Saxophone beginners Should I be embarrassed by my Sax?

[Little Oaf]

Hi Sunray and :thankyou:

thanks for the link, and yes I do read the dots so will enjoy getting to grips with this, that is once I've managed to print it off!

 

[Little Oaf]

Thanks John I will bear this in mind.

 

[Sunray]

Hi Sunray and :thankyou:

thanks for the link, and yes I do read the dots so will enjoy getting to grips with this, that is once I've managed to print it off!

Hey Amanda ...

Some Hints: Wikifonia :-

If you want - you can transpose to almost any Key you want ... Try experimenting ... ;}

Once your happy with the Key - Click Download - I does so in the PDF format [easy to print].

Also if you wish - you can download it in - MusicXML format ... which loads into many of the music notation programmes ... [I use the FREE "MuseScore" programme - Which you can download Here].

I hope that's of some use ...

Cheers

 

[Little Oaf]

Many thanks Sunray, I have now downloaded previously mentioned music, and will follow through with your very helpful suggestions, its really spurring me on to be getting this help and hopefully at some point i will be able to return the favour!

thanks again

amanda🙂

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Amanda!

I guess all I would add is that generally the better the equipment the better the sound - whether it be sax, mouthpiece, whatever.....
It is not that beginners would not appreciate better stuff - anyone will appreciate better stuff. I guess, as several people have said, it is cheaper to start with mouthpiece, reed and ligature as they can all make a difference, As far as I am aware the Academy saxes have a reasonable reputation.

Once a beginner friend of mine visited with his Stagg Alto, on which he used a Yamaha plastic mpc, cheap metal ligature and Vandoren traditional reeds. He tried out all my set ups and was overwhelmed with his sound once he had found a different combination - in this casea Ponzol Vintage HR 0.070 mpc/Francois Louis Basic Ligature/Francois Louis Excellemce reeds.

The point is that these are relatively cheap ways of upgrading (I have a Runyon 22 mpc and the Rico B5, prefer the first by a long way). Sax wise it might be an idea to try a few different ones to see whether they make a noticeable difference or not. but the other stuff can often be more important as we do not necessarily know what size of mpc is best, or sounds good to our ears as it can take time. Good luck whatever you decide - I'd just recommend being open minded.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Little Oaf]

Thanks Tom, appreciate the advice.

I think despite getting carried away with the idea of new saxophones and mpc's etc the thing I have taken away from the helpful advice, is that, you really do need to take time to think about the options and to give careful consideration to the what and the why; this I'm sure will come with time and its good to know that this is a place to come for some experienced and - pardon the pun - some sound advice.

Many Thanks

Amanda

 

[johnboy]

One of the biggest mistake, is thinking that if you buy the same kit as saophonist 'X', you will sound like them. Money can't buy skill or tone. Skill of course, comes with practice. Your sound/tone comes from you, mouthpiece, reed combination being vital, more so than which sax is being played. If you were to give a piece of old tat to one of the greats, he/she would make it sound good!!!!

 

[TomMapfumo]

Which they usually did......................John Coltranes first soprano sax was bought on a flea market in Paris by Miles Davis - was it a Stagg sax - who knows!

So if I get a Metalite mouthpiece and cut my reeds to shreds I still will not sound like you? :shocked:;}

The only thing I'd get you to amend, John, is your recommendation of the Rico B5 (0.080" tip) for beginners - in my experience it seems just too large a tip opening for beginners and a number of beginners have admitted to finding it difficult, so I now recommend the B3 (0.070" tip) which is a more manageable size.

Kind regards
Tom;}

 

[johnboy]

But if they were to sand their reeds

 

[kevgermany]

B5 worked for me - on soft reeds.

 

[johnboy]

B5 worked for me - on soft reeds.

Swot I sed.

 

[kevgermany]

Swot I sed.

yep, thought I'd give you some support!

 

[johnboy]

Actually, as you might have gathered, I am very serious about reeds matching the mouthpiece.
I think that it is more important to work on tone and vibrato than altissimo (including F#), as some seem to be doing.
If you can make the sax sing, your O.H. and neighbours will be rally impressed!!!!!!!!!! Try playing something like 'Tammy', that's the sort of number to practice vibrato and tone.

 

[jeremyjuicewah]

Back to the original question, I think my sax is asking the same thing about me.

 

[Little Oaf]

Back to the original question, I think my sax is asking the same thing about me.

Surely not!🙂))

 

[BigMartin]

Back to the original question, I think my sax is asking the same thing about me.

I'm pretty sure my saxes talk about me behind my back. I may have to start storing them further apart.

 

[jeremyjuicewah]

Yes, and sometimes they snigger in the night. Put them in the garage.

 

[kevgermany]

I'm pretty sure my saxes talk about me behind my back. I may have to start storing them further apart.

Keep em closer together, perhaps you'll get a free sop.

 

[Little Oaf]

🙂)) think my tenor must be lonely after lending my alto to a friend, thought the pull through was wet with condensation, obviously its tenor tears🙂))