Introduction Hello from an old Saxophonist.

[Shane - Saxology Canada]

I played for 50 years in symphonies, music theatre, jazz bands, saw the world,....France, Korea, Japan, China, USA and Canada...and am particularly proud of my main activity building and performing as leader of Saxology Canada... You can find us on the internet.
So after YEARS of retirement I'm enjoying playing again... for myself ... and know I have all sorts of secrets about playing, maintaining and repairing Saxes. I actually went to Paris and met Patrick and Jerome Selmer and showed them the improvements I had made to their Bari Sax AND they incorporated some of them in their subsequent models! I was thrilled to be a Selmer Artist and got well remunerated!
But my main want at this time is to share some of that experience, One e.g. Most saxophonists have difficulty slurring down from eg Ab to low Bb and I will share that trick that makes it sound like it is nothing to anyone who asks. and all sorts of other 'discoveries of how to overcome/fix problems on your horns.

This is like a new hobby. I used to do this for saxophonists across much of Canada and the northern states when I had my repair shop in Montreal DECADES ago and when I moved to Winnipeg and started Saxology Canada. I also have an extensive Sax Quartet library I might share if I find a school or group that plays at a very professional level. Look forwardto hearing from you!
Shane

 

[Pete Thomas]

Big Welcome to the Cafe Shane, it looks like you will be able to make some valuable contributions to the Cafe

 

[mizmar]

Most saxophonists have difficulty slurring down from eg Ab to low Bb and I will share that trick that makes it sound like it is nothing

Looking forward to it!

 

[Ghr9204]

Welcome to the Café, @Shane - Saxology Canada !

 

[Jimmymack]

Welcome, great that you are here..

 

[ESJohn]

Awesome to have you here. Looking forward to learning from you!

 

[LostCircuits]

Great to meet you! Now tell us about the slur, please!

 

[Shane - Saxology Canada]

Looking forward to it!

So OBVIOUSLY when you play the Ab you should push the low Bb key AND close the low C key BEFORE you move to the low Bb... i.e. moving to the Bb thenonly involves the three keys of the right hand, because the 'baby' finger is already pressing the low C.

Try it you'll love how easy that slurr becomes!

 

[Shane - Saxology Canada]

So now you should investigate HOW to fix the "wolf tone" on the third space C. Wolf tone? the C (only on some horns) often has a chocked of unclear tone.

Of course you could ask also about the A first ledger line that on some horns sounds les focused, less clear.
In both cases the consistent sound ...from note to note in the chromatic scale... is different, chocked, or less focused, or has less vibrancy than the other notes.

Ah! some people thought I was a magician when i fixed those problems. LOL Just physics!

 

[Ghr9204]

So now you should investigate HOW to fix the "wolf tone" on the third space C. Wolf tone? the C (only on some horns) often has a chocked of unclear tone.

Of course you could ask also about the A first ledger line that on some horns sounds les focused, less clear.
In both cases the consistent sound ...from note to note in the chromatic scale... is different, chocked, or less focused, or has less vibrancy than the other notes.

Ah! some people thought I was a magician when i fixed those problems. LOL Just physics!

Others here will enjoy your inputs on lessons learned through your years of sax playing, @Shane - Saxology Canada .

Certainly glad you climbed aboard, looking further toward you posts! 😎

 

[mizmar]

Try it you'll love how easy that slurr becomes!

On my horn, in my amateur hands, I just get a duff E and D and then fall to Bb.
But I can let my F E D C fingers fall as quickly as they move and start the slide to Bb a bit early...
... Do we have a couple of bars of something to put it in context?

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Anyway, to really have these useful and interesting conversations, it's worth a little extra work to start a new thread per topic.
That way the posts stay on topic .. for a while, until someone spots a rabbit or something.

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome to the café and definitely worth starting something like a hints and tips thread 😉

Jx