Playing Intonation problem.

Tommy Ng · Dec 24, 2012

Hi all

I have a problem with intonation and need some advice. I downloaded backing tracks from youtube but found that they are all flat (not 100% sure though). I used to tune the sax with a tuner but those backing tracks appear to be flat.

Would it be possible that my computer or the headphone plays it flat? Is there a way to check if my backing tracks are in tune (440Hz)?

I have recorded a few clips in youtube and would appreciate if someone can let me know if I played them in tune.

Many thanks and Merry Christmas ;}

tom.

jrintaha · Dec 25, 2012

http://www.seventhstring.com/tuner/tuner.html

If you have a mic, you can play a long note (if you can find one in your recordings) and see what the tuner tells you. If I was home, I could loop back the audio to my audio interface's input and check from there, but as it is now, I'm not home and it's past midnight, so I can't really check with my laptop's mic either...

Wade Cornell · Dec 29, 2012

I listened to your Youtube clip. Very nice tone and playing. For the most part you are perfectly in tune. I only heard a few places where notes (that weren't intentional slides) slipped slightly. In all cases you were flat, which is just a matter of embouchure and support for your tone. There were a few notes between 1:05 and 1:12, one at 1:59, 3:14, and 3:29. None of these were extreme and wouldn’t probably be noticed by your average listener. I don’t think it has anything to do with the recording, or your sax. It’s just embouchure and support.

jbtsax · Dec 29, 2012

Tommy Ng said:
Is there a way to check if my backing tracks are in tune (440Hz)?

I listened to the link in your signature and agree with Wade, that your playing is very well in tune. I played along with a part of the video on my electronic keyboard and the backing tracks seem to be right at A=440. You can check yourself if you have access to a fixed pitch instrument.

kevgermany · Dec 30, 2012

Agree with the others. You've got a lovely tone!

Tommy Ng · Dec 30, 2012

Wade Cornell said:
I listened to your Youtube clip. Very nice tone and playing. For the most part you are perfectly in tune. I only heard a few places where notes (that weren't intentional slides) slipped slightly. In all cases you were flat, which is just a matter of embouchure and support for your tone. There were a few notes between 1:05 and 1:12, one at 1:59, 3:14, and 3:29. None of these were extreme and wouldn’t probably be noticed by your average listener. I don’t think it has anything to do with the recording, or your sax. It’s just embouchure and support.

Thank you so much for your help 🙂

Tommy Ng · Dec 30, 2012

kevgermany said:
Agree with the others. You've got a lovely tone!

Cheers Kev 🙂

Tommy Ng · Dec 30, 2012

jbtsax said:
I listened to the link in your signature and agree with Wade, that your playing is very well in tune. I played along with a part of the video on my electronic keyboard and the backing tracks seem to be right at A=440. You can check yourself if you have access to a fixed pitch instrument.

Thanks jbt 🙂