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Examples of the saxophone growl
Before I go on the describe it, here are some audio examples:
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
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.
View: https://soundcloud.com/taz-16/growl-tutorial
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