Thanks for sharing your experience. I have always wanted to play soprano saxophone. I started with the alto, and right now I'm trying the soprano. I won't give up. :)
some of the wobbling that you're talking about can be attributed to the facing of the mouthpiece not being aligned with the reed. if the left and right rails of the reed aren't vibrating at the same frequency that exact effect that you produced is the result. While it's definitely a more pure perspective to pick apart your technique before blaming your equipment, that's certainly a factor that can just be resolved with a closer look at the way the reed is being shaped with a file or a reedgeek
I just ordered a saprano sax and am looking forward to trying it. You are doing great and thanks for your input. I'm sure your own self evaluation, wich sounds right on the money to me as an untrained individual , will be key to your journey. Good luck
How are you liking your new soprano? I just ordered one myself. Played bari in middle school and haven't played in 20 years so a bit of anxiety going on. Can't wait to get mine though
Good to see you got a Yamaha YSS-475 as they're rock solid and dependable sopranos based on the 675 and 875 models. I've got an early YSS-62 from the very late '70s which is a lovely soprano and dead easy to play.
Your embouchure should give the same support through the range. I can hear your tone alter as you get down to the low notes as you slacken your embouchure. You’re on the right path with your tongue and throat but try and keep you embouchure the same, not too slack or too tight.
For the low b flat, you need to get your reed and mouthpiece pairing to where it will speak easier in the low register without sacrificing the upper register too much. For me a thinner tip helps.
Amazing progress! You're channel is really inspiring seeing you develop a passion for the saxophone. I play alto and bari myself so it's also interesting to hear about how a soprano works. I have one request, can you make more short playing videos like the c jam blues one.
Amazing! Thank you so much for watching! I'm glad you're getting something out of the videos :) And of course, we can look at doing more short videos and see how things go! Thanks again!
I agree 100 per cent with Rich Rob, you're doing fantastically!! I'm very impressed by your playing, you have achieved so much in 30 days! I've just taken up the soprano myself, as it was a Christmas present from my dear hubby. I'm learning with "A tune a day for saxophone" which is proving to be very good indeed, and I'm now thoroughly enjoying playing, quite frankly getting addicted!! I really struggled at first, and I've actually only had my soprano since last Tuesday, but I'm now finding it a little easier to get good intonation. Like you, I also had problems with notes wobbling and splitting, but now it's getting a bit better. I'm playing with a 1.5 reed, but have ordered some strength 2 Vandorens, and look forward to hearing what they sound like. I've found that the sound goes a bit soggy at times, I think the reed is too soft. The reed gets a bit water logged, so I need a harder reed to solve this problem. When I play my alto, I use Hemker strength 3 reeds which give a really firm sound. This morning I took my soprano to church for the first time too and played it there to show my friends. The acoustics in the church are really superb, so it was a real joy to do this. I'm looking forward to playing with our music group, and our Director of Music told me this morning that she looks forward to having me join in which is absolutely fantastic!! Regarding practice, I'm a housewife with no kids, so I have quite a lot of free time which is really so wonderful, so I will be able to set aside time every day, and I will start by playing lots of long notes to work on getting good tone. I also play alto sax, and I do the same with that too. So step by step, I'm taking it fairly slowly as I don't have a teacher yet. It would be fabulous to have one to one teaching, and I'm looking into this. Here's to embracing a very exciting journey learning to play the soprano saxophone in 2023! Anyway Happy New Year. Very best wishes from Carolyn King
Thanks for this honest look at your experience with the soprano sax! I have a lot of experience with string instruments and some experience with percussion, and I've been considering picking up a wind instrument of some sort and soprano sax has been one I've definitely been considering. This video gives some great food for thought and helps me to think realistically about what taking on soprano could be like. In your opinion, do you think going straight to soprano sax would be realistic for someone like me without wind experience but with plenty of musical experience?
Hello friend. It's a hard one to start on. I'm in my late 60's. I played a straight soprano in my thirties, but I mainly play tenor and alto. I bought a straight soprano several years ago, and just holding the straight soprano, even with a strap, just killed my ageing fingers, something I never gave a second thought to when I was young. Alto, I believe is the easiest, but at least tenor and soprano are both Bb, so there's no adjustment there. I recently bought an Allora curved soprano. I find the curved much, much easier on the fingers. All the sopranos require a strong embouchure, that's why I wouldn't start on it. It depends on you, if you really want to play soprano, then you'll do it. Good luck. John Xavier Poetic License
You've chosen a tough path. I call my soprano the "Swinette." Play scales slowly and watch a tuner. Support the air column with full breaths and an open throat. Mouthpiece is critical. Get a good one. Play long tones, maintaining pitch. Good luck.
There's no self tuition books on playing the Soprano sax I've tried Dawks in Maidenhead and on their supplier list, then tried another musical instrument shop they too didn't any books on Soprano sax. The only to learn the Soprano is by someone who is professional sax player and they are not cheap down south 40 pounds per half hour .
Rico royal is the best reed get a 2 use your diaphragm more and don't over blow soak the MP in water for 5 minutes up to the shank the curve. D middle is the best note and sing the notes withe horn. 🐊
I'm just seeing how far your mouthpiece was pushed into your cork. Well, this is telling me that something was VERY wrong with your technique. My 2 cents: 1) you might have needed to play with a softer reed (hopefully NOT a syntethic reed) 2) you definitely needed to push harder with your diaphragm 3) lips too relaxed: you needed to tighten them. In the meanwhile, I hope you changed that mouthpiece as well (too close, jeez!).
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have always wanted to play soprano saxophone. I started with the alto, and right now I'm trying the soprano. I won't give up. :)
some of the wobbling that you're talking about can be attributed to the facing of the mouthpiece not being aligned with the reed. if the left and right rails of the reed aren't vibrating at the same frequency that exact effect that you produced is the result. While it's definitely a more pure perspective to pick apart your technique before blaming your equipment, that's certainly a factor that can just be resolved with a closer look at the way the reed is being shaped with a file or a reedgeek
I played clarinet in middle school.. not by choice..but always wanted to try soprano sax. I love the sound. Great video of your progress
I love how humble you are
I have not played in over 30 years. I got a Yamaha digital sax. I got most of my skills, but I'm still coming along.
I was coming off a 6 year break a couple of years ago. I retained so much, but my dexterity still needs some work.
I just ordered a saprano sax and am looking forward to trying it. You are doing great and thanks for your input. I'm sure your own self evaluation, wich sounds right on the money to me as an untrained individual , will be key to your journey. Good luck
How are you liking your new soprano? I just ordered one myself. Played bari in middle school and haven't played in 20 years so a bit of anxiety going on. Can't wait to get mine though
Good to see you got a Yamaha YSS-475 as they're rock solid and dependable sopranos based on the 675 and 875 models. I've got an early YSS-62 from the very late '70s which is a lovely soprano and dead easy to play.
Well done saxson I’m a newbie myself hoping to get better with time thanks for the pointers
Your embouchure should give the same support through the range. I can hear your tone alter as you get down to the low notes as you slacken your embouchure.
You’re on the right path with your tongue and throat but try and keep you embouchure the same, not too slack or too tight.
For the low b flat, you need to get your reed and mouthpiece pairing to where it will speak easier in the low register without sacrificing the upper register too much. For me a thinner tip helps.
Amazing progress! You're channel is really inspiring seeing you develop a passion for the saxophone. I play alto and bari myself so it's also interesting to hear about how a soprano works. I have one request, can you make more short playing videos like the c jam blues one.
Amazing! Thank you so much for watching! I'm glad you're getting something out of the videos :) And of course, we can look at doing more short videos and see how things go! Thanks again!
Bari and tenor are my favorites but I like them all
I just got a bari and I love that thing so much. It feels so natural to me.
I agree 100 per cent with Rich Rob, you're doing fantastically!! I'm very impressed by your playing, you have achieved so much in 30 days! I've just taken up the soprano myself, as it was a Christmas present from my dear hubby. I'm learning with "A tune a day for saxophone" which is proving to be very good indeed, and I'm now thoroughly enjoying playing, quite frankly getting addicted!! I really struggled at first, and I've actually only had my soprano since last Tuesday, but I'm now finding it a little easier to get good intonation. Like you, I also had problems with notes wobbling and splitting, but now it's getting a bit better. I'm playing with a 1.5 reed, but have ordered some strength 2 Vandorens, and look forward to hearing what they sound like. I've found that the sound goes a bit soggy at times, I think the reed is too soft. The reed gets a bit water logged, so I need a harder reed to solve this problem. When I play my alto, I use Hemker strength 3 reeds which give a really firm sound. This morning I took my soprano to church for the first time too and played it there to show my friends. The acoustics in the church are really superb, so it was a real joy to do this. I'm looking forward to playing with our music group, and our Director of Music told me this morning that she looks forward to having me join in which is absolutely fantastic!! Regarding practice, I'm a housewife with no kids, so I have quite a lot of free time which is really so wonderful, so I will be able to set aside time every day, and I will start by playing lots of long notes to work on getting good tone. I also play alto sax, and I do the same with that too. So step by step, I'm taking it fairly slowly as I don't have a teacher yet. It would be fabulous to have one to one teaching, and I'm looking into this. Here's to embracing a very exciting journey learning to play the soprano saxophone in 2023! Anyway Happy New Year. Very best wishes from Carolyn King
Nice video 👏🏻👏🏻
videos like this, I always want to hear way more actual playing and pay text graphic that shows timeline with the playing
Thanks for this honest look at your experience with the soprano sax! I have a lot of experience with string instruments and some experience with percussion, and I've been considering picking up a wind instrument of some sort and soprano sax has been one I've definitely been considering. This video gives some great food for thought and helps me to think realistically about what taking on soprano could be like. In your opinion, do you think going straight to soprano sax would be realistic for someone like me without wind experience but with plenty of musical experience?
Hello friend. It's a hard one to start on. I'm in my late 60's. I played a straight soprano in my thirties, but I mainly play tenor and alto. I bought a straight soprano several years ago, and just holding the straight soprano, even with a strap, just killed my ageing fingers, something I never gave a second thought to when I was young. Alto, I believe is the easiest, but at least tenor and soprano are both Bb, so there's no adjustment there. I recently bought an Allora curved soprano. I find the curved much, much easier on the fingers. All the sopranos require a strong embouchure, that's why I wouldn't start on it. It depends on you, if you really want to play soprano, then you'll do it. Good luck. John Xavier Poetic License
Great progress, cool video👍 I have 4 saxophones, all of them are Chinese🎷😁
You've chosen a tough path. I call my soprano the "Swinette." Play scales slowly and watch a tuner. Support the air column with full breaths and an open throat. Mouthpiece is critical. Get a good one. Play long tones, maintaining pitch. Good luck.
There's no self tuition books on playing the Soprano sax I've tried Dawks in Maidenhead and on their supplier list, then tried another musical instrument shop they too didn't any books on Soprano sax. The only to learn the Soprano is by someone who is professional sax player and they are not cheap down south 40 pounds per half hour .
Rico royal is the best reed get a 2 use your diaphragm more and don't over blow soak the MP in water for 5 minutes up to the shank the curve. D middle is the best note and sing the notes withe horn. 🐊
Keep going bro
I need your help
What can I do for you today?
Wow!!!!
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Nice job! Your tone sounds too much like an oboe. Maybe try taking in less mouthpiece and see if that improves your sound.
Funny, I really like the oboe sound! (or cor anglais)
First
next month try brain surgery
I'm just seeing how far your mouthpiece was pushed into your cork. Well, this is telling me that something was VERY wrong with your technique. My 2 cents: 1) you might have needed to play with a softer reed (hopefully NOT a syntethic reed) 2) you definitely needed to push harder with your diaphragm 3) lips too relaxed: you needed to tighten them.
In the meanwhile, I hope you changed that mouthpiece as well (too close, jeez!).