Introduction hi guys from buckinghamshire

[Kris]

ok im new to all this so please forgive me ok, :S
ok so iv got a saxophone witch was very kindly given to me,
(see i want to learn to play for when i get married in 2 years time as a wedding gift to my futrue hubby).
iv been out and got a book for beginners and this im finding very hard to pick up, as i cant read music but i am getting there very slowly, iv now been playing (or not) or a week.
at this momment in time i cant afford a teacher so trying to teach myself, (yeah ok lol).
well i have learnt to play mary had a little lamb and when the saints go marching in !!
the problem im having is the bottom lip over the teeth, as im finding it hurts yes i know im prob doing it all wrong, but any help or advice would be a great help.

just want to say this is an excellent site hope to make some frinds here too. chatch u all soon.
P.S
do you know how hard it is trying to learn the sax and keep it a secret for 2 years.

 

[frank_johnson]

Hi kris and welcome from damp, grey Wolverhampton.
"Keep it a secret for 2 years"
MI6 are looking for people like you!! Well done! :whistle:

 

[Saxlicker]

Welcome Kris.

About that hurting...It was along time ago for me to remember that problem but I guess its hurting because you don't have enough embouchure strength yet, subsequently you are probably just compensating by biting a little harder than you sould be.
It should naturally ease as you keep at it ..
But it may need a more concious approach is to take it further than the ease into a good embouchure.
Good Luck!

PS I love superbikes!..
I still have an R1 that doesn't get out much these days.

 

[Linky Lee]

Sounds rather exciting!

You'll have to make sure he doesn't get suspicious.
'Staying late after work again tonight dear'
'Sorry dear, not tonight I'm going to see the girls again'

He'll think you're having an affair, to be frank you will! Just not how he expects!

I'm a firm believer that everyone should have a tutor at the beginning as a priority. One hour lesson every two weeks shouldn't be too hard to cater for and would be of huge benefit.

An alternative is 30mins every week if that's easier to keep a secret.

You need to relax your bottom jaw, you shouldn't be applying so much pressure that it hurts, you'll find you play really out of tune higher up if you keep like this as well.
The solution is play with your mouth as loose as possible and play louder (basically push more air down the instrument).
You should always play as loud as you can when you are first starting to learn, then learn how to get quiet.

Quiet is much harder than loud.

Also I don't know what equipment you are playing on, but you could be using a reed or mouthpiece that is too hard/open for a beginner.

Try a 1.5 strength or a 2 with a mouthpiece similar to a Yamaha 4C, Selmer S80 C*, or a Meyer/Otto Link 5.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hi Kris and welcome to the Breakfast Room from sunny Southampton.

I wish I could help with the bottom lip pain, at such an aearly stage I think only a teacher can really help. Except to say some pain there is inevitable, just a question of how much can you deal with, how long before it gets better and the big question: "Are you doing something wrong?"

 

[richard_mac]

Hi Kris, welcome. Stick with it, and things will get better.

Richard.

 

[Tenor Sax]

Hello Kris,

Welcome from Sunny Lichfield, Staffordshire.

If you can only afford one or two lessons it will be more than worth it. Embouchure and position of the mouth piece are part of the foundations, getting it wrong or ingrained will put you back month's. After that, Pete's DVD from this site will send you on your way.

Good Luck.

Chris

PS. Nice avatar

 

[Kris]

Hi, and thanks for your message.
it is very hard trying to keep this all a secret, i keep my sax at home so only get to practice when he's at work (as he does not go down the pub) i wish he did though.
Anyway thank you for your advice, i am using a num 2 reed as i read this was the best number to start with, as for the type of sax i'm playing (not very well in my case) i know it's a yamaha not sure what kind though, and i think by looking at all the pictures iv seen of saxophones it's an alto sax.
I will get a lesson or 2 put in at some point it's just a case of when.
Anyway thanks again and hope you have a great day.

Regards
Kris



Linky_Lee wrote:
Sounds rather exciting!

You'll have to make sure he doesn't get suspicious.
'Staying late after work again tonight dear'
'Sorry dear, not tonight I'm going to see the girls again'

He'll think you're having an affair, to be frank you will! Just not how he expects!

I'm a firm believer that everyone should have a tutor at the beginning as a priority. One hour lesson every two weeks shouldn't be too hard to cater for and would be of huge benefit.

An alternative is 30mins every week if that's easier to keep a secret.

You need to relax your bottom jaw, you shouldn't be applying so much pressure that it hurts, you'll find you play really out of tune higher up if you keep like this as well.
The solution is play with your mouth as loose as possible and play louder (basically push more air down the instrument).
You should always play as loud as you can when you are first starting to learn, then learn how to get quiet.

Quiet is much harder than loud.

Also I don't know what equipment you are playing on, but you could be using a reed or mouthpiece that is too hard/open for a beginner.

Try a 1.5 strength or a 2 with a mouthpiece similar to a Yamaha 4C, Selmer S80 C*, or a Meyer/Otto Link 5.


[/quote]

 

[suethesax]

Hi kris - welcome and good luck with both the secret and the learning.

I have a friend (an experienced player) who has slightly uneven teeth which causes him pain on the bottom lip. He uses a rizla paper or greseproof paper on his teeth to help.

 

[Kris]

Sue, Thanks for the advice, will give it a go.
I only practised for half hour today and didnt seem to be as bad, maybe it was because iv been practising for an hour a day, i dont know but will give the greseproof paper a try next time.

 

[sharon]

Crikey Kris no wonder you're lips are hurting. When I first started playing I could only do 15 mins at a time 😱

Sorry, to start - a warm Welcome from rainy Swansea.

Anyway, I've only been playing just over 3 months and my bottom lip is now only occassionally sore after about an hour playing. At first it was really sore and raw feeling. Try playing little and often 10-15 mins at a time - you should be able to sneak bits and pieces in the day. Also I started at a 1.5 reed strength which I think you'd find easier. The first time I tried a no. 2 it felt tough.

There are many old heads on this forum and all the advice is sound.

I can't believe you're doing it in secret - I bet my husband wishes I was 😛

Sharon

 

[Kris]

Sharon thanks for the advice hunni, will try a number 1.5 reed, only got the number 2 reed in as it came with the sax.
and i think my dogs and kids wish i could go out the house to practise, but i'll show them.

 

[Linky Lee]

There are a few members on here that swear by taking a trip out in your car, pulling into a layby and having a practise session.

Sounds like it would suit your dogs well. This way you can get 15mins every time you go to the shops, or travel somewhere.

If you have your own car, you could even hide the sax in the boot, though I wouldn't recommend this as the temperature change will expand and shrink the metal. Which means you'll need anything up to 10 minutes playing time for it to warm up again.

This won't matter until you start playing with other people, if you manage to do that and keep it a secret, as you'll be constantly changing your tuning!

 

[Kris]

Thanks Linky Lee, but if i start to go out in the car everyday, my other half will start to think iv gone mad or think im up to sumin (ok i know i am but sshhhhhhhhhhhhh). so will just keep getting the sax out when he goes to work, thanks for the advice anyway though.