Saxophones Neck problem

[ajs1945]

Hi I am new to Saxophone and I have a question I have a neck problem and I have an alto Sax and I think this does not help my neck should I go to a saprano sax also i do not read music but I am able to get a sound from my sax up and down the scales
Is there any advice out there for me I am a 65 years young and wont a chalenge .

 

[kevgermany]

Depending on the neck problem, switching to either a harness or Cebulla strap may help. The Harness puts the weight on your shoulders, not on your neck, and there are a few threads here discussing them. The Cebulla still carries the weight of the sax on your neck, but in the form of two pasdeither side of your spine, so removing almost all the pressure on the spine. There's a thread discussing these as well.

There's also a thread discussing shoulder straps which are more of a sling.

One thought - switching to a soprano may make things worse, as all the weight is carried through your arms, with no support from elsewhere.

Another option may be to support the sax completely with a stand, so you have no weight except your arms.

Best to discuss with your doctor what's best for you. He/she should be able to tell you how best you can carry the weight of the sax, depending on the condition that you have.

 

[Taz]

Welcome to the cafe, as Kev rightly states, a harness may well be the way to go. Have you tried sitting down whilst playing, you may be able to rest the sax on you thigh or even the chair between your legs, depending on your size.
What ever you do, enjoy your self and have fun! Thats the key to it all, you know.

 

[ajs1945]

Hi thank you for the reply's will try all you said many thank's to you
Allan

 

[Sunray]

Hello Mate ...

Hi I am new to Saxophone and I have a question I have a neck problem and I have an alto Sax and I think this does not help my neck should I go to a saprano sax also i do not read music but I am able to get a sound from my sax up and down the scales
Is there any advice out there for me I am a 65 years young and wont a chalenge .

Good to hear your looking for a challenge AJS ...

I am just a 63 3/4 years young - also a beginner ... [I started in the middle of last year]

This is a really helpful place and any questions you have will be answered in the friendliest manner ...

Well done :welldone on hitting the notes ...

It isn't essential to read music [but will help if you decide to do so]. ;}

 

[TomMapfumo]

A curved soprano would certainly be a lighter possibility and there are also shoulder straps for saxes which might take the focus away from your neck. There are all sorts of stuff out there if you want to learn music, and most tutor books will go through such things in a very structured and helpful way. My favourite for adult learners (CD included) is The Jazz Method for Alto Saxophone, by John O'Neill.

The soprano is generally considered a more difficult instrument to play in tune than Alto, but I started on it, and enjoyed the challenge.
Do let us know if there is anything else we can help with.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[ajs1945]

Reply

Thank you for all the reply's out there will try one of the straps and see how I get on
Allan

 

[thomsax]

I just helped a saxplayer (late bloomer), that come to my place for some social saxophone playing, with this matter:

1. Harness was better for her.
2. Try to hold the right and a comfortable playing position. John Laugters book "Contemporary Saxophone" cover this subject. I like Rocksax so his books are always on my desk!! But there are other souces as well.
3. Don't sit or stand on the same spot! Move around if possible.

Thomas

 

[ajs1945]

Harness

I just helped a saxplayer (late bloomer), that come to my place for some social saxophone playing, with this matter:

1. Harness was better for her.
2. Try to hold the right and a comfortable playing position. John Laugters book "Contemporary Saxophone" cover this subject. I like Rocksax so his books are always on my desk!! But there are other souces as well.
3. Don't sit or stand on the same spot! Move around if possible.

Thomas

Thank you Thomas I am looking for a Harness now Allan

 

[ajs1945]

Good to hear your looking for a challenge AJS ...

I am just a 63 3/4 years young - also a beginner ... [I started in the middle of last year]

This is a really helpful place and any questions you have will be answered in the friendliest manner
Well done :welldone on hitting the notes ...

It isn't essential to read music [but will help if you decide to do so]. ;}

Thank you for the reply Allan

 

[ajs1945]

Depending on the neck problem, switching to either a harness or Cebulla strap may help. The Harness puts the weight on your shoulders, not on your neck, and there are a few threads here discussing them. The Cebulla still carries the weight of the sax on your neck, but in the form of two pasdeither side of your spine, so removing almost all the pressure on the spine. There's a thread discussing these as well.

There's also a thread discussing shoulder straps which are more of a sling.

One thought - switching to a soprano may make things worse, as all the weight is carried through your arms, with no support from elsewhere.

Another option may be to support the sax completely with a stand, so you have no weight except your arms.

Best to discuss with your doctor what's best for you. He/she should be able to tell you how best you can carry the weight of the sax, depending on the condition that you have.

Thank you for the reply will do as you say Allan

 

[CaillouSax]

I am 46 (47 soon), and already have neck problems... I am in the market for a harness. My sax teacher recommend me the make Neotech. I am also checking for the Ligaphone (new concept, it's seems).

 

[jazzdoh]

Sax.co.uk and Howarths of london do a number of harness`s,i myself have a back problem and i bought a harness called FREEaction,they also do a FREEneck,they are pricey but may solve your problem.
Depending on where you live,if you were near their shops you could try before you buy or possible ask them if it you could trial one on sale or return as they are around the £100 mark.
Moving to a soprano is also an option,i myself use a curved soprano because a straight sop hurts my back holding the horn out straight but its worth noting that like Tom said that a soprano is a more difficult instrument to start on.

Brian

 

[CaillouSax]

[...]
Moving to a soprano is also an option [...] but its worth noting that like Tom said that a soprano is a more difficult instrument to start on.

Brian

I agree. But I should add something.

I was playing alto for only a few months while I bought my first soprano (the Largo Australia). I can confirm that it is really much more difficult to play (control), but since then, I play both the alto and soprano alternately, and I found there are two advantages for that: I can learn the sax playing in two different horns which I like at the same time, and each day I play the soprano, it's less heavy for my neck and back.

Just my opinion... ;}