Playing the saxophone Upper G/G# Resonating

[Colincr]

Hi does anyone else have problems with upper G and G# resonance or vibration. My teacher says to bite down more on the reed I feel I am biting too hard to achieve such a lovely note. I am sure she is right but all other notes do not need so much attention. Soon as I relax back comes this horrible note!

 

[BigMartin]

Not sure what you mean by reasonance, but I don't like the sound of biting, ever.Could it be an air support issue? Does it depend on how loud you're playing?

 

[Nick Wyver]

It's not unusual and can be annoyingly persistent.
Biting probably isn't the solution.
Play it lots with different approaches from above and below both slurred and tongued.
It'll go.
I presume it's on tenor. It usually is.

 

[kevgermany]

On tenor G is one of the worst. I finally cured it by proper mouthpiece tuning against a tuner and then it was improved further by a change of mouthpiece. Needs extra breath support compared to other notes. I think it's something to do with the natural frequency of the mouthpiece and the frequency of the note you're trying to play.

Also agree with Nick. Biting is wrong and painful. But proper reed control through lip pressure is a necessity, this may mean embouchure exercises.

 

[Colincr]

Not sure what you mean by reasonance, but I don't like the sound of biting, ever.Could it be an air support issue? Does it depend on how loud you're playing?

Resonant frequency, reverberating or vibration is the only way I can describe it. Biting getting sore as it encourages biting on all notes. Definitely less air causes it to happen more air and volume clears it. It must be me

 

[Colincr]

It's not unusual and can be annoyingly persistent.
Biting probably isn't the solution.
Play it lots with different approaches from above and below both slurred and tongued.
It'll go.
I presume it's on tenor. It usually is.

Yes getting a sore lip, tried adjusting the strap height. Definitely a tenor Yamaha yts480

 

[Colincr]

On tenor G is one of the worst. I finally cured it by proper mouthpiece tuning against a tuner and then it was improved further by a change of mouthpiece. Needs extra breath support compared to other notes. I think it's something to do with the natural frequency of the mouthpiece and the frequency of the note you're trying to play.

Also agree with Nick. Biting is wrong and painful. But proper reed control through lip pressure is a necessity, this may mean embouchure exercises.

I think you all have something there definitely a frequency thing. I have a Yamaha yts480 with Yamaha 4c mouthpiece with Rico royal 2 reed. Tried a van down 3 near blew my brains out so I am not ready for them. So it practice makes perfect for me thanks guys.

 

[jbtsax]

On some tenors the G2 likes to go to the next overtone which is palm D.

• Play the mouthpiece and neck apart from the saxophone. If the note is E concert your embouchure has the correct tightness.
• Sing the pitch of the high G with an "AHHH" keeping the back of the tongue down.
• Then blow that pitch on your airstream using the same shape inside the mouth as singing.
• Play the G with the same shape and airstream.
• If it comes out a higher note, tilt the head downward a bit and blow toward your LH thumb
• Remember to keep the back of the tongue down as if singing "AHHH". Sometimes it helps to blow warm air as well. Good luck.

 

[Rikki]

Do you get a similar issue with top E, F and F# ? Besides the observations previously indicated I have found that 3 other things affect the top notes and can lead to the resonance you are experiencing. The most obvious, if it affects all notes G and above is the tone holes, particularly the tone hole in the saxophone neck. I make habit of with a pipe cleaner clearing both tone holes. The one most affecting you is is the hole which the octave key covers on the neck. The other one you can see if you look down the body of the sax with the neck off, you will see a vent pipe near the top of the body.

Also check is your reed positioning, make sure that that the tip of the reed is aligned with the curvature of the mouthpiece tip and that if you press the reed (gently) with your thumb onto the mouthpiece the tip of the reed just reaches the tip of the mouthpiece.

When these are correct you should then ensure that the mouthpiece is in the correct position on the neck to give correct tuning. i.e. following jbtsax advice place mouthpiece onto sax and tune as normal (try and blow naturally, it is tempting to try and play in tune!)

Regards Rikki

 

[Veggie Dave]

Can anyone point me to an audio/video file that shows this problem, please, because I just can't 'hear' what you're all describing?

 

[Colincr]

Thanks Rikki
I have no trouble with E, F or F# or any other key, but if I drop my thumb off the octave key to play lower G the vibration remains but not so proud, but if I stop and play lower G all is fine. I have just put the sax away through fear of me throwing it out the window. I will check out tone holes and all you have suggested. I have a lesson tomorrow but my teacher just advises biting down more which helps with more air. Bear in mind I am a beginner

 

[Colin the Bear]

Biting is never a good idea. Is your teacher advising a tighter embouchure? I can't imagine anyone advising biting.

A thick patch on top of the mouthpiece will stop vibration going through your teeth and rattling your skull. I can't play without one these days. I have no idea how I managed before they came along.

Your embouchure will soon develop so that you can use more lip on the reed to control and cushion it.

The saxophone does vibrate. It's a lovely feeling when you hit certain notes and the whole thing feels alive in your hands.

 

[Veggie Dave]

A thick patch on top of the mouthpiece will stop vibration going through your teeth and rattling your skull.

Ah, you're all talking about the shock of discovering just how much a sax vibrates, especially certain notes. Now I understand.

In that case, Colin, you not only get used to it, it also seems to naturally lessen over time, too, as your playing improves. I used to think my eyes were going to vibrate out of my head when I started. 😀

 

[Colin the Bear]

I'm not sure what we're talking about. It could be a loose screw or something soldered coming away. It might be a sympathetic vibration and of ear wax dancing in the outer ear canal.

 

[Nick Wyver]

We're talking (as far as I can tell) about the relatively common problem you get with beginners and tenor saxes. It's due to the octave venting holes being in the wrong place for G and G#. As jbtsax says, the sax tries to play the next harmonic but usually fails to do it cleanly and an unpleasant noise results. There is no instant cure unless you are very lucky. Have patience. It will go in the end.
Having said there's no instant cure there's always the solution that involves ditching all your present gear and buying a whole new set. That may well work.

 

[Colincr]

Thanks guys you've been great
Colin I do have a patch and normal vibration is nice but this is not, but I can get rid of it with effort. Nick/jb I notice the octave hole closes again once BAG keys are all pressed it seems by design. 6 months in I find each note needs to be played especially above and below the B line. The sax is due its first service soon so will get it checked out mechanically. Looking for a new teacher who is wholly sax rather than flute and woodwind

 

[Nick Wyver]

Nick/jb I notice the octave hole closes again once BAG keys are all pressed it seems by design.

The top octave hole closes but another should open further down the body. If it doesn't, that could be the source of your problem. The 2 holes should alternate when you move your G finger up and down (with the octave key pressed). The problem is not a fault with your sax it's a problem with the basic design of saxes that affects tenors most.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Hold G with octave and alternate A to G. As Nick says you should see the neck octave switching with the body octave. Pads are prone to drying shut especially at the top of the sax. Make sure everything is moving as it should by opening and closing all the pads/keys before playing.

 

[jansen2000]

I was having this problem on my G# on alto. Switching to a different reed (legere) seemed to help.

 

[Alc.]

Bring home an entirely new horn, maybe baritone. The tenor may be somewhat chastened by the bark of big brother and fall into line. Also the embouchure will fall into line with the added exercise.