Octave problem

filipe · Feb 9, 2009

I've been having this problem that the second octave is a halftone sharped than the 1st octave. I've email'd Stephen Howard and he said it happens until you get the embouchure for the instrument (I play tenor for a bit, but then got my hands on YAS62 and I'm sticking to that alto. On the tenor I didn't have this octave issue) and that it also happened to him with his 475 soprano, and all I need is time to get used to how the horn plays and my embouchure would adjust with playing.

Well this was a while ago (many hours of practicing in between) and the problem is still there with no visible improvement (to me at least, my rookie ear can detect halftones but not 'possible' slight changes on them).

What should I do? Give it more time and pratice to see if I can get it to the same pitch.

I've been trying to focus on prolonged notes of the higher registry of the 1st octave (A, B, C, etc) and trying to listen to it and adjust the embouchure, so I "press" more lips into it to make it as higher as possible and the opposite on the lower registry of the 2nd octave ("dropping" the jaw to make it as low as possible, like bending) but it's difficult to change embouchures like that. I should have similar embouchures in playing all notes right?
This is my main problem at the moment, because after I continue the practice session, the scales and arpeggios (and everything else for that matter) are going to sound a little off-tune when I use the 2nd octave.

Basil · Feb 9, 2009

Filipe Hi

I am no expert, and others who regularly post on this site will know much better than I, but Yamaha are known for their accurate intonation, so chances are it is something that you are doing. If you know any professional, or more experienced players it may be worth asking them to play it just to make sure, as I suppose that it could be the instrument...but I don't think you should have to adjust your embouchure in the way that you describe. I too play a YAS 62 and my embouchure doesn't really alter until I get to the palm keys, and even then not very much.

Could it be that your reeds are too soft, and you are effectivly bending them as you hit the higher register ?, or the mouthpiece too wide ??

filipe · Feb 9, 2009

Hi Basil,
Thanks for replying. Yes Stephen Howard also said yamaha's are solidly built in terms of tune.
The mouthpiece is yamaha 4C , and I do use soft reeds ( vandoren 1.5 ) because I feel more comfortable with them as my mouths strength is still not very developed.
I try to bend sharper on the open keys of the 1st octave to try to get more in tone with the 2nd octave closed keys, so I can "hear" it properly and train the ear, but I should probably just ignore it and keep on playing without trying to adjust. Hopefully it will get in tone.

Pjonah · Feb 9, 2009

The Yamaha 4C is probably a bit restrictive and the combination of the 1.5 reed is probably playing havoc with the tuning, try a 2-2.5 and develop your embouchure with the long notes as you're doing.

As an adult you shouldn't have any probelms controling a 2.5 on a 4C, its just a case of getting used to the additional pressures needed and developing your embouchure.

Like has already been said the Yamaha 62 is a class act, which is unlikely to suffer intonation problems.

Try also playing octave intervals C1, C2 & C3, D1, D2 etc. You should be able to feel the note coming into place through harmonics, these should be perfectly in tune.

One other thing, if you have a tuner put it in the cupboard for a few years.

Practice practice practice I'm afraid!

Good Luck!

filipe · Feb 10, 2009

I'll try listening to octave intervals. And experimenting with stronger reeds. Thanks for the tips.
What I really need is ear training probably. But that'll come with time I guess.
BTW, putting in cupboard meaning putting it aside right?