Which Note for Tuning Tenor

[TomMapfumo]

And then Smiffy discovered the spelling mistake, and put the Tenor Sax down for a short while

And all the people rejoiced and sung.
And happiness was restored and
Everyone lived happily ever after........

At least until he noticed the Tenor Sax again

 

[Smiffy]

That's IT!!


I'm telling my mum 🙁

 

[Pjonah]

Tuning to Concert Pitch:

Tenor/soprano up one whole tone, alto/Baritone down one and a half whole tones....or is that old money?

If you want some help with these matter, I bought a Masterkey which is great on so many levels.

Try this link:

www.mymasterkey.com

Its pretty handy for working out chords, keys, transposing and Scales (Pentatonic, Ionian Mode, Dorian Mode, Phrygian Mode, Lydian Mode, Minor Pentatonic, Blues Scale, Mixolydian Mode, Aeolian Mode and Locrian Mode in all keys) Yeh I know nothing of that little lot but it looks impressive.

Its good for chord progressions too and if you get really crappy chords to improv over at least you can get a better clue with this thing.

Ps. For the record, I don't work for Masterkey

 

[Smiffy]

Don't want to start another thread

I am having a few problems with tuning, if I start tuning on (F) G, the lower C, B and BB are way sharp + 20, and the Octave F#
is flat - 15 20 cents

Moving down from G the notes get flatter down to D -15 then it jumps way shape on C and so on



To my ear, running up and down most notes sound ok apart from O-k F# real dull as well as flat

Cold or warm it's the same, If I move the MP in or out things just get worse

Now I know things can be a bit out, but is there anything I can try


Thanks

 

[TomMapfumo]

Have you tried playing an Alto? 😛

It sounds very frustrating - did you discuss it with Griff, just to see whether it was you or the sax, or a combination of the two.

FWIW it is still early days for you playing Tenor and your puff may not yet be consistent enough to sustain notes which may be sharper or flatter as a result - do you wobble the tuning needle or not. It may be useful to try another tuner to see whether there is any variation. Apart from the fact that Saxes are mostly difficult to play consistently in tune, there is likely to be a cause that could be traced if the variables are explored/changed - has anybody else tried your sax and was there a tuner present?

On second thoughts, go back to alto 8)
Good luck, and hope that a solution emerges.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[justin_chune]

I tuned my tenor to C. I then got a pencil and marked the cork just at the edge of the mouthpiece. When I am going to play the sax I grease the cork and slide the mouthpiece up to the line and that's it.

If your sax sounds fine as you play it, trust your ears.

 

[Smiffy]

😡 😉

Got a new tuner, The Korg

The alto playing has been ok, On it yesterday

Griff had a go the other day and it sounded good But he is good but not with a tuner

Still the F# was a bit flat, and I saidso to Griff, thought I got over it with the new yam 5 MP in the shop but as you say my blowing needs more work But still....

tried all sorts to get the F# working, The only thing that does is having the tuning note (G) very sharp, then everything else is out

Also tried another Mp OG's Vandoren but it's the same

 

[Smiffy]

Justin Chune wrote:
I tuned my tenor to C. I then got a pencil and marked the cork just at the edge of the mouthpiece. When I am going to play the sax I grease the cork and slide the mouthpiece up to the line and that's it.

If your sax sounds fine as you play it, trust your ears.

Trusting my ears as well as the tuner, the (o-k) F# is still dull and flat, the rest sound ok but show up flat or sharp

 

[Pjonah]

I think I'd ditch the tuner for a while, I have never used one on saxamaphone, until I started playing bass guitar.

I tried the tuner on the instruments and hey ho, all seemed okay, but I think you can loose sight of the goal spending all your time worrying about 5, 10 or 15 cents here and there.

Frankly, I think you need to train your ear to hear the note which comes with experience and practice.

If you're only playing on your own most of the time I wouldn't worry too much about being in tune.

Just my humble opinion, for what its worth.

 

[Smiffy]

Hi Simon, yeah I know what you are saying, I haven't been using the tuner with my alto, been jaming a little with that

This o-k F# is bugging me more than the rest 🙁 , tried bending it up but not working

Thanks

 

[mfox]

if your just playing on your own tuning is irrelevant. if you playing with others tuning is everything..

comment about the pencil mark is a good one. yes this will give you a place to start, but what happens if "A" everyone else in the band have tuned to another tuner? "B" as the intrument gets warmer the pitch changes (quite a lot for a tenor)..

people can get quite obsessive about little problems with their horns (i'm guilty of that) but as you become more relaxed about your playing a certain acceptance will decend, and then you can use the problem notes in an artistic way..

if the sax was pefectly in tune it would sound crap. IMO

 

[Pjonah]

mfox wrote:
people can get quite obsessive about little problems with their horns (i'm guilty of that) but as you become more relaxed about your playing a certain acceptance will decend, and then you can use the problem notes in an artistic way..

if the sax was pefectly in tune it would sound crap. IMO

I couldn't agree more, have you ever played a keyboard with a tenor sax patch on it where the notes are spot on tune, it sounds rubbish even with the best patch. Most of that is due to the fact the the saxamaphone has a soul and needs to be given direction, ...........thats you that is!

 

[old_git]

Pjonah wrote:

mfox wrote:
people can get quite obsessive about little problems with their horns (i'm guilty of that) but as you become more relaxed about your playing a certain acceptance will decend, and then you can use the problem notes in an artistic way..

if the sax was pefectly in tune it would sound crap. IMO

I couldn't agree more, have you ever played a keyboard with a tenor sax patch on it where the notes are spot on tune, it sounds rubbish even with the best patch. Most of that is due to the fact the the saxamaphone has a soul and needs to be given direction, ...........thats you that is!

Oh dear, I'll have to ask Pete for my money back on his 'Human Saxophone' samples.

On my Synth/keyboard there is a pitch control wheel. Are you suggesting that I should use it to purposely detune the 'Human Saxophone', thus making it sound more authentic? The EWI has a device that has a similar effect that I've only used for trombone glissandos but now I can improve my 'fake' alto and baritone saxophone playing using your advice. :S

 

[sharon]

My tenor notes are also all over the place, but that's the least of my worries! I have got one of those tuner thingys that you set for the instrument you're playing so I just play the notes and it tells me if they are sharp or flat with a little light. I get it out occasionally for a laugh just to see how rubbish I am 😛 . When I have confirmed this - it goes back in the box.

I sort of agree with the others about being in tune as I play on my own and it sounds ok to me - when I play scales they don't sound terrible, i.e. each note seems in tune with it's neighbour, don't know if that means anything.

I also find that when I've got the tuner out it draws my eye and I can't really concentrate on playing - It has the ability to drive you a bit mad I think 8|

Anyway I'm assuming I'll be more in tune as I progress.

Sharon

 

[Smiffy]

Well Ladies and Gent's as usual you look to be right

I need to have more time, worked on the F# this morning and it's sounding better, not as smooth as I wish it would just play but better

I have taken the batteries out of the tuner and the Sax sounds a lot better without it :whistle:

Thanks all

 

[old_git]

Sharon,
If it sounds good, it is good and only pedants will complain. If they do, tell them you are providing the group's unique timbre. No one knows what that means. They wont either.

 

[sharon]

old git wrote:
Sharon,
If it sounds good, it is good and only pedants will complain. If they do, tell them you are providing the group's unique timbre. No one knows what that means. They wont either.

When I get complaints I quote "artistic interpretation" 8)