Gar
Member
Not sure if this goes here or in the beginner's section, but here it goes.
I am trying a lesson in a section of a book for intonation. The exercise is to go up and down in legato in what it terms as "Roots and Fifths". It starts on a root, goes up an octave, back down to the fifth of the root, and then up an octave of that fifth, then down to the octave of the root, and then up another octave from that. End of legato. And then it goes back down in a similar sequence from that again in legato.
My issue is that I am fine going up octaves, but it is difficult when doing the second part which involves going down octaves. This is supposed to be a section on intonation, and it is legato, so I am assuming that I use no tonguing to try to achieve the lower octave, which in this exercise starts to go down from a high b flat to a middle b flat. So far when I end up trying to go down, all I end up doing is over-toning. Is this a problem with my octave key not being tight enough over the hole, do I have to keep experimenting with the embouchure, or am I supposed to give the reed a flick as I go down?
One thing I'm pretty sure not to do, after perusing this site, is to not let down on the air pressure using my lungs.
Thanks,
Gar
I am trying a lesson in a section of a book for intonation. The exercise is to go up and down in legato in what it terms as "Roots and Fifths". It starts on a root, goes up an octave, back down to the fifth of the root, and then up an octave of that fifth, then down to the octave of the root, and then up another octave from that. End of legato. And then it goes back down in a similar sequence from that again in legato.
My issue is that I am fine going up octaves, but it is difficult when doing the second part which involves going down octaves. This is supposed to be a section on intonation, and it is legato, so I am assuming that I use no tonguing to try to achieve the lower octave, which in this exercise starts to go down from a high b flat to a middle b flat. So far when I end up trying to go down, all I end up doing is over-toning. Is this a problem with my octave key not being tight enough over the hole, do I have to keep experimenting with the embouchure, or am I supposed to give the reed a flick as I go down?

Thanks,
Gar