Flat and hyperventilating

[sharon]

My efforts with the tenor are coming along except for a few things. I really can't reach around from the octave key to the front keys the sound is rather flat and I appear to be hyperventilating.

So to sum up:

Are there excercises or a trick I can use to play the octave

Do I sound flat because my tone isn't there yet (it really sounds awful and I'm playing on a no. 2 reed and have moved the mouthpiece)

Am I taking in too much air. If I don't I can't move from note to note.

As always all wise thoughts gratefully received.

Sharon

 

[Linky Lee]

It's really quite hard to advise without seeing you play, If you know of any saxophone players locally or teachers I'd really advise getting one to take a look.

When you say you are flat, do you mean every note is flat? or some notes are flatter than they are supposed to sound?
If it's the former then push the mouthpiece further onto the cork until it is brought in to tune.

Are you trying to play along with something using alto music? I don't know how much you know about music and saxophones but the Alto is pitched in the key of Eb and the Tenor in Bb, this means you sound a different pitch with the same fingerings, hence the lower sound of the tenor. It also means you have to play different notes to a piano or instrument in a different key.

I can go into more detail if you want to know more but maybe transposition should be a new thread.

If you are finding you are running out of air quickly, then there are a few possible problems.

1. the reed is too hard for you, you could try a 1.5
2. the mouthpiece isn't very good and is resistive or has too large an opening for your embouchure.
3. Do you smoke? or have asthma or something similar? playing a wind instrument is great for asthma as it gets you breathing very deeply and efficiently, though at first it is very hard. If you smoke and you're at all serious about playing saxophone, you might want to think about quitting or cutting down at least. There are many players who smoke but you're not doing yourself any favors, or your playing.

If you have the possibility to take a picture of you holding the saxophone and get it on the web, that would be helpful. There could be something going on hindering your movement. It really shouldn't be a problem getting your hands around a tenor.

Possibly the hyperventilating is because you are finding the mouthpiece/reed combo too hard to blow and you're pushing too hard.

If you can give any more details, or pictures/videos it would make it a lot easier to get nearer the problem.

If you don't have a teacher and do plan on continuing saxophone you need to get one. I very very firmly believe everyone should have a teacher at the beginning at least. Obviously you can learn without but it takes a certain type of person and dedication, self criticism and discipline to do it as effectively as a teacher can.

 

[mfox]

if your small you will have difficulty with reach. this will become easier. do some finger exercises.. really stretch them fingers before you play, get a ball to squeeze, i know it sound daft but it will help. be really careful your not touching any palm keys when playing..
as for sounding flat and hyper venting this is a common problem for people moving from alto to tenor, its not that its harder to blow, it the increase in air volume needed. this can be eased a little by a more suitable MP/ reed combination, but for a more permanent solution you need to become more efficient with your breathing really will become easier as you get to grips with the beast..make sure your standing legs shoulder width apart, back straight, you shouldn't have to move your head to put the sax in your mouth( in other words keep your airways as open as possible)


as linky says, if you are serious about playing(even if you want to learn all by yourself) i would really consider having a lesson or two, explain to the teacher that you want to check out your playing breathing and posture rather than learning scales and stuff. bad habits now can lead to all sorts of problems, especially if your on the petite side.

 

[jersey_mike]

Hate to sound like we're piling on or ganging up on you, but I have to agree that at least a couple lessons to make sure you're on the right track are a necessity for this instrument. There are far too many bad habits we pick up that become ingrained and very difficult to change. I had some lessons years ago, but put the horn away for 10+ years and tried to relearn on my own for about a year before I decided to take some lessons again. It took a few months of lessons to break all the bad habits I had picked up on my own before I could make any real progress in my playing. It's well worth the investment if you plan on getting to where you can play well in a group situation.

 

[sharon]

Thanks for the responses. You're right about a teacher but I had hoped to learn the notes first before I start with a teacher which I have done on the alto. Probably the wrong way around I know but there it is. There are at least 2 teachers near me but I feel a bit cheeky not signing up to a lesson a week and all that entails.

The flatness appears more on the b note when I play alongside the CD which is for tenor sax instruction. Mind you not all the time.

The hyperventilating or dizziness might well be a too hard reed so I shall try a softer today. I've got no problems with the old lungs - I know what my diaphragm is for and don't smoke or anything in fact my other main pastime is long distance running so I know that's one problem I haven't got.

The small hand thing really is a bit of a problem as I am finding it hard not to press the palm keys a bit. I will keep practicising and hope that my technique improves.

I'm probably trying to do things too quickly as I've got on very well with the alto and now when I switch over to that it feels very easy. But of course it was hard when I first got it and I spent a lot of time with it.

Thanks again for the sound advice.

Sharon

 

[gordonc]

sharon wrote:
Thanks for the responses. You're right about a teacher but I had hoped to learn the notes first before I start with a teacher which I have done on the alto. Probably the wrong way around I know but there it is. There are at least 2 teachers near me but I feel a bit cheeky not signing up to a lesson a week and all that entails.

Hi Sharon
I only go to my teacher about once a month - which saves the pennies and gives me time to work on stuff in the meantime. That way I can have a few questions saved up to work on. I'm pretty sure most teachers would be happy with that approach.

 

[Bobby G]

If my hands were so small (and I do have fairly small hands) as to catch on the palm keys, especially when operating the octave key, I'd take the simple expedient of bending the little blighters in slightly. Show 'em who's boss Mind you, it's not your sax, is it?

Cheers, Bob

 

[sharon]

Hi Gordon that's a good idea I really must give it a try - I can at least approach one and see if she would do that.

Bob - you are a naughty man Even if it was my own instrument I'd be too 'fraid to do that.

I will persevere but may just have to accept that I'm too small to play a tenor.

 

[Bobby G]

Sharon, making small adjustments carefully, such as bending bits slightly is an essential part of saxophony 🙂 I've had to bend the palm keys on one of mine very slightly away from the body so I don't have to move my hand in too much, also there is a bit of flexibility in keys like the lower Eb and C pair, which can be 'encouraged' slightly higher or lower to make them more comfortable. I think it's ok as long as you're not too extreme or brutal

Cheers, Bob

 

[suethesax]

sharon wrote:
Hi Gordon that's a good idea I really must give it a try - I can at least approach one and see if she would do that.

Bob - you are a naughty man Even if it was my own instrument I'd be too 'fraid to do that.

I will persevere but may just have to accept that I'm too small to play a tenor.

Sharon I am only 5 foot tall and have small hands - I have no problem with my tenor (Yamaha YTS 875). I can't remember if I had problems when I started or if I just adapted to it.

Also I know a young lass who is only 4 foot 10 or 11 and she plays both baritone and bass saxes (mainly standing). In fact she is so small she has been know to climb inside the bass case!!

I think perseverence and a good teacher is the key. If you find a good teacher and you are hoenst up front about how regular you can go to lessons I am sure they would accomodate you.

Anyway keep it up and happy honking 🙂

 

[sharon]

Thanks for the encouragement Sue. I feel more hopeful reading your post. I didn't play at all yesterday but I will have a go today. I think it is comparing the tenor to the alto which I find so much easier now. It makes me think the tenor is really hard when it probably isn't - I just need to knuckle down.

It's tricky when you're struggling with one intrument and you know you can have a lovely play on the other. Must sort out a teacher as well.

Thanks for all the support and wise words.

Sharon