Saxophone beginners Tenor saxophone mouthpiece exercise

saxophonecolossus · Dec 3, 2015

Ladies and gentleman, I have got a problem. When I work on my tenor sax just with embouchure and reed, I can't get G sound, I always get straight "A" sound. By the way; I use Ricco No:3 reed. Where am I mistake? What should I do? Pls I need your help...

Colin the Bear · Dec 3, 2015

Just embouchure and reed? New one on me. I'd add a mouthpiece and a saxophone for best results. :sax:

Oh! and you'll need some sort of ligature

jbtsax · Dec 3, 2015

The path to learning to control the "mouthpiece only" pitch is by using the back of the tongue rather than loosening the embouchure. Try starting the note at whatever pitch comes out most naturally and the lower the back of the tongue as if singing "AHH" opening the oral cavity until you get the desired G.

You can also check the tightness of the embouchure by playing the mouthpiece and neck apart from the saxophone. That pitch should be a concert E, the same as F#2 on the tenor. Good luck.

Colin the Bear · Dec 3, 2015

I've been thinking about this tongue position thing and I'm sure all those "wasted" hours playing a Jaw Harp helped. Boing doing cloing. Explains the chipped teeth too.

Pete Thomas · Dec 3, 2015

saxophonecolossus said:
Ladies and gentleman, I have got a problem. When I work on my tenor sax just with embouchure and reed, I can't get G sound, I always get straight "A" sound. By the way; I use Ricco No:3 reed. Where am I mistake? What should I do? Pls I need your help...

Just don't worry about it. There is no real need to get that pitch and it can vary from mouthpiece to mouthpiece anyway.

In some cases it can be useful, in others not.

However it may be with trying a softer reed.