Questions tagged [saxophone]

One of a family of single-reed woodwind instruments with a brass body

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3 answers
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Can saxophones be in orchestras, not just like the symphonic jazz orchestras/big band?

I'm arranging a game piece from Minecraft called "Alpha" (aka end credits theme). I thought the idea of merging school band and orchestra would be a cool idea, but I don't know if writing ...
mikechad's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
192 views

Alto Sax producing octave notes without using key, won't play lower notes without tilting down

I bought my daughter a new saxophone last year, and she barely used it- ended up with a school loaner because she says it's "defective". The horn plays fine, but for lower notes it will ...
SaxyMomma37's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
209 views

What's this curved line after this note?

It's not a slur because it doesn't connect to any other notes, so what is it?
Ian Miller's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
145 views

Saxophone mute - or mic

I bought what was supposed to be a sax mute, for quiet practising, but it doesn't work. It's similar to a trumpet mute, which fits in the bell end. It seems that a lot of sound would emanate from the ...
Tim's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
236 views

Writing music for tenor sax from piano [duplicate]

I have a famous song written for piano that I want to transpose for tenor sax. Is that the correct term? It will be put on a piece of art as a gift so its very important I do this correctly. I am very ...
Taylor's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
421 views

Does playing with a mouthpiece patch affect your embouchure?

I have been playing clarinet since 6th grade, and now I am a sophomore in high school. My band director is doing an instrument check that is for a grade. One of the things that we are required to have ...
Lauryn Sharp's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
163 views

When orchestrating, is it ok to double the melody in a middle voice?

If I have, say, a trumpet and a tenor saxophone (among a larger ensemble), and the trumpet is leading the melody in a semi-high register. Can I double it in the middle register, with the saxophone, ...
FredrikH-R's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
225 views

No Saxophone part in band sheet music

I am attempting to have my band/orchestra students learn a song for our holiday concert, but the song doesn't have a saxophone part. Which other instrument part could I have my saxophone players join ...
Lindsey J Sanford's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
111 views

Tips on playing loudly on saxophone with supportive air

When I play saxophone I tend to play pretty quietly. My teacher always tells me to play louder and I do but it's like it’s still not loud enough. He tells me to play with more attack and I don't ...
Marissa Wheeler's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
366 views

What does "Purple label" mean when people are describing a Yamaha YSS-62 soprano sax?

My title pretty much says it all. I recently purchased a Yamaha YSS-62, and I am in heaven. It sounds great and plays easily (I now have a full rack!). But when I do research on the model I repeatedly ...
Cary Jensen's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
428 views

Trying to work out how to play this segment

I’m trying to work out how to play a segment on Saxophone. The piece is Gerry Rafferty’s famous solo but I can’t remember what one detail is. It’s like a slur but only on one note. Trying to work out ...
Titus Whitehead's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
559 views

I have to loosen my jaw to play the lowest notes on my Bari. Is that normal?

I've been playing saxophone for 50 years, mostly alto but more recently tenor. Just recently I acquired a baritone saxophone, and I've had it tuned by a seasoned technician, so I'm pretty sure it's in ...
Cary Jensen's user avatar
4 votes
5 answers
903 views

How can I find out which woodwind instruments have the same (or almost the same) fingering so it makes transitioning between those instruments easier?

Just for fun, I want to begin learning woodwind instruments. Unfortunately, I have to put some financial constraints on that project. Therefore, I am looking into learning how to play the recorder, ...
rattlesnake's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Which instruments have the same (or almost the same) fingering? (In other words, which instruments can you play if you know how to play one of them?) [closed]

First of all, I fully realize that to know how to actually play an instrument, there is more to it than just the fingering. Yet, I feel like it has to make things easier, right? What about recorder, ...
rattlesnake's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
450 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 ...
Demi Sobo's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
117 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 ...
user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
481 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 ...
Joseph Casey's user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
2k 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 ...
gurkensaas's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
1k 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 ...
Kyle Pollard's user avatar
  • 203
3 votes
1 answer
123 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 ...
ChessBaker251's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
527 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.
ddk's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
315 views

Not-quite-beginner beginner alto sax, how to select an instrument?

TL;DR: I need some guidelines for choosing a decent instrument for an amateur, at home, that isn't a complete piece of crap. I'm 44. 30 years ago, I was first chair alto saxophone in a marching bad. ...
3Dave's user avatar
  • 161
3 votes
4 answers
465 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 ...
user77466's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
161 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, ...
Roman's user avatar
  • 19
4 votes
1 answer
364 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 ...
Demniian's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
630 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. ...
Pyromonk's user avatar
  • 1,480
0 votes
3 answers
126 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 ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 101
1 vote
3 answers
904 views

Playing clarinet from saxophone music

I am starting to study the clarinet and have been given some sax music. As both instruments are in B-flat, if I use the clarinet to play the sax music: what must I be aware of? are there octaves ...
william stuart's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
447 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 ...
skinny peacock's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
475 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 ...
gt_isn't_canon-1234's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
52 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
Raymond Tyson's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
36 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
Raymond Tyson's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
562 views

Eighth rest, quarter rest, eighth+quarter notes dotted

How can I count this example? I am having a hard time figuring it out.
Raymond Tyson's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
573 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 ...
Luke's user avatar
  • 21
5 votes
2 answers
258 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 ...
Tom's user avatar
  • 4,872
4 votes
2 answers
413 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 ...
Reedyjohnson's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
169 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 ...
Pyromonk's user avatar
  • 1,480
1 vote
3 answers
463 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 ...
Colin dobbie's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k 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 ...
juancho's user avatar
  • 11
3 votes
1 answer
338 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 ...
Pyromonk's user avatar
  • 1,480
2 votes
5 answers
390 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 ...
Cyberfrost97's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
720 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 ...
Pyromonk's user avatar
  • 1,480
12 votes
4 answers
4k 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 ...
Pyromonk's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
140 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 ...
Shady Atef's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k 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 ...
Duston's user avatar
  • 835
33 votes
4 answers
8k 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 ...
Khalian's user avatar
  • 541
1 vote
3 answers
653 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 ...
user45266's user avatar
  • 12.6k
1 vote
2 answers
12k 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 ...
Bernard Moses's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
120 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?
Pham's user avatar
  • 21
12 votes
1 answer
5k 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. ...
Pika Supports Ukraine's user avatar