Playing the saxophone Left hand/arm tension while playing

[Bluesgal]

Hi everyone, new to the forum, but not new to playing. Looking for some advice on proper ergonomics for playing the tenor while standing. After about 20 years of playing (and about 3 years of daily jazz practice), I've notice some tension in my left hand, wrist, base of thumb, and forearm. Right hand/arm is fine. I use a Jazzlab neck strap, but also have a Balam harness which I've had some difficulty adjusting, but willing to keep trying. What's happening is if I hold the sax to the side against my right leg/hip, it moves too much to the left and I have to push it with my left hand/thumb to keep it straight. I think that's what's causing the tension. It's better if I just balance it against the front of my right thigh but still having trouble. FWIW I'm short, around 5'4" and I have smaller lady hands. I've gone over videos, Reddit, YouTube, and a lot of discussion around making sure the strap is doing the work (which it is), but really haven't found much about solving this problem specifically. Wrists look straight, I've tried moving neck/mouthpiece to keep my head straight. I suspect it has to do with the Jazzlab (even though I love it and takes all the weight off) but the sax still seems to pivot a lot, even though though the center piece is fully extended. Possible solutions; swap out springs for lighter tension, try the Balam, ease up on the left hand (not squeeze too much), practicing every other day or long tones in between, strength training for hands/forearms. Switching to alto not really an option. Tenor is my thing, but I do have an alto. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

 

[Colin the Bear]

It is possible to play a saxophone without using your thumbs.

Set the sling/harness and crook so that it hangs in a playable position.

Although this is not an ideal position it does let you know how little input your thumbs need to have and let's your fingers glide over the keys.

Right thumb needs to have the major input imo, but beware of gripping. The dreaded gorilla grip to combat leaks, will soon tire hands.

Some vintage horns need to have the sling ring moved to achieve a better balance.

 

[turf3]

Well, from the description it sounds like it wants to move too far to the left?

I'd suspect that the strap ring location is causing the horn to twist a bit which can throw everything off. Try, first, just changing the angle of the neck in the horn, even though it may cause you to have to flex your wrists or point the bell in a slightly weird direction.

I'd try a plain garden variety strap, Ray Hyman type, not for extended use, but to see if the strap is somehow contributing. (As I read your post again, it occurs to me that your harness thingy may be fixing the hook to the left or to the right and not allowing the hook to move freely side to side, thus overconstraining the position of the horn. Try to see if that's what's happening. If it is, it might be possible to put a little short chain on the strap ring, just so the horn can move left or right a bit more easily. But I'm still going to bet for moving the ring left or right on the horn. After all, the horn was desgined on the asssumption that players would be using an ordinary neck strap.)

I suspect that moving the strap ring to the left or right will be the cure. I have had to do this once - my main tenor required me to change the angle of the neck between sitting and standing. If I left it the same, one of those positions I'd be having to try to twist the horn in my hands. A fairly small move (like maybe 3/16") to the left or right (can't remember which) solved the problem, and now I play sitting or standing with comfort and the same neck installation position either way.

 

[Targa]

Using the Jazzlab sitting down I found it more comfortable to have the abdomen piece sitting a couple of inches to the right rather than centre.
That might or might not help you.