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Excellent tutorial. I find that this method really helps my ear as I can hear the note before I play it, as opposed to regular long tones that are kind a boring on their own, which is why most players don't do them. I know so many intermediate players that play to a pretty good level, but their tone is weak and all over the place. I talk to them about long tones and overtones and they look at me like im an alien. They fall down the rabbit hole of just buying more mouthpieces, thinking that's the answer. I also use this method to work out intervals that I can then transcribe easily to other tunes and more importantly different keys if my ears don't do the job straight off. Thanks for the clip Dave !

“Your 2 best teachers” has got to be one of the best insights I’ve heard in a while. Lately, I have been focusing on this more. Thanks for that!

Long tones are my form of meditation.. mostly low register and harmonics. But your idea is a good one.. I'll try it ! Thanks a lot

It’s always good to revisit the basics.

Good way to work on you tone. Thanks, Dave.

Yes cork grease is a good idea! Chap stick is good substitute or Vaseline. Don't use too much or you may inhale it!

Dear Hans Mathia! Get a washing water stone with 4 and six thousandth grit. Slap your reed on it with distilled water and get that baby flat and shiny! Then slap it on your M.P. do the vac test. It should cling for approx one to 4 seconds. If it does good. If it doesn't your rails may be chewed up or worn, get a new mouth piece. It should stay glued for 3 to 4 seconds then pop. Take a fifty cent piece and slap the reed on it at the tip. Adjust to a hair overhang and burn using fifty cent piece as a burn shield with a match or lighter. Brush off the ash, now place it on your m.p. your reed should be a little firmer. Repeat until the reed at least stays stuck 3 to 4 seconds. This way you can adjust your reed strength and get a good seal. Happy tootling! Santa Clause!

Thanks! I'm in a layover since about 2011. Last known venue at home. Sax seized up lower register. It was my grandfather's Buescher E flat alto which I had restored from when he was in the Islands. The lambskin keys were all dryed out the whole.instrument was taking on a turcouse PA t Ina. Mom wouldnt.let me play it because my grandfather had tuberculosis. She passed away in 87 . I dragged it out from the closet and commenced to become an elephant caller. I used grease to seal the neck I got into reed.making. those were the good old days! Maybe I'll run across anther one and take.up where I left off. Thank you for the tips now I just gotta find me another one. Here's a tip for you! Never make an alto sax swab from a chamois and salmon hook! The hook will gouge the barrel and your high frequency will suffer! Never ever use a fish hook for a sax swab you'll permanently deface the polished bore! Nuff said happy playing go to it. Little toot out. Namasdei!

Fine thanks ♥

Enjoying your videos. Why did you put the ligature on backwards. I've never seen that before.

Hi, Dave could you tell me how to choose right reed for me???

No mention of cork grease? Routinely greasing the cork prior to attaching the mouth piece allows the mouth piece to glide on without much of a struggle. I apply a generous amount of grease and rub it in with my fingers. I then coat the other end of the neck with the residual cork grease from my fingers which allows the neck to glide into the sax body. This preserves the cork integrity, and precludes xs pressure that might bend the neck. I perform this each and every time I play.

thanks

When I have put the Reed in the right place, and sucking, it’s impossible to make it to create a vacuum, it’s leaking. Otherwise it works fine. Otto Link 7*, Legere Signature #2.

Thanks!

Thank you! I’m a decades long autodidact so I haven’t been trained in this properly. I do put the neck on first but have always pushed the mp on without any angle pressure on the neck. Also I find it helps to lick the table before placing the reed. I’ve become an adherent of taking a milling scraper and removing a microscopic layer of the face. Sometimes it’s just the oxidation that is scraped away. I’ll then scrape the top of the reed to help the heart be symmetrical. This has brought the number of reeds that play well from maybe 50% to 80%.

What kind of neck strap is that and mouth piece set up ☮️🎵🎵🎵🎷

Thanks Dave. Good instruction on important techniques. I’ve been playing for 50+ years but there’s always something to learn or be reminded of.

Great info for a beginner like me

❤❤❤❤

Super important message Dave!

They’re both great voices! I haven’t tried a tenor, but I will! I love both, but saxophone is a very intuitive instrument and feeling while playing can be more crucial than hearing experience!

Great info, Dave. I haven't been able to play much for the last couple of months because my left thumb and wrist hurt so bad. I might be close to being addicted to the meds my doctor prescribed. I'm seeing an Occupational therapist in Glendale, CA, who specializes in musician injuries at the end of the month. I remember you had a horn-related injury a while back.

Thanks! I will try it out. I just got a new mouthpiece recently and I still have to figure out the right technique to play it

My tip: I sing first, my throat opens and then I play note and it comes out easy. And maybe some time it will be sound great 😅

Great stuff. Thanks for the reminder.

So awesome Sir.

3 minutes into this he hasn't shown a goddamn thing yet

Please stop talking just get to the point

Very encouraging, Dave, thank you!

Then play it over and over and over. Each time it'll get better and you'll find a different place to work on! Thanks, Dave!

Love your videos! just picked up a saxaphone and starting my journey!

Watched again and get confused with the point on less resistance on alto. Maybe it’s an old Conn feature?

Great value here.

I transcribed Caravan melody, very fun tune to play after my routine exercises) Still can’t believe that I study a sax

Great motivating teaching

Awesome.

Am I first?

I’ve tried hard , but today I got this! Slight change in embouchure, tongue position and airspeed! Feels like changing gears!

Yeah...this is the way

Awesome

That’s good portion of philosophy, positive mindset and patience. Have a good day Dave!

I find your explanation best on YT along with Sirvalorsax channel, nothing fancy - just truth!

Funny but it’s a most honest truth. Wish I knew this when I was in music college 15 years ago.

Breathing is a reason why I choose a saxophone to play. Overtones, long tones, thinking of way I put air through the horn is so soothing and satisfying.

I love to practice long tones! Tell more about mouthpieces and reeds, I use Legere 2.25 reed with Yamaha 4c for two months and now I feel like I need change to bigger tip opening.

Man of wisdom!

What a man of knowledge, thank you!

I don't know anything about saxophones but I have been playing guitar and bass for over 30 years and right now my favorite guitar is a Glarry (I do have two Glarry guitars that I don't play. Not bad but not very good. "Value" guitars for sure) but my Glarry bass is the best bass I have ever owned.