Questions tagged [saxophone]
One of a family of single-reed woodwind instruments with a brass body
134
questions
5
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2answers
254 views
Can the Eb alto clarinet and the Eb soprano clarinet be substituted?
I am putting together a band to play the piece Variations on a Korean Folk Song by John Barnes Chance. I Was wondering if I could substitute both clarinets parts with a Alto sax seeing as they are ...
3
votes
0answers
67 views
Writing for the saxophone [closed]
Are there special symbols or text instructions that are more or less specific to the saxophone?
What difficulties or peculiarities are there with the saxophone that a composer or arranger would need ...
2
votes
2answers
141 views
Wooden Saxophone Project
So my friend was planning on making an all wooden saxophone. I thought it was a pretty good idea but had some doubts in it like the piston valves and such. I saw this being a problem because of the ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
In what key signature is singing written in, and how do I adapt for alto saxophone?
Note: I am not that good in general music theory but I will try to get my point across as best as I can.
I am currently in charge of writing/transposing the scores of a little hobby band.
I got the ...
9
votes
1answer
324 views
What's the difference between EWI fingering and saxophone fingering?
I recently purchased an Akai EWI Solo - it's an electronic woodwind instrument that mimics a saxophone. As I watched several videos of experienced EWI players unboxing the EWI Solo, I heard advice ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Jazz quartets without chord instrument [closed]
I want to write my degree thesis in music theory on arranging for jazz quartets without chord instruments (i.e. Vibraphone, piano, guitar...). For instance, there are the recordings of Gerry Mulligan ...
10
votes
1answer
360 views
Meaning of a Notation Symbol (
I wonder if anyone can tell me what the curved notation next to the 8th notes are. If it helps, this is a score for saxophone.
Thanks.
3
votes
4answers
285 views
What is this embellishment called?
There's a technique I've seen used a lot in jazz, gospel, pop singing, etc. where someone will play a note and play a quick semitone up and back down into another note. Heres an audio example. Does ...
1
vote
2answers
94 views
How do I know what key to play in? [closed]
so i've been playing the Tenor Sax for a bit now. I'll download some sheet music or things along that line off the internet to practice, only sometimes it just doesn't sound right. Like for example, ...
4
votes
1answer
309 views
Why is the key signature completely different from the actual notes?
Beginner here. So, I wanted to play this little phrase that is written, supposedly, in A major with 3 sharps on F, C and G. However, every G has a natural sign and there's a B and a E with sharps (no ...
2
votes
1answer
141 views
High G and G# splitting/jumping to the next harmonic on saxophone
I had asked this question on SaxOnTheWeb a while ago, but I'm still battling with this problem, and it makes certain pieces (like The Beatles' "Come Together") virtually unplayable.
...
0
votes
2answers
84 views
Saxophone sheets
This is my first post in this StackExchange, so I dont know if it is pertinent. Please let me know if necessary to change something.
I am playing saxophone already for some months and I would like to ...
5
votes
1answer
249 views
What is this sax technique called and how is it done?
I recently heard an old Motown hit on the radio called "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker and the Allstars and the Sax part tore me up. It sounds to me like it's seriously overblown, but I don't play ...
3
votes
3answers
129 views
If your saxophone is leaking spit, can it damage the pads?
My saxophone has been leaking spit all over the first three keys that you put your fingers on (don't know the names of them) and I'm worried that it will damage the pads. My parents are renting it ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
32nd+ sixteenth +quarter notes
I have doing questions here on this website, and I learned so much but some examples look hard to understand.
In this example how can I count?
Thanks
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Rest and eighth notes [duplicate]
I am learning saxophone, so I don't know how to play this part; may somebody help me?
Thank you
1
vote
4answers
417 views
Eighth rest, quarter rest, eighth+quarter notes dotted
How can I count this example? I am having a hard time figuring it out.
2
votes
2answers
237 views
Alto Saxophone Stuck Playing F Sharp
Yesterday I took a break during practice and when I returned I noticed my F key will only reliably play an F#, so when going through the chromatic scale my F and F# fingerings are now playing the same ...
5
votes
2answers
176 views
Saxophone alto: are the levers under G# key on any use except comfort?
I am wondering what is the utility of the two small levers under the G# key of an alto saxophone (hightlighted in picture, pressed by the little finger of the left hand).
It does not seem to have any ...
4
votes
2answers
195 views
Alto sax screw fell out
I have a Jupiter alto saxophone, and in the middle of practicing I suddenly heard something fall into the bell. It turned out to be a small screw. I scoured the sax trying to find an empty hole but ...
2
votes
2answers
96 views
Woodwind instrument key bumper material choice
Some wind instruments' keys feature bumpers at the bottom to protect material from scraping against material (and for a few other reasons). The ones on my saxophone are made from something resembling ...
1
vote
3answers
343 views
Building Guitar/piano chord progressions over alto sax scales
I'm trying to play some guitar/piano chord progressions for my daughter to improvise over using the scales she's learning on her alto saxophone and looking for some help.
I know that to transpose I ...
1
vote
1answer
456 views
Write tenor and alto sax Score along piano
please ! someone help me understand this.
I am writing a score for piano and tenor sax in C Major, simple.
Now, how do you write the music on the sheet for both instruments
In this example, is the ...
2
votes
1answer
225 views
Effective ways of muting saxophone
The question has been partially answered here before but for an inexperienced, self-taught musician who lacked the skills to control volume through embouchure adjustments.
I was wondering if there ...
2
votes
5answers
183 views
Coming from Trumpet: Which woodwind? [closed]
I've played trumpet for 3 years, and I'm thinking about picking up a simple woodwind instrument. I think personally, either clarinet or alto sax. But please, based on what I have played, price, and ...
1
vote
1answer
224 views
Saxophone upper register adjustment
As is common for a lot of instruments from the saxophone family, the upper register (notes played with the octave key pressed) on mine is a bit high (by about 10-15 cents). I practise a lot with a ...
12
votes
4answers
3k views
Playing saxophone without using the octave key
A few years back, I have noticed by accident (I forgot to press the octave key while practising one of the musical pieces) that I can play all the notes on the tenor saxophone that normally require ...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
Which C# note shall the tenor sax produce when nothing is pressed?
Currently, I am practicing the left hand notes on my tenor sax and I noted a sharp difference between the A and G. Using cleartune app I discovered that I jump a whole octave and I don’t produce ...
4
votes
1answer
911 views
Tenor sax trouble with low D and E (other notes are fine)
I recently bought a 1950's Conn Naked Lady sax and it works fine except the low D and E are, for lack of a better word, "bubbly", or unstable. It's not a leak because C and below sound fine. I've ...
31
votes
4answers
7k views
Why is the saxophone not common in classical repertoire?
Other than the fact that its relatively new compared to other orchestral instruments (e.g. the violin), why is the saxophone (any of them from the family, alto, baritone, tenor etc) not more prevalent ...
3
votes
1answer
445 views
Why does it sound so different between a 'C' and a 'D' on an Alto Saxophone? [closed]
I'm very new to Saxophone, and I wanted to learn the octaves. However, when I played, the C sounds much much lower than a D (middle d btw). I don't know what's wrong. Am I playing it incorrectly? ...
1
vote
3answers
552 views
Quick conversion between concert pitch and written notes
I've always been intrigued/annoyed/interested by the nature of transposing instruments, and specifically, recently I've been getting into discussions with my saxophonist friends. Lately, I've found ...
1
vote
2answers
7k views
Alto saxophone fingering for notes written below the staff
I am a beginner on the alto saxophone. I understand the fingering for playing notes on the staff but I do not understand the fingering for playing notes below the staff. Sometimes there are two extra ...
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vote
3answers
102 views
Do I play my key signature for my instrument or on the paper?
If I'm auditioning for jazz for high school band and I play the flute, and my audition piece is for saxophone, do I play my key signature or the key signature on the sheet music?
12
votes
1answer
4k views
Why does C# sound extremely flat when saxophone is tuned to G?
Note: when I mention the name of a note in this question, I'm referring to the saxophone pitch, not the concert pitch.
I play the alto saxophone, and lately I've been practicing mostly with a tuner. ...
2
votes
1answer
519 views
Saxophone articulation - interpreting symbols
I have a number of pieces that feature the following articulation symbols (highlighted in red; last bar of Andy Firth's "The Bullfrog Bounce"):
I've asked my teacher how to play them, but his ...
3
votes
5answers
3k views
What's the Standard pitch for a Saxophone and its frequency?
I am new to Saxophone and music in general.
We've been discussing the tuners applications on iOS and its pitch standards. All the applications I used had A4 = 440 Hz, but the tutor claims C4 to be ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
How does Rainbow's End by Peter Weniger work?
This is Rainbow's End, composed by German saxophonist Peter Weniger. It first sounds like a straightforward 12-bar Blues in F, The melody sounds pretty normal, but as soon as it comes to the solos, ...
0
votes
2answers
899 views
What is a B sharp and a C double sharp?
I'm going through Larry Teal's daily studies for an alto saxophone (E-flat instrument). I'm practicing D sharp minor and I am seeing a B sharp and a C double sharp. Is B sharp a C? and the C double ...
3
votes
2answers
127 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
198 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
157 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
918 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 (...
2
votes
5answers
158 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.
...
5
votes
4answers
6k 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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2answers
1k views
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2answers
124 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 ...
3
votes
5answers
175 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?
2
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2answers
2k 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
3k 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 ...
