Why is G# a difficult note?

Difficult to answer from my perscepective

I've always been rather fond of my G#s unless your talking about the mechanics and sticking keys.... don't get me started on that one
 
The flap for G# is opened and closed by spring action. It's far enough up the tube to suffer from condensation wetting when playing and so dries shut and sticks. Open it by hand before you start playing. Same with low C#. Someone mentioned inserting a business card in C#, which on modern saxes opens G#, when putting the sax on the stand so it will dry open. It's more faffing than flicking it open. I usually open all the closed pads before warming up. It's just part of the instrument to my mind. The advantages this key system brings outweighs the down side of having to open it before playing. Annoying if you forget though.
 
I have written on the top of my exam piece "check G#" as piece has an Ab very early on and it would be rather embarrassing if it were stuck shut.
Usually when I warm up, I now check that G#, C# and Eb open freely before doing anything else.

But as far as the OP is concerned, no idea, mine sound as full as any other note on any of my saxes.
 
Sorry, I should have been more specific-I didn't really mean the age old problem of sticking pad, more the tone of the note. In a similar way to the first octave middle D, it always tends to sound a little stuffy, with slightly suspect intonation. I wondered if it was anything to do with articulated G#/C# mechanism, although I'm pretty sure none of my horns have leaks. Just the nature of the beast, I guess!
 
You might check the opening of the G# key. Press the G# lever and see how high the key lifts. Ideally it should go up and touch the bumper at the end of the G# closing mechanism coming from the F# key. If it doesn't travel the full distance, it is out of adjustment. Typically the G# lever is not lifting high enough OR the barrel on the arm of the G# key is not set properly. Because both the G and the G# are fully vented notes they should have the same clarity and timbre on a well made sax.
 
OK Stupid newbie question but as the section says " the only stupid question is the one you don't ask"

So here goes:

I'm having a go at "Don't get around much anymore" via Nigel McGill Sax School and getting stuck on the backing line which goes from G to G#. Now I'm using my little pinkie but there appears to be no change in the note. Everything seems to move fully but not understanding the mechanics of a sax I'm a bit stuck. Again maybe yet another daft question but unless I'm mistaken, which most likely I am, I can't see any sound holes??

Regards
Roy
 
The G# key is stuck down. Look at the key that shuts when you put your G finger down. The key below it is the G# key. It should open when you press the G# key. If it doesn't just prise it up with your finger. t should be ok after that.
It's a very common problem. I started a solo at a gig the other day in concert B (Ab/G# for an alto) with the bloody thing stuck down. It took me a little while to work out why it sounded like I was playing in the wrong key.
 
jbtsax said:
You might check the opening of the G# key. Press the G# lever and see how high the key lifts. Ideally it should go up and touch the bumper at the end of the G# closing mechanism coming from the F# key. If it doesn't travel the full distance, it is out of adjustment. Typically the G# lever is not lifting high enough OR the barrel on the arm of the G# key is not set properly. Because both the G and the G# are fully vented notes they should have the same clarity and timbre on a well made sax.
Click to expand...

I would also check that the buffer/cork on the back of the arm at the back of the G# spatula is not too thick as this will stop the G# from opening fully. Ignore the red arrow but if you go 9 o 'clock from the top of the arrow there's a brass cup (circular) with some cork in it.
Screen Shot 2015-05-21 at 19.01.58.png
 
If it's a modern saxophone with a tilting table, the one where C# and G# are linked, putting a business card under the C# when you put the sax on the stand holds them both open so that they don't dry shut.
Being opened and closed by springs is the problem.

The link on my sig shows me flicking the G# open for my second solo. Threw me on the first
 
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