jeremyjuicewah
Senior Member
- 1,879
A very strange and wonderful thing happened yesterday which I would like to report for the benefit of any others who are close to despair at the dreadful squeaking and reed misbehaviour they may, like me, be enduring. I do not understand the physics of this but as with much to do with music I have decided not to worry too much about what I dont understand.
I first tried my tenor about five weeks ago and have found it very difficult. Having made good progress on alto I was disappointed to go through all the squeaking and reed closing stuff all over again. I have persevered with long notes every single day, scales and stuff that jumps octaves and really moves around. I have tried 2, 21/2 and 3 reeds, the middle one being the most useful, the threes unplayable. Last night I had a paddy and cursed and went a bit loony because I was not getting high notes, I was like a didgerydoo on low notes, and overall there was a lot of duck call coming through.
So in a real rage I shoved a plasticised number 3 in the lig and hey presto! From not being able to use it at all I was getting high notes and low notes and best of all the whole tone of
the thing absolutely shifted from at best brash to mellow and smooth. Why? I do not have any idea but I know that all that graft with the long notes and the boring stuff is the reason I can now use a 3 reed and that is the reason I now have a nice sounding sax, peace of mind, and a good deal more satisfaction.
Any other musical disasters out there, take heart and swap things around now and then. You may too get a nice surprise.
All the best,
Mike
´
I first tried my tenor about five weeks ago and have found it very difficult. Having made good progress on alto I was disappointed to go through all the squeaking and reed closing stuff all over again. I have persevered with long notes every single day, scales and stuff that jumps octaves and really moves around. I have tried 2, 21/2 and 3 reeds, the middle one being the most useful, the threes unplayable. Last night I had a paddy and cursed and went a bit loony because I was not getting high notes, I was like a didgerydoo on low notes, and overall there was a lot of duck call coming through.
So in a real rage I shoved a plasticised number 3 in the lig and hey presto! From not being able to use it at all I was getting high notes and low notes and best of all the whole tone of
the thing absolutely shifted from at best brash to mellow and smooth. Why? I do not have any idea but I know that all that graft with the long notes and the boring stuff is the reason I can now use a 3 reed and that is the reason I now have a nice sounding sax, peace of mind, and a good deal more satisfaction.
Any other musical disasters out there, take heart and swap things around now and then. You may too get a nice surprise.
All the best,
Mike
´