owww my thumb

[scooch]

I've been playing now for three weeks and boy my thumb is hurting (thats the left one in case U were wondering). I think the first times I played I gripped the sax *way* too tight and combined with small hands it was quite a stretch to get the octave key pressed with the left thumb. I didn't hurt whilst practising, but after it is sore for ages particularly if I pick up a wide heavyish object, like a big mug of tea (or a pint!!). I even took some days off practising to try to rest it. I've used cut up moutpiece pads to create a octave key riser which means less of a stretch and I am trying not to grip the sax so hard, but its tough and I am wondering if (a) this pain will ease with time or (b) I should have gone with the alto rather than the tenor. Its lighter but is it thinner? Oh but I love my tenor.

I have to say, aside from this I am loving the sax and can play a few passable (to my ears anyway) tunes. But of all the things that I thought I would have trouble with, breathing, embouchure, etc., the last thing I thought would give me grief was my thumb!!!!

Anyone else had similar problems (I know I've read a lot of right-thumb complaints, but might have guess I'd be different!!)
🙁

cheers all
Scooch

 

[griff136]

try adjusting your sling and the way you play eg stood upright with your chest out and shoulders back place the mouthpiece in your mouth and you should be able to hold the sax with your right thumb and your sling alone - your left thumb should just rest on the button.

 

[Linky Lee]

One solution is to drink the pint, then it's not as heavy see 😉

I tend to leave my thumb in a position where I don't 'move' it to reach the octave key I just flex from the knuckle.

 

[mfox]

griff is right, remember you also maybe using a muscle you don't use much, it will get easier..

 

[Bobby G]

It does get easier, and also, like Linky says, you don't really need to move your thumb apart from kind of 'rolling' it to work the octave mech. It is possible to slightly adjust (i.e. bend) the touchpiece a little to keep thumb movement to a minimum.

Like Griff says, you shouldn't really be supporting the horn as such with your left thumb, although unaccustomed thumb movements could also be causing the ouch.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Rogerb]

Bobby G wrote:
It does get easier, and also, like Linky says, you don't really need to move your thumb apart from kind of 'rolling' it to work the octave mech. It is possible to slightly adjust (i.e. bend) the touchpiece a little to keep thumb movement to a minimum.

Like Griff says, you shouldn't really be supporting the horn as such with your left thumb, although unaccustomed thumb movements could also be causing the ouch.

Cheers, Bob

Yes, on my teacher's advice, I got Hanson to adjust my octave key to minimise thumb movement...similar to his MkVI.
Made things much easier.

 

[justin_chune]

Sling adjustment is the critical thing. You have to be comfortable. Properly adjusted the mouthpiece will align with your mouth whenever you push the instrument away from your body as you prepare to play. Your head should not be pushed back, nor should you have to lean forward to get it. The sling takes the weight of the sax and your thumbs only need to balance it. The sax isn't going anywhere, so don't grab it. Make sure that you are relaxed. Tension causes pain. Check often that your shoulders, arms, hands and fingers are relaxed.

Like you, I love my tenor.

 

[fecklesseric]

Tension causes pain.

It also causes an inability to play.

 

[sharon]

Hi Scooch

Sounds like you've not got quite the right position. I had the same pain only in the right hand and it was because I was trying to support the weight of the sax on my thumb >.< really hurt. Funny I'd forgotton about it until I read this. Anyway, I think as the others say, it's important to get your sling doing the right job.

It might also be because of the stretch to the octave key. I was playing (trying) a tenor but my hands are soo small I had to use blue tac and a bead to be able to press it. If you can do it with just a pad you'll probably get used to it.

The movement should be just a bend of the knuckle really rather than a push of the thumb but I know that if your hands are quite small and you are stretching this is an odd movement and your thumb might not like it.

I'm sure time will sort it out.



🙂 Sharon

 

[scooch]

Thanks for all your encouragement and advice guys. I do feel a bit of a numbty that something so silly has stopped me from practising! 🙁

Anyway I will try and work on my posture and sling positioning, the octave key is very low compared to the thumb rest on the hanson, so I might try to rise the button a bit more - maybe the bluetac and bead will work for me! 😛

cheers, guys.

 

[Rogerb]

scooch wrote:
Thanks for all your encouragement and advice guys. I do feel a bit of a numbty that something so silly has stopped me from practising! 🙁

Anyway I will try and work on my posture and sling positioning, the octave key is very low compared to the thumb rest on the hanson, so I might try to rise the button a bit more - maybe the bluetac and bead will work for me! 😛

cheers, guys.

I'm surprised...on my SA-5 the 'tip' of the key was noticeably 'proud' of the button, so I had to lift my thumb to get on it...Hanson just bent down the tip a bit and it's now fine.

Yours sounds t'other way around.

 

[scooch]

Hi Sharon,

Are you still playing the tenor, or have you gone back to alto?

Just wondered (if you have given up tenor) why that is?

I'm kinda glad I started on the tenor, because I think it would have seemed just too *huge* after an alto.

all the best
scooch

 

[Bobby G]

scooch wrote:
Hi Sharon,

Are you still playing the tenor, or have you gone back to alto?

Just wondered (if you have given up tenor) why that is?

I'm kinda glad I started on the tenor, because I think it would have seemed just too *huge* after an alto.

all the best
scooch

I don't know about that scooch, my reaction to playing a tenor after a year or so exclusively on alto was 'wow, this is cool' 🙂 I find the whole stance and ease of blowing a very good thing, but I still love playing alto the most.

Cheers, Bob

 

[sharon]

Hi Scooch,

I decided to stick with the alto after all (the tenor has gone back). The main reason being that I found it rather large compared with the alto (I'm only5ft tall) and the alto felt more comfortable. Also as I could also play the alto reasonably, I really didn't knuckle down as much with the tenor, and came to the decision that it was more important for me to progress with my instrument which I was doing with the Alto. It was too frustrating playing reasonably on one instrument and then starting from scratch with another (also only have limited time!)

Having said that, I think if I had started from scratch with the tenor I would have known no different and would just have got on with it. Still you live and learn. I wouldn't discount taking up the tenor in the future - perhaps when I'm more experienced.

I think you've made the right decision with your tenor because that is what you wanted to play. For me I just wanted to play the sax and although I enjoy listening to a tenor I have come to really enjoy the alto.

🙂 Sharon