Saxophone beginners Grace Notes

ColColt · May 5, 2015

Looking over some sheet music I downloaded today I noticed a strange note with a small slash that I was told is a "grace" note. I can't find what it's suppose to sound like...looked for it on google for a tenor sax but no luck. It's shown smaller than the rest of the notes is what caught my eye along with the slash. Anyone have an example of what a grace note sounds like?

Matabayahsi · May 5, 2015

I cant see the image but the grace note is supposed to a passing half tone I believe it is not in natural scale but still sounds very cool 😛 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8xOU-Ueprk it is illustrated in this video for alto but it also does work for tenor, someone with better explaining skills will turn up quite soon.

ColColt · May 5, 2015

Let your mouse arrow hover over the image-it turns into a hand. Click on it and it will enlarge when it goes into photobucket. Use the magnifier over there.

ColColt · May 5, 2015

Someone explained the grace note as a quick note between the main ones.

kevgermany · May 5, 2015

It's an accacciatura. Best search for it in Wikipedia under ornament (music). Look also at appoggiatura, which looks the same, but has no bar through it. I'd guess many players play them by feel, not by the book definitions.

Here's a link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornament_(music)

The wikipedia app on my phone doesn't give them to me.

Nick Wyver · May 5, 2015

Since that appears to be a bit from the Sil Austin version of Danny Boy that you posted in another thread you can hear what it sounds like at 1' 24".

ColColt · May 5, 2015

That's it...sounds like he goes a bit low then high...again at 1:43.

jbtsax · May 5, 2015

Check out this video beginning a 1:14. You will hear lots of grace notes beautifully played by Marcel Mule. Depending upon the period and style of the music, the "grace note" can begin either before the beat or on the beat. In either case it is "lighter" than the note which follows.

spike · May 5, 2015

Listened to it a couple of times on U tube - sounds to me like he's "scooping" into the E rather than playing two separate notes.

Tenor Viol · May 5, 2015

The interpretation of the grace note depends on both its harmonic purpose (e.g. accented or unaccented passing note - appoggiatura or accacciatura per Kev's post) and genre. One is a 'crush' note played very quickly, the other usually takes half of the value of the note it is attached to (a third in compound time). There are various options though...

ColColt · May 6, 2015

Is this another example of a grace note at about 1:43 and again at 2:02?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5C6tQV05YU

kevgermany · May 6, 2015

Sounds like it.

Colin the Bear · May 6, 2015

Grace Note was an African American singer credited with the pioneering yodel style on some of the later Beiderbecke recordings. Sometimes known as Amazing Grace she was immortalised in the song written in her honour. "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound". Much imitated by bagpipe players she is now mostly forgotten.