Forum of the Saxes

CMelodyMan

What were some problems you had when you first started playing sax? Did you have trouble holding-out a note? Did the nasty taste of a fresh cane reed make you gag?

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Alto: Yanagisawa (880), Morgan 6M w/ Rico
C Melody: c.1919 Martin Inspiration
York soprano

JPSaxMan · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject:

Oh God, I'll never forget it. The first day we all gathered in the little music room for our first alto lesson the instructor had us all put the reeds in our mouths...we all gagged in unison Laughing

.

I honestly had very few problems besides building up the chops which I were unaware of back then

Then again it was so long ago I can't really remember. Probably tounging my notes was a somewhat challenge. Rolling Eyes

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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Thomas · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 223 Location: Alberta, Canada

Hey, I thought fresh reeds tasted good... :D

Well, the only problem I can think of was learning the fingerings. As you probably already know, I started alto in the middle of the year, so I was learning the instrument on the fly in class. By the end of the year, I was actually better then the other altos in the class. Two of them quit the same year - I thought it was because they were jealous. I later found out that dance was their true calling... Confused

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Thomas Hay
Sax player, music student, composer, Finale user, and part-time slacker/procrastinator.

-88- · Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 26

Okay, my problem is now, since I have been playing less than a year. So you know I am still trying to get the basic basics down, like scales.

Here is my question: Besides lots of practice to make the fingering automatic, how did you guys think about the fingering before you made it subconscious? I mean do you 'see' the finger positions in your mind's eye, or do you see the note on the staff and associate that with a particular fingering shape or what?

I come from the piano so have been thinking in terms of the piano keyboard without the transpostion, but this causes a translation, mentally, and I think that slows me down.

What did you do?
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The heart plays, little else matters.

JPSaxMan · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:08 am Post subject:

Honestly, constant practice with note exercises was the only way I learned them. What you should do now is get a few method books (for beginners, duh) and go through them at your pace. At this level, you are still learning basics which is fine, and it's great that you're willing to truck on ahead.

With time it will come to you and, hey, I've had many friends who had to give it up...not that we want you to, but if you find another passion, keep sax as a sideline and pursue your passion. It's still early in the game yet. Very Happy

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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

-88- · Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 26

Wonderful advice JP, in fact excellent. I am, though, bitten, as the saying goes and love the sound of saxophones in general, the soprano in particular, and just blowing. Weird
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The heart plays, little else matters.

altosaxgeek5 · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

I didn't have that many problems.. Took me a while to actually MAKE a sound.. Fingerings weren't a problem at all.
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Smile

Antigua Winds 520-LQ Alto Sax

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 2:14 pm Post subject:

I want a soprano just to have one...actually never made a sound on one though...want to like mad man! Twisted Evil

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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

CMelodyMan · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:31 am Post subject:

alto-girl · Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 62 Location: Australia

I found it hard to tongue too. Since I play the flute, I was tonguing at the roof of my mouth, not on the reed. Also, I had to get used to putting my teeth on the mouthpiece.

Learning to control the saxophone also was hard!

Pinkdots · Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 10

Since ive just started out i think its my fingers being a little stiff, i need to loosen them up a great deal and work on my timing. lol im sure i will get there.

Jeff · Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 9

I tried playing the sax once, and got very frusturated that I couldnt get my fingers to move the way I wanted them. So I stopped, I started playing the piano, got my fingers limber. And then tried playing again with a little more success.
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Bariman · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject:

Welcome, Jeff. Yes, it can be frustrating when beggining, especially when maybe the horn you're playing on is at fault. My first sax (tenor) had quite a few pads that weren't sealing, and I tried to play it about a month before I took it to the shop!

Bariman
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Resident Conn Aficionado, Baritone Saxophonist
Currently Moderating 'Vintage Horns', and the Usergroup for Bari Saxophonists!