play all the way up and down without tightening/slackening my lips.

I guess the conclusion is I was overtightening the old lig! 🙂

 

[Saxlicker]

Good for you Eddie,

Little quirks like that hound us all from time to time and as you grow with your horn and equipment, you start to sus them out just as you have this time.

 

[Lisa]

Hi everyone,

I've been practicing the scale of G this evening and can get all the notes fairly well, but I do find I'm turning the sax slightly to get the higher notes - should I be doing that? My teacher actually told me to do it but I'd appreciate your thoughts.

The low notes are coming ok now, but finding it tough to tongue and repeatedly play low D - that's a toughie. I guess I'll do it if I keep trying.

I think my parents of sick of hearing the Saints Marching!

L 😛

 

[Saxlicker]

Don't know about that one! But if you need to do it, I can't imagine thats a lasting habit that should cause long term problems and if it gets you progressing!!! I'm not saying its completely OK though.

Any Teachers out there, wanna chip in?

Keep playing Oh when the Saints...My part of the world needs the support!

 

[Stuart]

I have problems with the low notes that require the use of either little finger also, but find a couple of things help.
1. warm up your sax by playing.
2. use a soft reed 1.5
3. start by running down into the notes from up higher
4. play them loader at first, then softer.

Lisa wrote:
Hi,

I'm having real trouble playing low D and low E (sometimes low F, although that's slightly easier) I just mainly get a squeek. I've tried altering my embouchre, changing the reed, blowing harder/softer/longer, wetting the reed, giving my lips a break and coming back afresh... I even tried loosening the ligature a bit!

:cry:

Is this just going to take a huge amount of practice? Maybe a softer reed? (Although I'm only using 2s!) What am I doing wrong? Surely it shouldn't be this difficult...?

I'll see my teacher again next Wednesday after 2 weeks without a lesson and I fear he'll be disappointed by my lack of progress - this has held me up so much!

:S

Any suggestions?

L