Forum of the Saxes

cannonball_phil · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 13

I acn do a lot of things while improving like growling using the altissimo regester and flutter tunging perfectly but i dont know to do subtones. does any one have any ideas ?

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Guest · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:50 am Post subject:

cannonball_phil, maybe this will help;

Subtone

The term subtone refers to the technique of playing with soft tone on slow songs and is a technique used mainly in the lower register.

If you are familiar with Plas Johnson’s tenor solo on The Pink Panther theme you will hear this tone in the beginning when he plays the low notes. Stan Getz was also noted for his beautiful subtone approach on tunes such as Girl from Ipenema and Here’s that Rainy Day. Other classics include Danny Boy by Sil Austin, Pete Christleib’s tenor solo in Unforgettable by Natalie Cole and Boots’ version of The Shadow of Your Smile. Paul Desmond also had what some refer to as a fuller subtone approach on alto. Indeed an excellent saxophonist with a classic tone. Another outstanding master of this technique on tenor was Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis.

I do not know when this technique was developed but it was very popular in the big band era and remained popular in the 50s and 60s, especially on the slow Top 40 hits. And you will still hear it today in many forms of sax music.

We are all familiar with what I refer to as the “marching band” sax sound in the lower register when the player produces a rather loud honking tone. The subtone, on the other hand, is usually a soft, warm, whisper type tone although it can be used with a lot of volume. The subtone concept can be used in all registers of the horn and in up tempo music but is generally associated with the low register of slower tunes.

A few suggestions to get started;

1. Assuming that all of the pads are leak proof, play a low G.

2. Bring the lower lip back over the bottom teeth so that more upper skin below the lip line area is pressing gently against the reed. Depending on the width and thickness of your lip, you may need more, or less, of the skin below the lip line against the reed. If you have a wide lower lip, this can work to your benefit. If you have a thin lower lip, more meat on the reed from the area below the lip line may be needed for a cushion.

3. Take a little more m/p into the mouth and relax the jaw more than you would normally do in your standard embouchure setting. However, keep in mind that some teachers disagree about “relaxing the jaw.” It works for some us but perhaps not for others so keep an open mind.

4. Play the G. Relax and do not blow hard. Play a soft, yet full tone. Keep adjusting the lower lip until you are getting a little mix of air around the corners of the mouth with the tone. Not a lot of air (which is optional) but just enough to make the lower jaw and corners of the mouth relax. If you can’t produce a little air around the corners do not be concerned because it is not needed to produce the subtone. In place of that, you may want to add some air in your tone which is fine since many players prefer a mix of air and sound to make it sound sweet for the general effect.

5. Play G to F and hold the note long. Keep adjusting and think “whisper.”

6. Now G to F to E and so on.

7. When you get to low D and C, the note may crack and jump an octave. This tells you that you need more lip over the teeth and to relax the jaw. Some players will “lift” the horn slightly on low D and below to take the pressure off the lower jaw. It all depends on what works best for you.

8. Repeat this over and over. G to F to E to D to low C holding and maintaining a soft whisper tone.

9. Once you begin to get good control of it, you can adjust the volume, corners of the mouth, amount of lip in the mouth, amount of air/tone mix, etc. to develop your own subtone quality.

This is, by no means, the only way to approach the subtone but maybe it will help you get started. It is a technique that is well worth learning.

Other links for the subtone;

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-subtone.html

http://www.halleonard.com/item_de...oduct&keywords=john+laughter+