my first sax

[JohnB]

so i bought a sax today and want to get as good as possible on it so im splitting my time between guitar and sax.
how on earth do i make the bottom keys make a distinguishable note that differs from the 'open' position? i can play the first 8 notes of summertime but cant get the ones after that. i start on the long key which is just above the first circular button! i think its an E.

advice please!!!
ta
john

 

[spike]

Are you sure you've got your fingers on the right buttons? excuse me if I'm wrong but it is very common for beginners to press the wrong ones.

There are three main ones for each hand, the right hand should be fairly obvious, but the left hand may be confusing, depending on the sax and how many of those keys have pearls on them.

Your best bet is a fingering chart, Google will know where to find one.

gruss - spike

 

[JohnB]

yeah ive had look at some youtube vids etc....

im getting the sounds but just cant find the lower notes....

 

[spike]

Super difficult to know what you're doing - however - look under each of your little fingers, those keys operate the lower note mechanisms, it's good to know how the horn mechanisms work before blowing. All holes covered is your bottom note and all open is high note so if you work out one hole at a time in between, you'll begin to get it sussed.

 

[Bobby G]

If you are just starting out, and even if you are fingering correctly, those lower notes can take a lot of work.... it's quite common to start your lower note practising on or around low D, and work your way gradually towards the bottom Bb. as each note comes smoothly and easily, progress to the next lowest and so on. Playing long tones and giving plenty of air support will help.

It can take some time, cause frustration and annoyance (especially when you can't do it consistently) but oh the joy when it all comes good more than makes up for it.

Expect similar tribulations on the highest few notes, too... 😉

Cheers, Bob

 

[JohnB]

ah got em now!! 🙂

 

[JohnB]

just realised you can press more than one at a time hahaha!!


got the summertime head figred out. most notes take a couple of attempts. donna lee here i come!!
thanks for the replies

 

[Pete Thomas]

JohnB wrote:
just realised you can press more than one at a time hahaha!!

Repeat after me "a saxophone is not a guitar".

Don't try to get vibrato by wobbling your fingers.
Don't use a plectrum
Don't use a capo for the difficult keys
Don't set fire to it after (or during) a gig

 

[JohnB]

does that mean i cant use more than 2 keys at a time?

no i must be able to

 

[Bobby G]

You can use all of 'em, John, but it must be in the right order.! There are some similarities between a sax and a guitar, in that you can bend notes and do vibrato on both instruments. However you can't make a sax easier to play by putting it in an open tuning or using a bottleneck, then again you won't get much out of a guitar no matter which end you blow down.

Helpfully, Bob

 

[Tenor Sax]

Pete Thomas wrote:

JohnB wrote:
just realised you can press more than one at a time hahaha!!

Repeat after me "a saxophone is not a guitar".

Don't try to get vibrato by wobbling your fingers.
Don't use a plectrum
Don't use a capo for the difficult keys
Don't set fire to it after (or during) a gig

Pete shame on you, forgetting the last one.

You cant tune the sax by Tightening the Screw on the Ligature.

:whistle:

 

[nick_cook]

Pete shame on you, forgetting the last one.

You cant tune the sax by Tightening the Screw on the Ligature.

:whistle:

[color:green]Damn!!! That's where I'm going wrong!![/color]

 

[Pete Thomas]

Chris Jones wrote:

Pete Thomas wrote:

JohnB wrote:
just realised you can press more than one at a time hahaha!!

Repeat after me "a saxophone is not a guitar".

Don't try to get vibrato by wobbling your fingers.
Don't use a plectrum
Don't use a capo for the difficult keys
Don't set fire to it after (or during) a gig

Pete shame on you, forgetting the last one.

You cant tune the sax by Tightening the Screw on the Ligature.

:whistle:

As with a guitar, it's best to buy one that has already been tuned for you in the shop.

😉

 

[Bobby G]

Is there a sax equivalent of the bass guitar? Many guitarists frown on basses, thinking they are easy as they only have four strings. Perhaps a sax that only plays in one key?

Cheers, Bob

 

[Pete Thomas]

Bobby G wrote:
Many guitarists frown on basses, thinking they are easy as they only have four strings.

Reminds of that joke:
Q "What's the defintion of a bass player?"

A "Halfway between a musician and a drummer"

boom boom

 

[old_git]

Bobby G wrote:
Perhaps a sax that only plays in one key?

Cheers, Bob

I've got one already.
😛

 

[frankb]

Bobby G wrote:
Is there a sax equivalent of the bass guitar? Many guitarists frown on basses, thinking they are easy as they only have four strings. Perhaps a sax that only plays in one key?

Like this - http://www.xaphoon.com ?

Don't knock it, they're fun!

 

[Tenor Sax]

I have a similar version.

I asked my In-laws to bring back a Didgeridoo form there visit to Australia. AND THEY DID. It was the size of a Recorder (dame Ornament) You can imagine my disappointment. (yes of course its fantastic....not)

All was not lost. Out came the packing tape, Old Mouth Piece, Old reed. Nicely attached to this piece of wooden tube and blow. Sounds like a duck being strangled.

I make sure the kids have a go when the Out laws come a visiting.

Sweet revenge.

P.S I call it my SAXIMEDOO