Saxophone beginners Fingering Dilemma

[Colin the Bear]

For example, I simply cannot slur the interval middle-C-to-low E flat on the sax

The saxophone will play like a swanee whistle. I would hold C , move my fingers to Eb while holding the C with embouchure and then let it rise.

 

[MikeTerry_bari_icon]

That's what I was afraid of. It is slow and awkward for my hands, which are obviously far less experienced than yours. I suppose with repetition I can speed it up and smooth it out eventually.

 

[ArtyLady]

That's what I was afraid of. It is slow and awkward for my hands, which are obviously far less experienced than yours. I suppose with repetition I can speed it up and smooth it out eventually.

Yep start very slowly and build it up - you'll get there

 

[MikeTerry_bari_icon]

The saxophone will play like a swanee whistle. I would hold C , move my fingers to Eb while holding the C with embouchure and then let it rise.

The problem I have is that to use the roller from the C-key to the E-flat key effectively you have to flatten your pinky out, which is contrary to what we do as clarinettists: keeping our pinkies curled. I simply can't get used to that. That embouchure trick seems to require a great deal of finesse and control; I'll give it a test drive and see what happens.

 

[MikeTerry_bari_icon]

Yep start very slowly and build it up - you'll get there

Yes m'lady🙂

 

[Colin the Bear]

Play tunes on just the mouthpiece. I believe banjo players have the same problem on ukelele. The saxophone isn't a metal clarinet.

 

[MikeTerry_bari_icon]

Yes, I suppose I'm guilty of playing the sax with a clarinet embouchure. It sounds pretty good, but doesn't allow for much flexibility.