Tenor vs Alto Reed Identification?

Saahil

Member
120
Hi again

The tenor's here now and so very shiny! My house mate gift wrapped it and everything since it arrived while I was out of the country 🙂.

Anyway, side by side the Tenor reed is noticeably longer than the Alto, but with just a reed by itself, can you tell if it's an Alto or Tenor?
 
You get used to it eventually. Otherwise comparison with a mouthpiece or another reed is the only way...

As for getting used to it, I put a baritone reed on my tenor a while ago. Played OK and I didn't notice. Eventually I got to wondering why it was sticking out over the back of the mouthpiece... :rolleyes:
 
I had problems setting up in dim lighting and put a sop reed on the clarinet. Putting the wrong reed on can be quite a revelation. Baritone on tenor is interesting as is alto on sop. I use Vandoren classic blue and there's a picture of the instrument on the packet. This only helps with the right glasses on.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had this issue,

That's an excellent idea Mandy, I'll start doing that!
 
I can make noise!!! When I blow into it, sound comes out, and when I press the buttons on the left hand the sound changes 😀.

And then my lips start hurting so I stop. Still slowly slowly catchy monkey.

The great adventure begins! Have fun...

If the lip muscles give out after a short blow, use a softer reed. A reed only needs to be hard enough to get the top notes but not so hard that it makes the bottom notes difficult. I'd concentrate on the two octaves from bottom C for the while... plenty to be going on with.

If you are supporting your bottom lip on your lower teeth and if, like mine, they would not be out of place on a shark, you will get a sore lip. Your reed is acting like a cutting board, and your teeth the knife...

The answer is a different embouchure - stick your thumb in your mouth and make like a baby. Now take it out and stick the mouthpiece in, retaining the lip position, and blow. Give yourself a few days to get used to it and when it is automatic you can concentrate on everything else.

Lots of stuff on Pete's other site will be helpful to you, too... http://tamingthesaxophone.com/
 
Thanks Kernewegor

I can manage a good 5-7 minutes of intermittent blowing before it gives out and I have to rest.

I've been using the embouchure you've described with the using teeth to support lip or the "out" embouchure however you want to describe it It's quite hard though.

I've just been trying to get a consistent "B" I think it is with just the top finger down on the LH.
 
Five to seven minutes of intermittent blowing doesn't sound very long. It sounds as if your lip is being given too hard a job to do. If you are straining to put pressure on the reed something is wrong.

As a beginner a soft reed is a must until musculature builds. What mp and reed are you using? The popular Yamaha 4C with a 1.5 reed or thereabouts is the usual starting place. Be aware that reed strength varies, will be easier to play than others even if marked the same strength.

Only go for harder reeds when the ones you are using are too soft to get the high notes. If the reed is slightly too hard move it back from the tip of the mp a mm or so, instead of being level with the mp tip. Don't have your ligature too close to the start of the ramp on the reed - a bit further back allows it to do its stuff more easily.

The thumb sucking baby embouchure has a lot going for it. A nice relaxed embouchure is the thing to aim for. Try the most relaxed you can while still getting a sound.

Using a relaxed embouchure lowers the pitch of the note, but you bring it back up by pushing the mp on further and between the jigs and the reels you get increased volume and tone benefits.

It will all start to click into place soon. But a good teacher is worth looking out for, even if only to get you started on the right path.

Maybe I should say 'a right path' - there are some choices - we are all different, and so are our instruments, even if the same make and model...
 
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And now for something completely different - sorry for the interruption
Still slowly slowly catchy monkey
that's a great line - how can I use it ?
"Still slowly slowly, Still catchy monkey"
Still gettin' down and still gettin' funky
any songwriters out there ?
As the New Year's evening goes on I shall probably drink beers and sing like a drunky funky with a catchy monkey
 
Just one of spike's off the wall ideas - if I survive this night of the turning of the years I'll start a new thread.
How about the "Cafe Sax Bandits Band" starts getting together and putting some songs and tunes together. We've got a whole bunch of lovely creative people on here. Let's get it on and everybody put some songs, tunes and melodies together as a cooperative endeavour. Okay I'm still thinkin' about it.
 
And now for something completely different - sorry for the interruption

that's a great line - how can I use it ?
"Still slowly slowly, Still catchy monkey"
Still gettin' down and still gettin' funky
any songwriters out there ?
As the New Year's evening goes on I shall probably drink beers and sing like a drunky funky with a catchy monkey

How about,

Still, slowly slowly catchy monkey
Still, playing these long tones
Still, slowly slowly catchy monkey
Still, fingering these notes(extend)
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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