Forum of the Saxes

BariSax37 · Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 70 Location: Warren MI

Is it normal that every Summer, Winter, and Fall I sound great but every spring I sound like crap? If this is normal can somebody explain to me why?

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Jason Hamilton
Baritone Saxophonist
Warren Mott High
Warren MI

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:44 pm Post subject:

Umm...I can think of something but it's nothing sax related...or appropriate to say in public Mr. Green

...that was mean. I honestly don't know. I know I like to practice outside in the spring and talk about trying to strive for a constant tone outside!
_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

toktok · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 17

I think it has something to do with the temperature and the relative humidity in the room. You do realise that metals do change, expand and shrink. SO that could be a problem, where i live temps go from 90 in summer to -5 in winter. I haven't really seen or heard a difference, but the humidity doesn't realy change. I am no tech, but that is what i would see.
Or maybe you have a slight allergy in spring. And unbenost to you your throat or lungs are changing ever so slightly...

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 10:04 pm Post subject:

I don't mean to shoot you down toktok, but I have major sinus and allergies (which spell out congestion problems) but my tone is the same year round.
_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

toktok · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 17

hey i was just trying to find some kind of reasoning... i don't even know where he lives... for all i know the temp is the same the whole year. But i do know that your sax will change tone depending on the temp and humidity.
no your not shooting me down.

jules · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 63 Location: brighton- uk

something astrological ? Laughing

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"Cease this infernal tootling!" Montgomery Burns.

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

I find that my tone stays the same during the course of the year, as long as I have a good reed, and I've been practicing consistently. Where do you live, BariSax? Perhaps it it your equipment that is giving you trouble during the spring.

Where I live, the temperatures regularly fluctuate more than 80 C during the year. In the winter, it gets very cold and dry, with temperatures having gone as low as -40 C; in the summer, it is usually very warm and mildly humid, and with temperatures having gone as high as 40 C.

I find that the temperatures in my region during the summer are perfect for a saxophone player; the temperature outdoors is the same as the temperature indoors, and my reeds much last longer and respond much easier, due to the moderate level of humidity present. I find that I go through reeds much faster in the winter, as they usually only last about a week; however, in the summer, they can last more than twice as long.
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Thomas Hay
Sax player, music student, composer, Finale user, and part-time slacker/procrastinator.

BariSax37 · Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 70 Location: Warren MI

I live in michigan, where the weathers as unpridectiable as it can be.
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Jason Hamilton
Baritone Saxophonist
Warren Mott High
Warren MI

JazZz · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 170

my band had a recent trip to Orlando FL. for a competition thing and while we where down there we all noticed that something down there was helping us play amazing. We weren't sure if it was the hummidity, but I was hitting all my ranges, and it was the same with everyone.

Just my two cents on how weather affects horns

Tully · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 170 Location: Woodinville, WA

GAS_Wyoming · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 84 Location: Gillette, WY

The constant humidity of Florida is one BIG factor in how a horn plays. All the pads are sealing well under those conditions. It's really noticable that horns don't seal well. Humidity averages somewhere around 40%. My trio was playing on Tuesday evening during a thunderstorm and we all noticed an improvement in how we sounded about 1/2 hour after the storm started.
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Greg Smith
Sop/Alto/Tenor/Bari - Whatever the band will let me play!

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:38 am Post subject:

Wow...so all I have to do is play the "Rain Dance" and get a storm, then I'll sound better? Dang...I will definitely remember that :p
_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania