Questions tagged [saxophone]
One of a family of single-reed woodwind instruments with a brass body
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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. ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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Saxophone pearl key is down by default [closed]
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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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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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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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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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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What are the 14 different types of saxophone?
I heard my saxophone instructor say that there are 14 sizes of saxophone. But, I've only heard of 4 (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone). What are the other 10 types?
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How to play super high G on alto sax
Is it possible to play the G6 on an alto saxophone?
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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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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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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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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 ...
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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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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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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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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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Are bass clarinet and tenor sax notations played an octave lower? [duplicate]
I am totally blind, and I read music Braille. I also use a MIDI keyboard to make musical tracks using a sequencer.
Recently, I had a piece, October by Eric Whitacre, transcribed into Braille music.
...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Saxophone trill fingering for E6-G6
I'm playing (rather arranging) Wizard Wheezes by Nicholas Hooper for our band's chamber music unit.
At the end, there is a trumpet shake from concert G to concert Bb. It would be really nice to be ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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'.
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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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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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