Questions tagged [saxophone]
One of a family of single-reed woodwind instruments with a brass body
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1answer
37 views
Saxophone pearl key is down by default
I am new to saxophone and I was just learning to play my first notes when I came across the G# where it needs a certain pearl key to be pressed in order to play but I already found that key to be down ...
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3answers
71 views
Why are some alternate sax fingerings harder to play than the normal fingerings?
I've found that on my alto sax, some alternate fingerings require much more air to play than the normal fingerings. For example, A# can be played with either of these fingerings:
However, the second ...
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2answers
82 views
Practicing Jazz?
I have been playing the saxophone for about 4 years, but primarily in the style of classical music. I've always been interested in jazz saxophone, and want to learn how to actually play it. How should ...
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1answer
47 views
Clarinet Ligature on Alto Sax?
I bought a semi expensive ligature for my clarinet, and I would like to know if it is a good idea to use it on an Alto Sax. I've tried using a cheap one on my alto sax, and it seemed to work alright (...
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5answers
78 views
How can I make the individual saxophones stand out?
I am composing a Jazz Quintet. Never learned jazz theory but I know uneven rhythms are key to jazz. And saxophones are most commonly used in jazz. So I decided to compose a piece for 5 saxophones.
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3answers
177 views
What are the 14 different types of saxophone?
I heard my saxophone instructor say that there are 14 sizes of saxophones. I've only heard of 4 (soprano, alto, tenor, baritome). What are the other 10 types?
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89 views
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68 views
Buying a saxophone online as a beginner
I scheduled a first lesson with a teacher (I've never played the sax before) and I plan to buy a tenor sax online.
Is there anything I need to know before I make the purchase? I was thinking of a ...
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5answers
73 views
Practicing including riffs into improv?
I can learn riffs pretty easily, but I have a hard time remembering to work them into my improv. Do you have any good techniques/tips?
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2answers
84 views
Is my soprano saxophone poor or am I doing something wrong?
I have just aquired a soprano saxophone for the first time. Previously I have only played alto and baritone, never a soprano before.
Something I am encountering which I have never before - and it is ...
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3answers
414 views
Xaphoon: Which key, C or Bb?
I have been thinking about buying a xaphoon for a while. I have no experience with wind instruments of any kind (well, I can play the sweetflute) so I don't know whether to pick the C key or the Bb ...
3
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1answer
109 views
How to articulate on a Saxophone with the mouthpiece upside down?
I'm trying to learn to play the saxophone with the mouthpiece upside down because of nerve damage in my lower lip and roots of my lower teeth.
Tonguing is difficult. What are some suggestions? Are ...
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4answers
181 views
Saxophone and Dentures
Some years ago I was a pretty hot alto player but the guitar was always my first instrument and I have been a busy pro for much of my working life. I had to drop the horn.
Now I am thinking of ...
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3answers
163 views
What's the best technique to sight read fast big band scores?
I've recently joined a big band. I play second alto saxophone. I do well enough when playing the slower pieces. But I struggle to read the quicker swing pieces. What's the best technique to play ...
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2answers
67 views
How to get a better altissimo tone?
I'm currently practicing my overtone series and trying to get a play some altissimo. Right now, I've been able to play up to a D7 using Sigurd Rascher's Top Tones for the Saxophone, but the notes are ...
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3answers
1k views
Should I prefer Saxophone or Trumpet? [closed]
i am a piano player for 5 or 6 years. My music ear (i don't know is this the right mean in English) is fine. And now, i want to study to my second instrument. Many years, i've wanted saxophone but in ...
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5answers
165 views
Do woodwind reeds (Sax, clarinet, etc) need break in to play better?
I was curious if woodwind reeds need a break in period to meld to the mouthpiece. I am learning saxophone and it seems the longer I use the same reed, it seems to play better.
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1answer
117 views
How can I tune a saxophone or other transposing instrument using a piano? [duplicate]
I am new to sax, but was a B♭ clarinet player in high-school band (years ago); now I play some guitar and piano. I just got an inexpensive soprano sax (Mendini). Since it is a B♭ instrument, help me ...
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1answer
52 views
Coudet Clarinet and Transitioning From Flute/Alto Sax
What is a "Coudet Clarinet"? I'm a flute/Alto Sax player and was wonder if this is different from a "Clarinet" also how will the transition be?
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2answers
234 views
Backing track chords Eb saxophone [duplicate]
How to transpose the chords from this backing track from guitar to saxophone?
I tried the chords from the video, but they do not fit the alto sax. Do I just have to ...
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3answers
712 views
Why is this tremolo here instead of a trill?
In my copy of Jacques Ibert's Concertino da Camera, I have this curious marking:
In the first bar after 23, there seems to be a tremolo from a C# to a B. This shows up multiple times—why isn't this ...
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4answers
805 views
I want to learn the saxophone. How difficult will this be? [closed]
I have been thinking about learning to play the saxophone, although because it is a fairly large investment, I am a little hesitant, and was wondering how difficult it would be for someone with prior ...
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1answer
199 views
Alto Saxophone: spit on sides of mouthpiece?
I have been playing the alto sax for a few years now, and this problem has come up a lot recently.
Every time I play a long piece, spit starts foaming on the sides of my mouthpiece, right next to the ...
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1answer
170 views
Trying to figure out what sax, trumpet & french horn scales would be used to jam with a blues backing track in key of xx?
I will apologize in advance for my lack of music theory. I play guitar but self taught with no real theory. My son has been playing alto saxophone for about 6 months and has come along quite nice. ...
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3answers
405 views
What kind of saxophone is better to start learning?
I would like to start learning to play saxophone. I know there are many different ones but I am not sure whether should I start with soprano, alto, tenor or which other.
Can you recognize and say ...
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1answer
93 views
Plausible Instrument Partsfor Alto Sax to Play
I'm looking for music for my duet (flute & alto saxophone), but there is not a whole lot of music written for alto saxophone and even less for a duet. In terms of range and technique, what are ...
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5answers
599 views
Why don't we see jazz music played on the church organ?
I'm just curious as to what about let's say a saxophone makes it very well suited to jazz music and what about the church organ makes it unsuitable for jazz music.
Is there something innate to the ...
2
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1answer
385 views
Practicing Jazz on Alto Saxophone
A little bit of background: I have been playing alto saxophone for about 15 years now and played in various bands. When I started, I had weekly appointments with a teacher and that was absolutely cool....
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1answer
394 views
N.V. Meaning in Jazz
I play in a big band.
One arrangement we play has "N.V." In quite a lot of the parts. Particularly in trombone and saxophone parts.
Any ideas what it might mean?
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2answers
330 views
How do I practice overtones on the saxophone?
I've read through What are the best techniques to play overtones in the saxophone? but I can't seem to move forward. I've gotten to the point where I can play the first harmonic, as in an octave above,...
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4answers
3k views
Is “horns” a common term to describe saxophones?
Im attending a jazz performance that promoted a horn section. It is two saxophones. I was expecting trumpets or related siblings. Did I misunderstand the use of the term?
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4answers
176 views
Can't stop thinking about fingers
This is a problem I think I have always had, it has just become more apparent to me after a recent OCD diagnosis.
I can't stop thinking about my fingers, especially when playing fast or difficult ...
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0answers
49 views
Iearning to play saxophone [closed]
As a newcomer to the learning scene, I have difficulty expressing note values, especially when moving up and down the bars, or staves. Any help here please?
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4answers
669 views
How do I go about playing 32nd notes?
I'm an intermediate alto saxophone player and I'm currently learning to play Milhaud's Scaramouche, III - Brazileira. The problem is the last sequence of 16th and 32nd notes which are extremely hard ...
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2answers
395 views
How hard would it be to switch from a bass clarinet to a soprano sax?
I am currently playing a bass clarinet in my concert band, but my parents want me to switch to a "lighter" instrument. I looked through different options, and saw the soprano saxophone. If I were to ...
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2answers
522 views
What are these dots above a note?
I was going through some jazz music and I encountered these four dots above a note leading into an improv solo:
What do they mean? Is it a doit, or does it signify going up in the following solo? ...
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4answers
365 views
Playing tenor sax is easy for me. Is a clarinet really that hard?
I have a hard time getting notes out of my Artley clarinet. The guy who worked on it and inspected it (I bought it from a friend) said it's a good instrument, and he's done great work on my sax so I ...
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1answer
158 views
What is a 'French King' Saxophone?
I recently received a Tenor Saxophone from my dad which he bought years ago but never played. I brought it to my music teacher who came back and told me 'I had no idea what I've got here'. He then ...
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3answers
533 views
How does one play altissimo notes on an alto sax? specifically embouchure
Everywhere I look, it says something like "the embouchure needs to be modified" but never says how. so is there anyone who might be able to help?
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2answers
964 views
Saxophone vs. Clarinet differences for Traditional Jazz
I play with a jazz band that plays Trad and Dixieland, and I play tenor sax. After searching for overviews on differences between playing style (note bending, arpeggios, note sequences) for these two ...
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4answers
963 views
Notes sound wet on Saxophone
I recently decided that I wanted to learn the saxophone and purchased one online. I've been working my way through the basics (embouchure, starting notes, etc) and I've noticed that the notes are not ...
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3answers
2k views
Playing the saxophone in the rain
I've been given the opportunity to play in a one-day marching band sort-of deal in my local town. However, the scheduled date is set to rain, but the stubborn director says we're going to play on that ...
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5answers
538 views
A tenor mouthpiece made to use alto reeds
Around 15 years ago I played in a band with a tenor sax player who had a metal (silver or aluminum finish) mouthpiece but he used alto reeds. This seems strange to me, but I know this to be true ...
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1answer
276 views
What does “sax loco” mean?
I have found the notation "sax loco" in these two songs. What does it mean? I believe it's related to the fact that there are parts for two instruments in the same staff. By why "loco"?
From Moanin'.
...
3
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1answer
82 views
Can I teach other saxophone types?
I have been playing tenor for 3 years now. I am very experienced, and have given lessons to new tenors for a while. However, a new alto asked if I could teach them. I told them I could, because even ...
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0answers
213 views
Difference Between Cleveland and Eastlake Manufactured King Super 20 Alto Saxopone
What are the differences between a Cleveland manufactured Super 20 (specifically 60's) and an Eastlake manufactured alto Super 20 (specifically early/late 70s)?
A Cleveland alto seems to be selling ...
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2answers
3k views
Why saxophone is so common in Jazz Music?
Since the invertor of the saxophone was from Belgium, how did the saxophone become so popular in jazz music? I mean, it was created by a European in the 1840's, it wasn't created by Americans at the ...
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3answers
2k views
How to do vibrato on the saxophone?
I've recently gotten back into the saxophone (I play alto now, but learned on the soprano) and was wondering how to master vibrato. Any time I make even a slight change in my embouchure, it sounds ...
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1answer
186 views
What's the name of this brass instrument? [closed]
Can anyone tell me what instrument is playing on the minute: 2:08 of This Song ??
Well, I think it's a Sax, Trombone or Trumpet, but there is really something unique about it. I was wondering if it ...
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2answers
578 views
doubling trumpet and sax - fingering confusion
I am an intermediate player of both trumpet and sax - something like 5th grade in the ABRSM system. I played trumpet first (20 years off and on) and sax later (10 years off an on). I have tended to ...
