Playing the saxophone How to growl on saxophone - please help find examples

Examples of the saxophone growl​

Growling is one of the most popular effects on the saxophone. We often associate it with rock and pop playing but it's also a very legitimate technique in jazz, used by the greats from Ben Webster through to David Sanborn.

Before I go on the describe it, here are some audio examples:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrg57RbqBE

Although we think of the saxophone growl as an effect, it can be applied with different intensities. You can use it here or there on one or two notes or add it quite extensively. It's up to your taste and judgment how you use it. It can be anything from a slight edge to brighten the tone to a full on snarling roaring tiger growl.

It is a sort of equivalent to a guitarist using a distortion pedal.

How do you growl on a saxophone​

First of all one of the misconception is that you growl while playing. That is not likely to work. Another misconception is that you roll your RRRs. Again, that won't work either - BUT - it does give a different but related effect: flutter tongue.

To growl you simply sing, or rather hum, while you are playing. It's not actually possible to sing of course because there is a mouthpiece in the way, but humming (which takes place in your throat) works well.

Which note to hum?​

That's the $1000 question. Some people say to hum the same note as you are playing but slightly (or very) out of tune, others to hum a specific harmony or interval relative to the note you are playing.

I have found that either of those may work, but nobody I know of has yet come up with an explanation of how out of tune or which interval. The way it works is that the note (being out of tune or different to the one you are playing) causes interference with the sound wave of the saxophone to cause the distortion. It may be that not all saxophone notes growl based on the same amount of pitch variation or harmony in the hum.

My preferred method of learning is via a sort of subconscious process of trial and error. Trying to sing along, whether out of tune, or in harmony is just too difficult a process.

So try this:

• Play a note on the saxophone
• While playing, hum any note and while keeping on the same saxophone note, vary the pitch of your hum
• Listen carefully to the note and as your hum varies and note when it causes the tonal interference - and the resulting growl.
• Play that note again (asa long note) while humming that same pitch if possible
• Repeat a few times and then move on to a different and do the same process over again

This way you will gradually find you automatically hum whatever note works best for each note or series of notes you are playing.

Another very quick example...Happy growling evybody!



PS: We are pleased to also bring you a a soundcloud tutorial from our very own cafe member Taz.

https://soundcloud.com/taz-16%2Fgrowl-tutorial

View: https://soundcloud.com/taz-16/growl-tutorial

 

[thomsax]

Sometimes it's hard to hear if It's "growl" or "flutter tongue" or a combo?

I like to listen to old Rock & Roll songs with saxplayers. Red Prysock growled as well!

View: https://youtu.be/pUHuQmdyOH4?si=QkLONKk8T6FclNHg

 

[Pete Thomas]

Sometimes it's hard to hear if It's "growl" or "flutter tongue" or a combo?

My feeling is that if you did both at once, any growl would probably be masked by the flutter tongue.

 

[LostCircuits]

I've just rejigged an old article on growling, merged thread, and added a new video which has some examples from ben Webster and Lee Allen. I'm not really worthy but I had to add one of my own as I'm supposed to be learning people how to do the growl.

See post #1 for the video and concept of how to learn the growl. You too could be a growler!

Never had a problem with growling, one of the things that came naturally for me. 🐻

 

[Dr G]

Grrrr🐻

View: https://youtu.be/r-wQvVdTq9Q?feature=shared

 

[thomsax]

Never had a problem with growling, one of the things that came naturally for me. 🐻

Why can some players "growl" easy and other can't? Constant "growl" or just to spice up a solo with a short "growl". "Growl" in low(er) register or high(er) register of the sax?

I can growl ok and I think it's beacasue of the "burr" we have in south of Sweden (Scania)? Is the burr (produced in the back of the vocal tract/uvula) an obstructer to the rolling tongue tip R that helps us to do the flutter tongue? I can't do the flutter tongue!

If you are searching for a heavy growlers you can search in this countries/regions?

The dark purple regions are where we find true growlers?

😉

 

[thomsax]

Sax Gordon is a good growler. Listen to the solo , around 2:56-3:56. He do some other sax effects as well.

View: https://youtu.be/W8wsYpcNtfw?si=rxvRhe9xK1q5xoS4

 

[Vlad]

Interesting topic, I have to confess in all the years I've never even tried to 'growl' on the saxophone, I'll have to give it a go when no one's about some time 🙂

 

[lydian]

I've tried to teach growling to many players over the years. Most eventually get it, a few never do. The biggest hurdles are:

- Engaging the vocal cords while blowing. Some are never able to do this. But it helps to not fear being loud. Don't hold back or be self conscious.

- Humming a different note than you're playing. The natural tendency is to match the note. It takes practice to unlink the two. I find an aimless moaning works best, like you're doing a Frankenstein impression.

 

[John Laughter]

In the mid 50s Rock & Roll and R&B hits songs were all over the radios, TV's and jukeboxes. Many of these top 100 hit records featured a sax solo that caught my attention. Some solos were sweet and mellow, and others were raising the roof often using some growl and/or flutter tongue. Those of us who were really liking the new styles of music asked our band directors or older experienced sax players how to play these sounds. An older player at the local music store showed me the growl (hum version) and flutter. Fortunately, it came fairly easy with a lot of practice in order to add it to the solo that I was trying to copy off the 45rpm. Then there was the intro to "Danny Boy" by Sil Austin that gave me a reason to learn how to subtone.

Over the years I have read many different approaches to getting these effects depending on what one has read or been taught. There are apparently many ways to play the techniques. Just have to find what works best for you.

 

[Ballymenaboy]

I had difficulty doing this for a long time until I watched Jamey Anderson’s video on youtube. He started with a hum and then the note but the hum had to be something other than the note you are playing. Once I got a few notes this way I was off and running..takes a bit of perseverance.

 

[LostCircuits]

I had difficulty doing this for a long time until I watched Jamey Anderson’s video on youtube. He started with a hum and then the note but the hum had to be something other than the note you are playing. Once I got a few notes this way I was off and running..takes a bit of perseverance.

That's pretty much what I am doing, and most of the time I am trying to just hum the second voice

 

[John Laughter]

Just have to find what works best for you.

Also helps to start with only the m/p or m/p attached to the neck. Once you get control of exhaling and humming (falsetto or regular hum) at the same time on this combination then go with the sax. Just a suggestion. And yes, humming the same note will cancel the effect.

 

[Pete Thomas]

OK I'm looking for some more examples beyond the ones I've got in the video, be very useful if people could let me know some different examples so I can compile them for the article