I have just started playing sax again after a break of about 10 years. I have seen loads of saxophone lesson youtube sites over the last 2 or 3 weeks most of which have over 100K subscribers. I cannot understand why this one doesn’t have more - in my opinion it’s far better and deserves more subscribers.
What a brilliant exercise. I've been playing tenor in a concert band for years and many of our charts have me playing in the low register using low C#, C, B & Bb. I often struggled to keep this soft without slipping into sub tone. This exercise immediately improved my ability to control dynamics on those lowest notes. Still can't quite manage the exercise with the pencil AND the octave key. That takes it to a new level, but working on it.
나는 한국에서 테너 색소폰을 독학으로 배웁니다 ㅡ많은 선생님과 동호회에서 테너는 낮은 E 밑으론 서브톤을 내야 한다고 강조합니다ㅡ후~후 하면서 ㅡ 내가 혼자 구석에서 연습하면 다가와서 서브톤만 강조할때 짜증났어요ㆍ 빠른리듬에 그들은 저음에서 적응하지 못합니다ㅡ내가 서브톤을 안내는게 아니고 다른패턴을 연습하는지 그들은 알려고 하지않고 나를 바보취급 할때면 화를 내지않으려 인내합니다ㅡ😂 즐겁고 건강한 삶을 보내세요ㅡ
I am Brazilian and I discovered your channel about 3 days ago. THanks for your exercises and explanations. Guy, you deserve more subscribers, your tips are awesome! God bless you!
I used to study oboe with an orchestra player. Oboe and sax are both conical bore, and so they kind of share the low note problem. The fellow I studied with was also a fan of the key pop to make the low note speak. Is the key pop ideal? No, ideally the note would just always start perfectly and beautifully...but the key pop is a whole lot better than missing the note in an exposed passage!
Great lesson! I always believed it was impossible to get undertones with octave keys up! Just managed to get my horn serviced and find the leak that was preventing good low notes. It took a few goes though, so persevere. Such a nice feeling to get those low notes and the rest of the horn feels more comfortable too. Must have been playing like this for years because the last service didn't find the leak.
I play the baritone, and low notes come out very easily, even at very quit sound level, much more easy than on tenor. For me it is more the quick action of the left pinky that is problematic, I guess I'll have to give my pinky muscles a fitness workout to overcome this. Your comment on leaks is very to the point, at some time, my low B was not sealing properly, and it took much more diaphragm pressure to get this note out, after a repair, it was so much easier.
I have 1942 Buescher Top Hat and Cane tenor. This presents a particular problem with the low B because the key is a tiny little key between the low B flat and low C sharp. The rest of your session was extremely helpful. Thanks heaps
Last week I followed what you said and I can't believe it but my tone has definitely improved. I haven't had a problem with hitting low notes due to your previous input with getting your embouchure and larynx in the correct position. This makes it even more clear. I've practised it and I can hit low notes in play 👍👍😁
what a fantastic learning experience. this is the first time I have come across the 4 mouth positions and a detail of the undertones practice benefits. I have been using the overtone practice to help me produce the low notes, but I can't wait to use this information. Thank you.
Another excellent video as usual. I'm a beginner (60). After struggling about two weeks I succeeded to play Db, Bb and B by raising my head slightly yesterday . Not perfect but used them in songs. I m not sure whether i'm developing a bad habit or not. Thank you so much for the videos. Greetings from Istanbul.
Excellent Jamie! But you got me in trouble watching you and Dr. Wallace, My wife heard about the six pack and said where were mine. I told her Guinness stout will do. 😂
Thanks for that. In the last two and a half years I have been been correcting my technique. I stumbled onto Scott Paddock then Nigel, Jay and Your good self. I am going to buy all of you a coffee. I went busking today in Sydney and made over $300. But it was the nice comments and compliments that really made my day. I will have to film Myself and my dog, who sings along and share with you guys sometime.
Thanks for sharing this valuable info! I used to virtually always play low notes subtone-plus, but whether or not I could get them right, depended on the reed I was using and the sax being warmed up. Only recently have I started playing full-tone low notes (after watching one of Wally Wallace's classes).
Thanks for that great insight into the low note problem ! Can I just explain an anatomical mistake , commonly made! Overbite is a VERTICAL overlap of the teeth, if the upper teeth are horizontally ahead of the lowers that is an OVERJET! Sorry to be pedantic but I am a retired orthodontist and it is a bit like a doctor being told that someone has a PROSTRATE ( lying down) problem , as opposed to a PROSTATE problem.
That's brilliant, I was looking for this for some time now. I knew the player was doing a low B but my was so loud. Subtone plus it's how to do it! Thank you so much!
The tongue / teeth info is great ! I can actually play fairly quietly now in my condo with the "high tongue / overbite" I haven't seen this info on any of the many how-to-sax videos I've been searching. However, I have to say that your explanation of the exercises is "lacking", especially for a total beginner like me. "Try and play the notes an octave lower" Heh, at this point, I'm just trying to play *any* note(s)
great lesson, good data! for a given input energy for the reed - effective length has to be long for long wavelength(low frequency), and effective length has to be short for short wavelength (high frequency) there are different ways to achieve this ie changing the input energy, reed strength (its different at different parts of a reed), effective length etc
@@GetYourSaxTogether suspect that by arching the tongue the airflow is modified to hit the back movable part of the reed enabling more energy to the fundamental modes
@@rameshrao3792 No. pretty sure that’s not the case. In fact, it’s a myth that you can direct the airflow onto any part of the reed. The cross sectional area of the tip opening is orders of magnitude smaller than your mouth so any changes in your mouth are irrelevant to airflow speed or direction at the Reed tip. Basically, whatever you do with your mouth ALL the air vibrates the reed in EVERY direction. Any changes in timbre are the effect of an alteration in the character of the standing wave in your vocal tract.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Good point - saw at least 6 modes of vibration in the reed as a cantilever simulation I did - longitudinal, lateral and rotational - bit like an aircraft, pitch, yaw, roll - thanks for the input, will experiment more with the vocal tract standing waves. Changing the 'effective length' made it a lot easier to produce the low notes on my TJ SR tenor - have to work on the quality of sound !
@@rameshrao3792 you have a Trevor James tenor? How does it compare to a Mark VI (which I own). To my ears, the TJ is the number one pick for a new pro level horn to replace my Mark VI, which is kind of wearing out...
Two carpenters, one cuts his ear off, the other one finds it and says "let's go get it sown back on" Earless one says, "That can't be my ear, mine had a pencil on top.
If you want to sound like Ben Webster, to have "subtone plus", you need very hard reed, mouthpiece with little tip open, and big mouthpiece chamber. If you use soft reed, and use overbite possition, like Ben Webster, you'll get over tone and squek. Reed support Is bed in that possition.
It's strange...I think...I red on someone sax blog, forum I can't remember, that Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Coleman, and other old jazz players, they used to play on very small tip open 3 or 4, and very hard reed. It's not logical, to you use very soft reed, and big tip open, to ger subtone plus, and put your lower lip, closse to the tip of the mouthpiece ( end of the reed ). You'll closse or reduce space between tip of the reed end mouthpiece, and suffocate the sound, by blocking vibration of the reed. That's the point!
Great lesson. Very clear and organized. However, my problem isn't getting DOWN to the low notes but starting on a low note--say starting on D, C#, C, etc.
If you have any problem with low note, first: 1) Check the key sealing properly; 2) Try use softer reed; 3) Try use a long face mouthpiece; 4) Make mouthpiece refacing; Adapting to an awkward mouthpiece is an extreme case, i think.
Interesting you demonstrate the benefits of moving forward and back on the mouthpiece. My teacher when learning at school taught me to stay in the middle of the mouthpiece all the time, so I got in the habit of getting a rubber square that sticks on the top to keep my teeth in place. Now I'm wondering if that is a bad approach?
Related(ish): I check for leaks by putting a rubber glove over the bell, holding a low Bb and inhaling (without the mpc, just the neck). Then if the glove flattens back out I know something isn't sealed like it could be.
@@GetYourSaxTogether It will only give you the general knowledge that there isn't a proper seal. I'd check Matt Stohrer's channel maybe he has something more specific for that. He's where I learned the glove trick. Even got one (of three) over my Super 20 bari's big bell lol.
Very interesting tips and exercises! Never heard of undertones before.. In trying you’re first exercise I have a hard time going any lower than Eb..and the tone is very airy and weak. Just my very first try. Is it just giving more work and time?
I thought this was a good exercise but after bringing my saxophone in for repair the technician recommended against putting anything under my Octave key. My Octave key was damaged.
Could the "Donkey Low Note" effect be an indicator of a leak? By Donkey, I mean you hear the overtone before the fundamental, and it sounds like "Hee-Haw". I started the tenor saxophone and I am playing a loaner one from my school that is kind of old. I can play an E and occasionally a D really well, but it's the notes below it that are unstable. I've already made sure my embouchure was relaxed.
Hey Jamie - just a quick one to say that I'm really, truly enjoying your content. Its unbelievable how much variation and confusion there is around different topics on educational TH-cam platforms and I love how rock solid and impactful your teaching is! I was wondering - when tonguing the low notes to start a phrase, do you keep your tongue on the reed with air pressure behind it and wait till it's your time to come in (and release the note) or do you simply wait until it's time to tongue the note and do it then, without your tongue 'waiting' on the reed?
I think the simplified version of what I'm trying to say is: is it good practice to wait with your tongue on the reed before blowing the first note of a phrase or piece 😅
Great Video Sir! Will a similar teeth and mouth position work for Altissimo? I need to graduate onto the high altissimo notes and having trouble understanding the embouchure and fingering HELP Please!
HI Jamie, great pointers as always. Interesting that you mention pulling your top teeth back to the tip of the mouthpiece to get that mellow Ben Webster sound, will have to give that a try because the general information that is published is to take more mouthpiece rather than less to avoid a thin tone and allow the reed to vibrate more. Does this work because you have taken your bottom teeth away?
I don't have a problem producing low notes but I do have a problem starting C, B, and Bb notes cleanly. Any advice when the first note in the song or after a pause is a low note?
hello I need some help im clarinet player I've been playing since 2008 now picked up alto sax and I am struggling with low notes and getting a good sound my question is what kind of mouthpiece should I be using I have no brand basic on basic mouth piece I tried the Yamaha 6c and that didn't really work I couldn't get not one note out Im currently using Hemeke filed reed 2.0 made by D"Addario if I should being playing on a different reed and mouth piece im all ears
My problem with low notes comes when I tongue them. The force of the tonguing, esp. with staccato, initiates a brief overtone before the fundamental kicks in. Any suggestions, please?
Exceptionally usefull exercise, but VERY painful. Not that it is hard, its just that when I slip up and make a single mistake I discovered that I have to hop and shake my arms to get rid of the irritation lmao. It might just be me but it feels very unpleasant. Thanks for the torture and improvement!
I had a problem with low notes for the longest time, I’m not saying like beginning band, I mean I was in freshman year still doing awful. Turns out my saxophone was just broken. Although I do believe at least until maybe 7th or 8th grade I would not have been able to, even on a fixed saxophone. I also want to point out to all of you, just because you don’t have a professional horn or even a good student model, doesn’t make it so you can’t play well. The main excuse is “well obviously someone who is used to having a pro horn is going to be able to play well on my bad horn as they have been able to practice with their good horn” and that’s not true. I main the Selmer Bundy II, and as awful as it is, I’m able to do a lot. I wonder if having a pro horn really is that good. I don’t think so, if my Bundy can allow me to play Ibert, I am sure anything’s possible.
It’s surprising how many horns going through my workshop have leaking pads or mis-adjusted mechanism even new horns (especially cheaper models but also expensive pro models). It doesn’t take much to make the low notes hard to speak. You really need to be able to check for leaks so you can know if it’s you or your horn. I’d say if 10 people took their Sax in for a check up then at least 7 would have a leak or adjustment issue of some description, normally saxophones from players who use their instrument for a living have the worst horns. Pro players hate spending money on their sax’s and also are better at being able to play it despite leaks and adjustment issues. Where a pro player can play round a leak a beginner would be stopped in their tracks because of it. You hear of people taking their Sax into a technician for a service or what ever and then saying it plays so much better, it sounds great as if the technician has sprinkled some magic pixie dust on it when all they probably did was a few adjustments and fixed a few leaks. Don’t forget that after having any work done a saxophone then starts to fall apart I.e leaks and the mis-adjustments then start to creep in. The better the quality of workmanship the slower this will happen.
@@GetYourSaxTogether not always the case. In my experience they just like to spend their cash on other things. I was surprised at how many know nothing about their instrument, even the basic stuff.
Hi, my problem is my finger won't reach Bb plate key. I am at a loss how reach this. Is it usual to put a rider on this? If I manage to reach it my hand gets painful cause such a stretch. Thnx Jude🙂
Why I cannot play low notes straight especially B flat , then C # and B but if I am coming gradualy from low note it's ok I am trying to play saxophone now for more than 6 years, same fricken problem. I feel like just throwing it, especially when I am told that you have to spend $100 to repair a sax if it needs it can you answer my question please , or anyone who can help
I tried the different mouth and tongue positions and have an issue there: when I put my tongue up, the pitch of the note increases. Not just a bit, but quite noticeable. Is there something I am doing wrong?
Ha! You just discovered a cool thing. That’s exactly what can happen yes. Most people can’t do it. try raising your tongue further back and see if that works.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Thanks, I will give that a try. I was playing around with high tongue and I found out that I can also use it to get a kind of vibrato, switching tongue positions. Even better: it just catapults me into some altissimo notes that were very difficult before like altissimo G. Also, I can now overblow all the palm key notes and high B, C and C# using the high tongue position. I read about that somewhere, but was never able to do it. It gives me a whole range of very easy altissimo fingerings, though I have to practice getting the correct pitch. So lots of new discoveries, thank you for that, but I am still working on the low notes and pitch issue. I may settle for loud low notes (which I can do reasonably well), and subtone, if I need lower volume. Thanks again, you have opened up a whole new range of tone options for me.
@@GetYourSaxTogether A strange design decision. Do you think that it paid off in the other registers? Like. Would the saxophone be less beautifully sounding if the design was different?
@@GetYourSaxTogether Sorry, when I don't want to play loud to wake up the neighborhood I can't get B, and Bb. I want to be able to play them soft too. If you know what I mean
![[TH] RNT vs SPG - VCT Ascension Pacific - Day 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RUTkf8Detj8/mqdefault.jpg)
I have just started playing sax again after a break of about 10 years. I have seen loads of saxophone lesson youtube sites over the last 2 or 3 weeks most of which have over 100K subscribers. I cannot understand why this one doesn’t have more - in my opinion it’s far better and deserves more subscribers.
You can come back anytime! 🤣
Agreed - Jaime is a boss!!
The amount of euww noises and aauh noises Ik making is amazing and I’m loving it
👍🏻
ive never been so furious at a piece of brass, but i am so hapy that this means im not just shit
🤣
What a brilliant exercise. I've been playing tenor in a concert band for years and many of our charts have me playing in the low register using low C#, C, B & Bb. I often struggled to keep this soft without slipping into sub tone. This exercise immediately improved my ability to control dynamics on those lowest notes. Still can't quite manage the exercise with the pencil AND the octave key. That takes it to a new level, but working on it.
Thanks for the comment Mike. Practice, practice, practice ... Good luck!
나는 한국에서 테너 색소폰을 독학으로 배웁니다 ㅡ많은 선생님과 동호회에서
테너는 낮은 E 밑으론 서브톤을 내야 한다고 강조합니다ㅡ후~후 하면서 ㅡ
내가 혼자 구석에서 연습하면 다가와서 서브톤만 강조할때 짜증났어요ㆍ
빠른리듬에 그들은 저음에서 적응하지 못합니다ㅡ내가 서브톤을 안내는게 아니고 다른패턴을 연습하는지 그들은 알려고 하지않고 나를 바보취급 할때면
화를 내지않으려 인내합니다ㅡ😂
즐겁고 건강한 삶을 보내세요ㅡ
Thanks, Jamie! I really look forward to learning more from you!! Cheers!
Welcome aboard!
I've found myself in the Video in 4:30! Thank you for the very helpful Video again.......! ☕👍✔🇩🇪
You’re welcome ☺️
Very helpfull many thanks l like your smile and your kindness in your voice
Thanks 🙏🏻
I am Brazilian and I discovered your channel about 3 days ago. THanks for your exercises and explanations. Guy, you deserve more subscribers, your tips are awesome! God bless you!
Awesome, thank you! Stay tuned for so much more!
I used to study oboe with an orchestra player. Oboe and sax are both conical bore, and so they kind of share the low note problem. The fellow I studied with was also a fan of the key pop to make the low note speak. Is the key pop ideal? No, ideally the note would just always start perfectly and beautifully...but the key pop is a whole lot better than missing the note in an exposed passage!
Interesting comment, thanks!!
Gurudev. Apnake sotokoti pronam janai.
😳
Sir . Ami kolkatta thaki. Apnake ami gurudev mani.
@@sukhendubiswas9985 yeh. I only speak English I’m
Afraid.
Great lesson! I always believed it was impossible to get undertones with octave keys up! Just managed to get my horn serviced and find the leak that was preventing good low notes. It took a few goes though, so persevere. Such a nice feeling to get those low notes and the rest of the horn feels more comfortable too. Must have been playing like this for years because the last service didn't find the leak.
Great comment! Thanks Juliet :-)
Good explaining man!
Thanks!
Great video, Jamie. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent tips Jamie! And I would highly recommend people to sign up for Jamie's Total Tone Mastery course, it's packed with tons of great material.
Thanks for that! Glad you're loving the course. :-)
I play the baritone, and low notes come out very easily, even at very quit sound level, much more easy than on tenor.
For me it is more the quick action of the left pinky that is problematic, I guess I'll have to give my pinky muscles a fitness workout to overcome this.
Your comment on leaks is very to the point, at some time, my low B was not sealing properly, and it took much more diaphragm pressure to get this note out, after a repair, it was so much easier.
You’re right, bari is much easier down there. 👍🏻
I find the low end of tenor to be by far the hardest of the 4 usual sizes
I have 1942 Buescher Top Hat and Cane tenor. This presents a particular problem with the low B because the key is a tiny little key between the low B flat and low C sharp. The rest of your session was extremely helpful. Thanks heaps
Sounds gnarly!
Last week I followed what you said and I can't believe it but my tone has definitely improved. I haven't had a problem with hitting low notes due to your previous input with getting your embouchure and larynx in the correct position. This makes it even more clear. I've practised it and I can hit low notes in play 👍👍😁
That’s fantastic man 🙏🏻
Awesome tips. Thank you loads 🙏
You're so welcome!
Thanks, your explanation is so easy to understand.
Anytime.
what a fantastic learning experience. this is the first time I have come across the 4 mouth positions and a detail of the undertones practice benefits. I have been using the overtone practice to help me produce the low notes, but I can't wait to use this information. Thank you.
You’re welcome. 👍🏻
Another excellent video as usual. I'm a beginner (60). After struggling about two weeks I succeeded to play Db, Bb and B by raising my head slightly yesterday . Not perfect but used them in songs. I m not sure whether i'm developing a bad habit or not. Thank you so much for the videos. Greetings from Istanbul.
If it works it works I guess!
Very helpful, Jamie - the Good Will Hunting clip got me 😆
;-)
Thanks, Jamie. So pleasant and helpful.👍🎷🎷
You’re welcome Robert 🙏🏻
I'll try this tomorrow.
Cool!
Excellent Jamie!
But you got me in trouble watching you and Dr. Wallace,
My wife heard about the six pack and said where were mine.
I told her Guinness stout will do. 😂
🤣
Thanks for that. In the last two and a half years I have been been correcting my technique. I stumbled onto Scott Paddock then Nigel, Jay and Your good self. I am going to buy all of you a coffee. I went busking today in Sydney and made over $300. But it was the nice comments and compliments that really made my day. I will have to film
Myself and my dog, who sings along and share with you guys sometime.
And Wally. How could I forget Wally!
Awesome! 👍
🤣
Thanks Jamie! What an innovative exercise, I’ll be sure to try that out!
Cool man 😎
Brilliant Jamie 👍👏👏👏
Thanks Stewart 🙏🏻
I spent less than 5 minutes on exercise 1 and my low notes were better! Thank you.
Yes!! 👍🏻
Thanks Jamie!, 💯💯💜💜💜 *innovative exercise*
Thanks 🙏🏻
Thanks for sharing this valuable info! I used to virtually always play low notes subtone-plus, but whether or not I could get them right, depended on the reed I was using and the sax being warmed up. Only recently have I started playing full-tone low notes (after watching one of Wally Wallace's classes).
Glad it was helpful! Interesting re those low notes. Thing is, if you play tenor, why WOULDN'T you want to play subtone!! lol
👍🏼! Thanks Jaime!
Sure thing 👍🏻
This was a fantastic vutorial, Jamie!
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for that great insight into the low note problem ! Can I just explain an anatomical mistake , commonly made! Overbite is a VERTICAL overlap of the teeth, if the upper teeth are horizontally ahead of the lowers that is an OVERJET! Sorry to be pedantic but I am a retired orthodontist and it is a bit like a doctor being told that someone has a PROSTRATE ( lying down) problem , as opposed to a PROSTATE problem.
Love that correction which I never knew. Thanks!
That's brilliant, I was looking for this for some time now. I knew the player was doing a low B but my was so loud. Subtone plus it's how to do it! Thank you so much!
Glad I could help!
mil gracias Jamie!!!!
You’re welcome 🙏🏻
That was so helpful. Thank you
👍🏻
Tried the first exercise on the alto tonight, no luck getting the low note. Think I will try the tenor tomorrow. Perseverance pays.
Obviously make sure your horn is fine too!
Yup, did the glove over the bell and suck in on low Bb trick and it holds a vacuum reasonably well.
No problem with the tenor, the alto is due for a check over anyway.
The tongue / teeth info is great !
I can actually play fairly quietly now in my condo with the "high tongue / overbite"
I haven't seen this info on any of the many how-to-sax videos I've been searching.
However, I have to say that your explanation of the exercises is "lacking", especially for
a total beginner like me.
"Try and play the notes an octave lower"
Heh, at this point, I'm just trying to play *any* note(s)
Keep practicing you'll get there.
great lesson, good data!
for a given input energy for the reed - effective length has to be long for long wavelength(low frequency), and effective length has to be short for short wavelength (high frequency)
there are different ways to achieve this ie changing the input energy, reed strength (its different at different parts of a reed), effective length etc
Interesting.
@@GetYourSaxTogether suspect that by arching the tongue the airflow is modified to hit the back movable part of the reed enabling more energy to the fundamental modes
@@rameshrao3792 No. pretty sure that’s not the case. In fact, it’s a myth that you can direct the airflow onto any part of the reed. The cross sectional area of the tip opening is orders of magnitude smaller than your mouth so any changes in your mouth are irrelevant to airflow speed or direction at the Reed tip. Basically, whatever you do with your mouth ALL the air vibrates the reed in EVERY direction. Any changes in timbre are the effect of an alteration in the character of the standing wave in your vocal tract.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Good point - saw at least 6 modes of vibration in the reed as a cantilever simulation I did - longitudinal, lateral and rotational - bit like an aircraft, pitch, yaw, roll - thanks for the input, will experiment more with the vocal tract standing waves. Changing the 'effective length' made it a lot easier to produce the low notes on my TJ SR tenor - have to work on the quality of sound !
@@rameshrao3792 you have a Trevor James tenor? How does it compare to a Mark VI (which I own). To my ears, the TJ is the number one pick for a new pro level horn to replace my Mark VI, which is kind of wearing out...
Two carpenters, one cuts his ear off, the other one finds it and says "let's go get it sown back on" Earless one says,
"That can't be my ear, mine had a pencil on top.
Ok 🤣
If you want to sound like Ben Webster, to have "subtone plus", you need very hard reed, mouthpiece with little tip open, and big mouthpiece chamber. If you use
soft reed, and use overbite possition, like Ben Webster, you'll get over tone and squek. Reed support Is bed in that possition.
Totally disagree actually. You need large tip and soft reed.
It's strange...I think...I red on someone sax blog, forum I can't remember, that Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Coleman, and other old jazz players, they used to play on very small tip open 3 or 4, and very hard reed. It's not logical, to you use very soft reed, and big tip open, to ger subtone plus, and put your lower lip, closse to the tip of the mouthpiece ( end of the reed ). You'll closse or reduce space between tip of the reed end mouthpiece, and suffocate the sound, by blocking vibration of the reed. That's the point!
@@belibeki fair enough.
Great lesson. Very clear and organized. However, my problem isn't getting DOWN to the low notes but starting on a low note--say starting on D, C#, C, etc.
You are not alone with this problem. Keep practicing and it will come.
pure genius! thanks Jaime! 😎
Glad you liked it!
Fantastic Jamie Big thanks
Thanks!
Thanks buddy your videos are great . Love the vibes from playing low notes . Great video with Dr Wally it looked like you guys had fun making it .
Thanks for watching, Timothy!
wow, amazing tips. how does your inner circle work from australia?
It works from Oz as anywhere else in the world my friend! We’ve got people some lovely Aussies inside right now. 👍🏻
2:26 😂😂😂 that’s it! Thank you for the advice, I’ll try it tomorrow so I don’t have problems with the neighbours 😰
Awesome 😎
If you have any problem with low note, first:
1) Check the key sealing properly;
2) Try use softer reed;
3) Try use a long face mouthpiece;
4) Make mouthpiece refacing;
Adapting to an awkward mouthpiece is an extreme case, i think.
Fair enough. Thanks for the advice.
Briliant! Thank You!
You're welcome!
Thank you man🤝
No problem 👍
Interesting you demonstrate the benefits of moving forward and back on the mouthpiece. My teacher when learning at school taught me to stay in the middle of the mouthpiece all the time, so I got in the habit of getting a rubber square that sticks on the top to keep my teeth in place. Now I'm wondering if that is a bad approach?
There are always exceptions. Just try, see what works for you! 😊
Related(ish): I check for leaks by putting a rubber glove over the bell, holding a low Bb and inhaling (without the mpc, just the neck). Then if the glove flattens back out I know something isn't sealed like it could be.
You learn something new everyday!! :-) PS, what if your neck pip is leaking though? lol
That is an awesome trick! Thank you.
@@GetYourSaxTogether It will only give you the general knowledge that there isn't a proper seal. I'd check Matt Stohrer's channel maybe he has something more specific for that. He's where I learned the glove trick. Even got one (of three) over my Super 20 bari's big bell lol.
Hi Jamie. Love the way you explain everything. I note you are playing on a tenor. Does this apply to an alto as well?? Thank you.
Sure, alto as well. 👍🏻
Geez, never thought of that - playing low notes with octaves open. My first attempts are very hard and loud.
Yeh, it’s intense!
How about for the Alto saxophone
Same.
I can’t seem to get the undertones to come out… is there something I’m missing?
Looser embouchure, more air!
The low c on my tenor sax vibrates extremely
Ok. Not sure if you’re saying that’s good or bad!
@@GetYourSaxTogether it gurgles
@@u-isabeats3346 some people put a cork in the bell. Try that?
15 : 23 My neighbors gonna love this exercise
😆
Very interesting tips and exercises! Never heard of undertones before.. In trying you’re first exercise I have a hard time going any lower than Eb..and the tone is very airy and weak. Just my very first try. Is it just giving more work and time?
For sure. You gotta blow pretty hard and really drop your jaw.
I thought this was a good exercise but after bringing my saxophone in for repair the technician recommended against putting anything under my Octave key. My Octave key was damaged.
Oops!
Could the "Donkey Low Note" effect be an indicator of a leak? By Donkey, I mean you hear the overtone before the fundamental, and it sounds like "Hee-Haw". I started the tenor saxophone and I am playing a loaner one from my school that is kind of old. I can play an E and occasionally a D really well, but it's the notes below it that are unstable. I've already made sure my embouchure was relaxed.
Possibly. Can’t say over a comment I’m afraid.
great tutorial
Thanks!
Hey Jamie - just a quick one to say that I'm really, truly enjoying your content. Its unbelievable how much variation and confusion there is around different topics on educational TH-cam platforms and I love how rock solid and impactful your teaching is! I was wondering - when tonguing the low notes to start a phrase, do you keep your tongue on the reed with air pressure behind it and wait till it's your time to come in (and release the note) or do you simply wait until it's time to tongue the note and do it then, without your tongue 'waiting' on the reed?
I think the simplified version of what I'm trying to say is: is it good practice to wait with your tongue on the reed before blowing the first note of a phrase or piece 😅
Yeh that’s how you tongue - you start with your tongue on the reed. Watch this and the other related vids. th-cam.com/video/-ko5qsJAesY/w-d-xo.html
Sir, do you have video on improvisation?
I’ve got a bunch! th-cam.com/play/PLBRGEAheQrplOQsUZdy-AkUTDnxcrPkal.html
Great Video Sir! Will a similar teeth and mouth position work for Altissimo? I need to graduate onto the high altissimo notes and having trouble understanding the embouchure and fingering HELP Please!
This will help th-cam.com/video/kURzx_fZ6Ho/w-d-xo.html
HI Jamie, great pointers as always. Interesting that you mention pulling your top teeth back to the tip of the mouthpiece to get that mellow Ben Webster sound, will have to give that a try because the general information that is published is to take more mouthpiece rather than less to avoid a thin tone and allow the reed to vibrate more. Does this work because you have taken your bottom teeth away?
same here, need to try this too
Well, it only works for subtone and it gives you a subdued, soft sound. It works cos you're muffling the reed more with your bottom lip.
Can a dental teeth guard be used?
Sure.
I don't have a problem producing low notes but I do have a problem starting C, B, and Bb notes cleanly. Any advice when the first note in the song or after a pause is a low note?
This has no science, but try popping your F finger down at the moment you blow.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Is that the Front F key or the bis key?
@@geofixated neither. Just your rh index finger.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Thank you!
hello I need some help im clarinet player I've been playing since 2008 now picked up alto sax and I am struggling with low notes and getting a good sound my question is what kind of mouthpiece should I be using I have no brand basic on basic mouth piece I tried the Yamaha 6c and that didn't really work I couldn't get not one note out
Im currently using Hemeke filed reed 2.0 made by D"Addario if I should being playing on a different reed and mouth piece im all ears
It’s very personal- you should try and go to a sax store and try out a few different ones based on their advice. Or get them sent. Try sax.co.uk
@@GetYourSaxTogether ok great ill try that
How do you play vibrato on low notes?!
Same as on normal notes... th-cam.com/video/WEx7fmFbc0w/w-d-xo.html
My problem with low notes comes when I tongue them. The force of the tonguing, esp. with staccato, initiates a brief overtone before the fundamental kicks in. Any suggestions, please?
Try to develop less aggressive tonguing, and work on using the minimum amount of tongue so your whole moth shape doesn’t change when you start a note.
@@GetYourSaxTogether thx!
Exceptionally usefull exercise, but VERY painful. Not that it is hard, its just that when I slip up and make a single mistake I discovered that I have to hop and shake my arms to get rid of the irritation lmao. It might just be me but it feels very unpleasant. Thanks for the torture and improvement!
It shouldn't hurt! 🤣
Good
Thanks 🙏🏻
I had a problem with low notes for the longest time, I’m not saying like beginning band, I mean I was in freshman year still doing awful. Turns out my saxophone was just broken. Although I do believe at least until maybe 7th or 8th grade I would not have been able to, even on a fixed saxophone. I also want to point out to all of you, just because you don’t have a professional horn or even a good student model, doesn’t make it so you can’t play well. The main excuse is “well obviously someone who is used to having a pro horn is going to be able to play well on my bad horn as they have been able to practice with their good horn” and that’s not true. I main the Selmer Bundy II, and as awful as it is, I’m able to do a lot. I wonder if having a pro horn really is that good. I don’t think so, if my Bundy can allow me to play Ibert, I am sure anything’s possible.
🙏
It’s surprising how many horns going through my workshop have leaking pads or mis-adjusted mechanism even new horns (especially cheaper models but also expensive pro models). It doesn’t take much to make the low notes hard to speak. You really need to be able to check for leaks so you can know if it’s you or your horn.
I’d say if 10 people took their Sax in for a check up then at least 7 would have a leak or adjustment issue of some description, normally saxophones from players who use their instrument for a living have the worst horns. Pro players hate spending money on their sax’s and also are better at being able to play it despite leaks and adjustment issues. Where a pro player can play round a leak a beginner would be stopped in their tracks because of it. You hear of people taking their Sax into a technician for a service or what ever and then saying it plays so much better, it sounds great as if the technician has sprinkled some magic pixie dust on it when all they probably did was a few adjustments and fixed a few leaks. Don’t forget that after having any work done a saxophone then starts to fall apart I.e leaks and the mis-adjustments then start to creep in. The better the quality of workmanship the slower this will happen.
Great comment. Let's not forget that people who play for a living have usually got much less money than other too!! lol
@@GetYourSaxTogether not always the case. In my experience they just like to spend their cash on other things. I was surprised at how many know nothing about their instrument, even the basic stuff.
@@ian_s7481 😜
Hi, my problem is my finger won't reach Bb plate key. I am at a loss how reach this. Is it usual to put a rider on this? If I manage to reach it my hand gets painful cause such a stretch. Thnx Jude🙂
Which horn do you play, bari, tenor, alto or sop?
@@GetYourSaxTogether Alto I can play overtones to High D and palm keys etc but this is getting to me.
Jamie, I cannot match or push my top teeth forward, my overbight is the opposite. Any thoughts, please.
How about tipping your head forward, chin into your chest a bit. Just a thought, and I’d never normally suggest this btw!!!
My low D sounds like a high D with register key and I still don’t understand why
First thing is always to get your instrument serviced.
@@GetYourSaxTogether ok thank u
Why I cannot play low notes straight especially B flat , then C # and B
but if I am coming gradualy from low note it's ok
I am trying to play saxophone now for more than 6 years, same fricken problem.
I feel like just throwing it, especially when I am told that you have to spend $100 to repair a sax if it needs it
can you answer my question please , or anyone who can help
You need to join my inner circle membership where you’ll get a detailed answer. 👍🏻
@@GetYourSaxTogether what is the link ?
@@Redwane-Music www.getyoursaxtogether.com/innercircle
I agree with you @mikelane6126 .Get your sax together is an excellent learning experience 👌🏿. I struggle with low notes
Awesome thanks! 🙏🏻
I tried the different mouth and tongue positions and have an issue there: when I put my tongue up, the pitch of the note increases. Not just a bit, but quite noticeable. Is there something I am doing wrong?
Ha! You just discovered a cool thing. That’s exactly what can happen yes. Most people can’t do it. try raising your tongue further back and see if that works.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Thanks, I will give that a try. I was playing around with high tongue and I found out that I can also use it to get a kind of vibrato, switching tongue positions. Even better: it just catapults me into some altissimo notes that were very difficult before like altissimo G. Also, I can now overblow all the palm key notes and high B, C and C# using the high tongue position. I read about that somewhere, but was never able to do it. It gives me a whole range of very easy altissimo fingerings, though I have to practice getting the correct pitch. So lots of new discoveries, thank you for that, but I am still working on the low notes and pitch issue. I may settle for loud low notes (which I can do reasonably well), and subtone, if I need lower volume. Thanks again, you have opened up a whole new range of tone options for me.
I can’t play anything like low F low E or low D and it really annoying
Have you considered taking a lesson? www.getyoursaxtogether.com/offers/yR5VatYc
for getting a good low note , i pull my larynx down, this feels like opening up the airstream
If it works, it works. Awesome!
Hi Jamie, what is your horn?
th-cam.com/video/ZdK7VdadkkE/w-d-xo.html
Hi Jamie, occasionaly is in the songs low A under our lowest Bb. Is it possible to play this note on tenor and if yes, how? Thank you for answer.
Cover the Bell half with your leg
Or put a Cone in the bell as extention
What Evert said!
@@evertbirgersson6194 then you won’t be able to play low Bb. 🤔
@@evertbirgersson6194 I love this trick it really works....if you don't fall over!
Why are they dreaded if they're the key the instrument is tuned to?
They're dreaded because they're hard to play due to the complicated physics of the saxophone.
@@GetYourSaxTogether A strange design decision.
Do you think that it paid off in the other registers?
Like.
Would the saxophone be less beautifully sounding if the design was different?
@@dorklymorkly3290 yeh, definitely worth the trade off!
Sax will test your very limit of patience and perseverance
What an instrument
Sighs
I still love it though
😎
Join the free “Get Your Tone Together” Masterclass Series now! www.getyoursaxtogether.com/tone
Cannot access that
What can’t you access my friend? Email me info@getyoursaxtogether.com
04:30 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
😆
HIGHT NOTE problems is not solved! HELP US, Please!
Sorry, no can do over a TH-cam comment! 😳
Hmmmmm *stares intently*
😳
sorry , but being loud is not the solution, what is you want to play soft
What I want, or what you want? Doesn’t it depend on the situation too?
@@GetYourSaxTogether Sorry, when I don't want to play loud to wake up the neighborhood I can't get B, and Bb. I want to be able to play them soft too. If you know what I mean
@@Redwane-Music I’ve got a video on subtone for that, or it might also be worth checking your horn doesn’t leak?