help! hand reach problem

[Pauline]

After starting on alto earlier in the year I bought Linky's tenor in the yard sale - partly out of curiosity and partly in the hope that my son might be tempted to give it a go.
My son wasn't all that interested 🙁 but much to my surprise I really LOVE it!

I'm 5ft 3ins, slightly built and although the octave key is a bit of a stretch I can manage it ok and am getting better at not catching the palm keys. A harness takes care of the weight. So far so good.........

Then...
another thread on a similar subject made me stop and think. I checked the other keys AND - horror of horrors!- the Bb paddle(?) is slightly out of reach unless I move my hand down a bit away from the octave key.

There must be a way round this? Some add-on to the paddle or maybe octave key? (Do such things exist?)
Do different brands have smaller reaches?
Are there finger exercises I can do?

I really don't want to stop playing it!
:cry:

Thanks

 

[philthd]

ah but

when would you need to use the Bb key and the octave mech at the same time (there was a topic about this recently)

i only noticed the other day when playing in a room with a mirror that i rotate my hand down slightly when playing Bb (and this is on alto)

you can get your octave mech adjusted so that the key is a little higher. and differing lefthand table-key positions are one of the most significant differences between the keywork of different models.

that said - as is my answer to almost every probem - practise practise practise

 

[suethesax]

Pauline - I am 5ft 0in!! As philthD says the more you play using these keys the easier it becomes 'reaching' them. Even on my soprano I have to move my hand slightly to get Bb. Do you have any fingering exercises to help with dexterity. I believe there are some on Pete's main site, also the Rubanks method books are useful to have.

Sue

 

[Pauline]

Thanks, that's very encouraging!

PhilthD - I realise that I won't need both keys together, I just wasn't sure if it was ok to move my hand down a bit or if this was frowned on for being awkward, clumsy etc.

Sue - I'll look into the exercises and method books - thanks!
I have no intention of giving up on this!

 

[daveq]

Sue if playing a Bb with the octave key you could use the A fingering with the Bb side lever key. DAVE

 

[Bobby G]

Sometimes you may need the bottom Bb with the octave key I suppose, although probably not a lot, but the more you play the easier it will get.

I had a Trevor James alto that was a bit of a stretch to the bottom Bb, even though the octave mech was positioned very well - it was just the way the l.h. table was laid out. Since I got the Yamaha, it's a much better fit for my smallish hands, and the Bb isn't a stretch at all. So yes, different horns do have different spacings for the keys.

Finally, I don't think height makes too much difference as a five-footer like Sue will no doubt attest. I'm not particularly tall, about five eight, but I had no trouble getting comfortable with a baritone (thanks nachoman).

 

[Pauline]

Thanks Bob, that's very helpful.
Perhaps in a while I will look into trying to find a tenor that will fit my hands better (although otherwise I really like this Selmer Prelude). I'm learning all the time what to look out for when buying a sax.

My alto is a Trevor James and yes that also is a bit of a stretch to the Bb key. Just shows how important it is to try instruments out!
All the best,
Pauline

 

[justin_chune]

I play with little ladies that can blow-up a storm on baritone and bass saxophones. I'm sure you will get used to the tenor. The octave key is not used with any of the bell tones. So no worries there.

Have fun with the tenor.