Saxophone beginners hitting high D on soprano sax

[SopranoSimon]

Start with low Bb fingering (all keys closed) for all notes. Change the airstream and also "how much mouthpiece you take". The first note is Bb 1, second Bb 2, third F 2, fourth Bb 3, fifth D 3 ...... Do the same with low B and C. If you a re beginner and never done this before you shouldn't do it too much. Just a few minutes every day. You can also try to play a songs in overtones. I use to play "Somwhere Over The Rainbow" too keep up my overtones.

Long tones excercises are also good. Practice with a metronome. c 60 bpm. Try to play with a big volume and also to get every note with a "full timbre". You can add a note bending into this excercise. Try to bend down a quarter step and then. back. You can do long tones in various volume. Start with full volume and the play with less volume in the middle before you take it back to full volume. For me full volume is a controlled full body tone without "overblowing" and at the right pitch. All these excecises can be done in differnt keys and patterns.

im sorry this seems very complicated, i donthave a clue what bb2 third f2 ect means... can you be more simple for me

 

[Colin the Bear]

Be careful what you ask. You may not understand the answer.

 

[saxnik]

Can I cut in? Seems to me that Simon is asking about fourth line D ("D2", as opposed to D two ledgers above the staff, "D3"). Is that right, Simon? It may be that there is something blocking the lower register key vent, or it may be an embouchure thing causing the low note sound ("D1"? The system refers to the letter names in ascending order of pitch).

Ignore the overtones stuff for now, that will be more relevant later!

A semitone is the smallest gap between pitches, i.e. F# to G or B to C. The suggestion for practice was to go up the semitones stepwise (a Chromatic Scale is the technical term) since this gradually increases your embouchure stamina as well as exercising and training your fingers!

Nick

 

[ProfJames]

You have just started to learn saxophone! Relax.....it will come in time!

 

[jazzdoh]

Simon you maybe expecting too much too soon,soprano is not an easy instrument for a beginner and it takes years to master,the 2 sax players you mentioned have been playing soprano for 30 years plus each,with time it will get better,keep practicing and as Nick says check its not a problem with the horn,get your teacher to play the note on your sax then you will know if its the horn or you.

 

[thomsax]

im sorry this seems very complicated, i donthave a clue what bb2 third f2 ect means... can you be more simple for me

I'm sorry. I thought you were asking for high D (D3, palm keys). Follow saxnicks's and jazzdoh's advise. But I still think beginners should do learn overtone excersises yearly. Improve you playing a lot. Your teacher/instructor maybe can help you? I hav an old Kohlert mod1927 soprano with the octave pipes sealed. Good for practising.