Beginner recording What a difference

[David Dorning]

Thanks for all those comments recently about reverb and related matters. I concluded a decent mic would be a good move and it arrived today. It definitely sounds just a bit less like a cow in a dustbin now. Here’s my first post after a bit of noodling tonight using the new toy.

DeadAudiolink Removed

Self assessment: ropey start, low register barking a bit and high register sounds thin. Fingering a bit sloppy. Bum note around 2.00 and that annoying warble on high G. So plenty for me to work on but there’s probably more I have missed. Critique/advice welcome!

 

[Taz]

Hi David, 'tis a brave think that you've done. To record yourself as a relative newcomer isn't easy. I like your tone, it's nice and solid, not honking or unpleasant. You are showing a good amount of control which is good. Musically you are able to wander around your sax with apparent ease and you keep the melody close at hand during your improvisation. Ok, so there are issues, most of which you have already pointed out, but this is why we play the sax. The ever searching journey towards enlightenment! keep tooting!

 

[David Dorning]

Hi David, 'tis a brave think that you've done. To record yourself as a relative newcomer isn't easy. I like your tone, it's nice and solid, not honking or unpleasant. You are showing a good amount of control which is good. Musically you are able to wander around your sax with apparent ease and you keep the melody close at hand during your improvisation. Ok, so there are issues, most of which you have already pointed out, but this is why we play the sax. The ever searching journey towards enlightenment! keep tooting!

Thanks Taz, I'll keep tooting and try to avoid honking! Incidentally nice to hear from someone close to home - I'm originally from Warwickshire...

 

[Jamesmac]

Thanks for posting David. I don't know how long you have been playing, but I thought your sense of rhythm was bang on.🙂

 

[Jeanette]

Hats off to you for posting, now you've started keep them coming, you'll get lots of help and support.

Great that you can hear yourself where you need to work on things.🙂

Jx

 

[David Dorning]

Thanks for posting David. I don't know how long you have been playing, but I thought your sense of rhythm was bang on.🙂

Thanks James. Got my first sax last summer so hope it's still ok to post as a beginner. I do have a long-term relationship with an English concertina as well but it's feeling neglected as I'm making whooppee with the sax.

 

[David Dorning]

Hats off to you for posting, now you've started keep them coming, you'll get lots of help and support.

Great that you can hear yourself where you need to work on things.🙂

Jx

Thanks Jeanette

 

[Jeanette]

Got my first sax last summer so hope it's still ok to post as a beginner.

Post as a beginner for as long as you want, you can't define beginner just by length of time of playing.

I've been playing 3 years and still consider myself very much a beginner.

Just enjoy the journey😉

Jx

 

[Jamesmac]

Thanks James. Got my first sax last summer so hope it's still ok to post as a beginner. I do have a long-term relationship with an English concertina as well but it's feeling neglected as I'm making whooppee with the sax.

It won't take you very long to be posting in the normal your sound clips. Because of your musical experience. It just takes a bit of time with a wind instrument to get total control. I'm still trying.🙂

 

[Colin the Bear]

There's a nice tone in there waiting to come out and your pitching is good. We all fudge and have to re recored stuff. I wouldn't worry about it. As a player not a teacher it sounds to me like you're a bit short of breath. Try taking deeper breaths and practice long tones of four bars. Breathe in and hold then breathe in some more and hold and then add one last intake and play from there. I think the teachers call it air support. It all comes with practice so just keep going.

 

[jazzdoh]

Nice,like your tone,for a beginner of under a year you are coming along good,keep enjoying the journey.

 

[David Dorning]

There's a nice tone in there waiting to come out and your pitching is good. We all fudge and have to re recored stuff. I wouldn't worry about it. As a player not a teacher it sounds to me like you're a bit short of breath. Try taking deeper breaths and practice long tones of four bars. Breathe in and hold then breathe in some more and hold and then add one last intake and play from there. I think the teachers call it air support. It all comes with practice so just keep going.

Thanks Colin. That's a useful observation, my problem is usually too much air, I have to breathe out between phrases. But maybe on this one the phrases were long and I ran short of breath. I hadn't really got familiar enough with the piece to judge how much air to take each time. I think in the second part I maybe noodled till I ran out of breath, then took a break! Will bear it in mind.

 

[David Dorning]

Nice,like your tone,for a beginner of under a year you are coming along good,keep enjoying the journey.

Nice,like your tone,for a beginner of under a year you are coming along good,keep enjoying the journey.

Thanks Brian, I'm thoroughly enjoying it!

 

[Taz]

Thanks Colin. That's a useful observation, my problem is usually too much air, I have to breathe out between phrases. But maybe on this one the phrases were long and I ran short of breath. I hadn't really got familiar enough with the piece to judge how much air to take each time. I think in the second part I maybe noodled till I ran out of breath, then took a break! Will bear it in mind.

Personally, I always start with a good "comfortable" lung full. learning to breath out is just as important as breathing in. If you only have enough air for the phrase that you are going to play, then you won't have enough for normal respiration to take place. You must remember that your body needs to function normally whilst you play. No easy feat!