Problems when you first started playing sax?

CMelodyMan · Problems when you first started playing sax?

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?

JPSaxMan

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

Thomas

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

-88-

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?

JPSaxMan

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

-88-

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

altosaxgeek5

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

JPSaxMan

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

CMelodyMan

alto-girl

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

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

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.

Bariman

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

darby dylan

i was only five so i had to buy a soprano but a curly one because the alto was to big for me and that is the only problem i had