Tone or Sound Stays in the octave

[Inkpen001]

I noticed recently, or I don't know if it's always been like this and I just didn't notice, but anyway if I for example play a G note and then go up an octave it sounds good you know but when I remove my thumb from the octave key it doesn't go down at all or is just very delayed. I want to know if it's me or some other stuff. Help please.

 

[Pete Thomas]

That's quite normal, as the octave key is not an automatic kind of note change, think of it more as a helper. Especially when going down an octave you often need some help from embouchure - ewspecially when slurring (ie not using your tongue to help the note)

Very often all you need do is menatlly imagine the change of octave and this can subconsciously cause a minute embouchure change which is all that's neeed.

Practise long notes with slurring up and down octaves.

That said, if there are leaks, then that will not help with slurring of octaves so it is also worth getting your horn checked anyway, especially if it seems to have got worse, or is getting worse.

 

[kevgermany]

It might also be that your embouchure is too tight.

 

[jbtsax]

One of the tests to check your embouchure is to finger a low A and then with the free hand "flick" the neck octave key.

- If it stays on high A for an extended period of time, the embouchure is too tight
- If it goes to a flat and flabby sounding high A, the embouchure is too loose
- If it goes to a nice sounding high A and drops back down after a moment, the embouchure is correct

Checking the "input pitch" helps as well. The mouthpiece and neck (crook) should sound an Ab concert on alto, an E concert on tenor.

 

[Colin the Bear]

To get used to the embouchure change needed, blowing octaves without the octave key throughout the range helps. With lower/bell notes you can over blow quite a few notes without the octave key. octave and 12th are quite easy with bell notes.