Saxophone beginners My sax is killing my RH thumb.

[Woland]

Just started playing again (few weeks ago) after 30+ years away from instrument.
I have an old Amati ToneKing tenor - 70yrs old this year - serviced and re-padded recently.
I bought new mouthpiece - Yamaha 4C (old one was probably 50yo and I was getting
allergic reaction to it) and embouchure is slowly forming - range extending etc.
But things that is killing me is RH thumb - I can't seem to find the way to hold my sax
without huge pressure on thumb joint. Is that something normal that eventually goes
away when proper instrument holding is perfected?

 

[JazzMatt]

The right hand thumb should not be taking any of the weight of the sax, if it is you probably need to raise the sax via the neck strap.

The thumb is more for balance and stability.

 

[jbtsax]

I know exactly what you are experiencing. Even when you are not supporting the weight of the sax with your RH thumb, the old style thumb hooks can make your thumb very sore. I struggled with that on my 1950 SBA alto and finally installed a modern Selmer (or Yamaha) style thumb hook which makes all the difference in the world.

To change it over requires unsoldering the old one and soldering the base for the new on on top of that space. To have one installed over here would run about $50 including the parts. You might be able to find a tech who has a junker that the thumb hook can be salvaged from for a lot less.

 

[kevgermany]

Or try reshaping with Sugru.

Something else is to think about your grip. If you're squeezing too hard, that puts a lot of strain on the thumb.

 

[Woland]

Thanks y'all! Fabulous support! I started with shortening neck strap - by almost an inch. It is cheapo strap and it does not stay put - which I did not notice at first. Having sax higher also helps to "dive" (slightly) for low end notes.
Hmmm... Sugru.... I googled "painful sax thumb rest" - lotsoff ideas. Thanks!
Edit:
Actually now that I think about it - I was showng my old old sax to my prospective teacher (and fabulous local jazzer) and after he checked the intonation (it tends to be somewhat flat on top) he made a remark about "old school thumb rest". I did not pay attention because when I played sax in college I never even noticed it. Except I was 35+ yrs younger and was doing rock-climbing too so some silly thumbrest could not bother me one bit.

 

[altissimo]

some thumb rests seem to be specially designed to torture your thumb, but you can get rubber thumb rest pads that slide onto the thumb rest and ease the pain - I put them on all my saxes
5 x Thumbeeze Alto / Tenor Saxophone Thumb Saver / Cushion (5 Pack): Amazon.co.uk: Musical Instruments

 

[fastrak1]

I can't seem to find the way to hold my sax
without huge pressure on thumb joint

These folks invented the Adjustable Thumb Rest that eventually showed up on the modern Selmer products...
In a conversation with the owner of SaxAlley...
Sax Alley - Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet Sales, Service & Repair
he told me that their original design got ripped off...
He is very friendly and if you give him an email I'm sure he could fix you up with a model that would fit your Sax...
Here is the "Selmer" model but he has several different models and could suggest one that would work for your Amati ToneKing tenor.
It might just help along with all the previous suggestions about adjustments and modifications.
Ultimate Thumbhook for Selmer, standard length (SA-102 S)

 

[jonf]

Hmm. A 'handcrafted' 'custom' thumbrest which costs $40. Makes the sax respond better? It's just a bent piece of brass. I can see the benefit in having adjustment but that's what you get with most modern thumb rests.

Back to the original post, if the thumb rest is too low down the sax, then jbtsax's advice is, as usual, spot on. If it's too high, padding it or building it up is a good option. Unless you have unusual shaped hands or an injury, you shouldn't really need much in the way of lateral movement, unless of course, the hook has been incorrectly fixed off centre.

 

[nigeld]

I am putting custom thumb rests on all my saxes made out of Sugru, and others have done the same. See a thread here:
Accessories - Thumb rest experiments

It is trickier if the thumb rest on the sax is fixed, but post number 4 by @Jazzaferri shows what you can do. Post 32 shows my version.

You should see if you can reach the keys comfortably when your thumb is above the metal rest rather than below it. If so, then you can just build a new thumb rest out of Sugru above the current one. I have long fingers, so I find it is best to have the thumb higher up the saxophone and further from the saxophone body than conventional rests.

 

[brianr]

I had problems for years with my right thumb. Not sax related but it really hindered my sax playing. I ended up removing the thumb rest altogether.

i got used to it and even after an operation fixed the problem, I still dont use a thumb rest.

Worth a try, possibly, especially if it is one you can just unscrew.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I have a troublesome right thumb joint due to playing a very heavy clarinet in my youth so am very careful not to overload it.

Adjust the sling so you can blow a C# no hands and play it there. It is possible to play in the lower register without thumbs. I often give my right thumb a break and play without using it.

Good cheap comfortable reliable sling.

Soprano Sax Shoulder Strap Harness Cushion Padded Musical Replacement

It may take a while to come

 

[Tiberius]

... I googled "painful sax...

That's one you need to be very careful with

 

[Targa]

I often give my right thumb a break and play without using it.

That's what's called suffering for your art.

 

[Woland]

Here is the "Selmer" model but he has several different models and could suggest one that would work for your Amati ToneKing tenor.
It might just help along with all the previous suggestions about adjustments and modifications.
Ultimate Thumbhook for Selmer, standard length (SA-102 S)

That is 70yo sax with fix (soldered on) thumbhook - unlike modern ones where it is replaceable.
I need to replace the neck strap the cheapo one that I have has tendency to unclip on it's own.
Maybe with SAXHOLDER or sth like that my thumb will stop being a problem.