Progress

thenewstarter · Apr 2, 2006

Hi,

It?s just happened to day!!! I got the A Major scale sorted out. For the last week my fingers just wound not go where my mind was telling them to.

I had loads of problem's going from F# to G# to A and back again.

So I got up early and stood in front of the mirror with the sax and just fingered the scale with out blowing the sax for about 40 mins, and then all of a sudden it clicked in my head.

Only problem is now, that I have forgotten how to play the low C. A week ago I could get it every time, but know I struggle to get it. I know its all to do with my embouchure (Well, that?s I what I think it is). I will have to practice more on the C Mayor scale. I hope while doing this, my head doesn?t screw up my A major scale.

Happy with my progress,
Richard

ken · Apr 2, 2006

At 3:12:28 PM 02/04/06, thenewstarter wrote:
Hi,

It?s just happened to day!!! I got the A Major scale sorted out. For the last week my fingers just wound not go where my mind was telling them to.

I had loads of problem's going from F# to G# to A and back again.

So I got up early and stood in front of the mirror with the sax and just fingered the scale with out blowing the sax for about 40 mins, and then all of a sudden it clicked in my head.

Only problem is now, that I have forgotten how to play the low C. A week ago I could get it every time, but know I struggle to get it. I know its all to do with my embouchure (Well, that?s I what I think it is). I will have to practice more on the C Mayor scale. I hope while doing this, my head doesn?t screw up my A major scale.

Happy with my progress,
Richard

Hi again Richard,

Take the following as purely 'my' thoughts, because I honestly do not know if they are right or wrong, however...

I practice my fingering even without the sax. I will try to hear the notes in my head and do the fingering on my chest. I kow it sounds silly but it works for me and I can do it anywhere/anytime.

Again, just personal... I find the lower C and below easier to hit if I move my 'lower' jaw ever so slightly forward on the mpc. Not the higher notes, just C and down. But be careful, it might be me and possibly the wrong thing to do/learn.

Ken.

rs2sensen · Apr 2, 2006

You are correct in saying that the cause of your probably is probably your embouchure. Now, it certainly could just be your horn or something too, but with a proper emboucher, every note should theoretically come out just as easily as the next, nomatter where in the range. In practice, this isn't necessarily true, but it certainly partially applies.

First, I would mess around with the amount of mouthpiece that you take into your mouth. That can have a huge effect on things. You should not have to move your jaw for any note. NOTE: I believe "The Art of Saxophone Playing" might have a good blurb on this somewhere. I recall having a lot of problems with the low notes, and that book/section let me pinpoint the exact problem.

ken · Apr 2, 2006

At 8:04:50 PM 02/04/06, rs2sensen wrote:
You should not have to move your jaw for any note.

Sincere thanks for correcting me on that rs2sensen. I'd hate to lead someone on the wrong path.

Ken.

rs2sensen · Apr 2, 2006

No problem. Although, understand that I am quoting what is "perfected" posture. I'm a self-proclaimed "lazy" sax player, and like to break the rules. Do whatever works 🙂