Do These 8 Things for a Beautiful Saxophone Sound
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2023
- #bettersax #saxophone #saxophonelessons
Jay Metcalf shares some tips on how to sound beautiful on the saxophone and answers common saxophone questions.
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![INSTANTLY Improve Your Saxophone Sound! [Saxophone Success Tips Ep. 1]](/img/n.gif)
1. 1:19 play everyday
2. 1:24 stop biting
3. 1:51 softer reeds
4. 2:04 let the air do the work
5. 2:15 listen to great saxophone players
6. 2:24 practice longtones
7. 2:33 be patient, think long term
8. 2:40 upgrade mouthpiece
9. Turn TH-cam sax videos off and go practice.
@@bobmichelletheory will only take you so far
I'm 72 and purchased a beautiful Jean Paul alto sax. Playing three months and very satisfied with my progress... Thanx to you my friend!!!
How you doing now
@@jactical7788He gave up after he found the octave key
@@danobrien4890wtf bro
@@danobrien4890lol
@@danobrien4890 🤣
Hi Jay - since I retired from work I have been playing long tones every day - playing a (different) scale over the full length of the horn (so i get round the cycle of fifths ) listening to each note for at least a whole note or two or four (quarter note = 60bpm), and checking tuning / intonation against a drone.. Last week my band director walked past me and said my tone is really sweet and full of character . So - to everyone out there - Jay's message about long tones works. It just takes patience, persistence, dedication day in day out.
Nice, keep it up.
Whats this drone tuner you speak of??
“Everybody needs a teacher”. That is so true. Years of self-teaching after acquiring some very rudimentary beginner’s skills from my high-school teacher brought very little gain. The past 3 years with a proper teacher and I feel I’ve progressed 20 years.
As a player, teacher and perpetual student of the saxophone I think this advice is absolutely the best advice out there. All credit to you Jay 😎🎷👏👏👏
Thanks, much appreciated.
“Let the air do the work” is the most important tip from this video IMO.
It really applies to all wind instruments.
Yeah, there was a lot of good advice on learning jazz sax in this video, also applicable to learning other winds. Not just air support.
For me, as a professional, i always enjoy your tips and advices. And what i like the most is your ideea that you have to practice no matter if you are a begginer or a professional. Tnx for the video!
Great content. I started playing saxophone in the 90s, before internet. No tutorials available, no TH-cam, no teachers around where I lived in Norway. I purchased the saxophones, and started playing with Jamey Aebersold play-alongs. Years later it turns out I instinctively did things correctly. Holding the instrument, fixating the reed, cleaning the instrument, and most importantly, embouchure. I used a double lip embouchure, never even knee there was a formal term for it back then. Turns out it's the exact embouchure that Stan Getz used😊 And without trying too hard, I sounded similar to Stan. Wasn't trying to copy even...
Ironically, only an hour before watching your video my husband and I saw a guy sitting in his car by the side of the road playing his sax. Proves you can practice anywhere if you really want to. No excuses!!
My excuse is having school 😢😢
Yeah play everydays Sax, the best vidéo this year is a good advice and stratégies to play.
Great video as usual Jay. I wasted years that I could've been studying because of noise issues. About two years ago, I built a practice room which was not quiet enough, then I built a sound proof "shed" in my garage where I can practice any time of the day or night. Just one more note, golf is as frustrating as saxophone believe me. 🤣
I never thought about the golf/sax connection, but....... Wow, you nailed it.
I was about to say sax is easier than golf but I've never been successful at any sport that involves whacking round objects with sticks!
@@oldunclemick You might be right Old Uncle Mick. Golf is cruel. I seem to be making progress with my sax, but after any amount of golf progress, you always come crashing back to earth in the blink of an eye. Although I am a decent beer league hockey player. (that's why I use the double lip technique cuz all my front teeth are different lengths)
Sidnei ramalho. Im from India. I just read your post though I practice in woods I hav craze of playing the sax at any part of day or night, can you help me with all the inform to build a practice soundproof room of mine.what material u used etc
Im an older player and I chased the sound for many years until I found my sound about 15 years ago. I went to a sax shop that had many used quality tenor sax mouthpieces. I spent hours going through mouthpieces. I found the mouthpiece of my dreams, a Lamberson. I had never heard of that manufacturer, but now I'm very aware of him. I spent many years along with three years in the Army band system with the wrong mouthpiece for me. Jay is right, don't be afraid of using a softer reed. Some mouthpieces are designed for a softer reed. "Let the air do the work".
Thanks for this Jay. The putting the time in is really important, and what you said is so true. 10 years ago I sounded terrible, and I was in college! But I practiced every day, had my ass kicked by the right people, and I sound a lot better. These days I mostly play to keep in shape, or learn music for new gigs, but pulling the horn out of the case and playing and being honest of where you stand with it is key.
I play trombone but I listen to great players and teachers of other instruments. Years ago I said to my mentor that I was tired of not getting ahead quick enough. His answer has stuck with me for decades. He told me that failures are merely the steps you take to success. After that I never got anywhere near as frustrated because I knew I was another day closer to where I wanted to be.
I love it. " Practice every day"... Thanks alot dude. Great video,.. highlighting the reality of life. You get out of it,.. what you put into it, and if you want something, you have to put in the work. Passion, and determination breed results., in anything you pursue. I'm an old man, and I can attest to this truth. Like it or not,. it's still the truth.
Thank you Jay for answering my question! This was a very motivating video to keep practicing and fine tuning my sound.
Brilliant. Starting again after a 43 year pause of playing for 7 years. Really having fun. Keep up the great work and thank you.
I already watched this video and I am watching it again because its just a nice reminder. Thanks.
Hi Jay, I don't understand why anyone learning the saxophone would complain about practising - for me its the absolute best time. I simply cannot wait to get home and start. Surely anyone who complains has made the wrong decision.
ALL GREAT advice.. unfortunately there are many stubborn instant gratification “I need a shortcut!” types that can’t accept the reality of it. You have to love the music and immerse yourself. Thanks Jay for laying it all
out there and reminding us
“in the journey” types what’s important to keep us on track..👍
To🎷. 🥂👨🏻
My advice is “Don’t give up, have faith, and enjoy the process.”
I find your videos VERY helpful. It's worth it to get an inexpensive microphone (used SM58) and stand, an inexpensive mixer and headphones. Then listen to yourself on everything you play,at least once a week, articulation, long tones etc.. The sound in front I discovered is very different from sound behind. It's easier to correct on the fly instead of after a recording. I found softer reeds also helpful, putting away my pride. Also, longer vamp reeds (like Rigotti) for longer chamber mpcs, shorter vamp (like van Doren) for shorter chambers made a huge difference for me and took me considerable study to discover.
I really like your info and teaching . Thanks so much.
Thanks Jay, this is surely one of your best videos to date!
Love this! It’s what was missing from my youth- not enough practising x
uah! nice dog and little child too! 🐻👍👍👍💥🎷💥👍👍👍🐻
Been playing blues harmonica for 15 years. 2 weeks ago I decided to try out saxophone. Pick up a cheap alto saxophon like the one you demo on your TH-cam. Watching your videos for instruction. Fingers crossed.
Thanks Jay! I’m a rare student who is starting off on bari and have been enjoying being a member of yours since August. I’m pleased with my overall progress but this was a great reminder to stay consistent and focus on the incremental improvements
Starting on a bari also. I always loved the sound and never considered any other sax. Plugging along and practicing 7 days per week.
@@1.nf674 Right?! Check out James Carter; he frequently breaks out the baritone and bass saxophones on his records and gives them great center stage
Thanks Johnathan. I caught a little bit of James Carter tearing up on a P. Mauriat bari. I like his sound!
I am studying the bari also. Which playing position do you find the best? I find the bari a bit heavy, and even when seated it is a handful!
@@peterstewart9983 I started playing it seated but forced myself to stand to be more stage ready in the future. I bought a shoulder harness that better distributes the weight. An ordinary neck strap didn’t cut it for me. That would be my recommendation!
One place I love to practice is my car. Because when your in the car, you can really hear your sound because the sound waves bounce off the walls in the small space. Playing in the car can allow you to really focus on your sound.
Thank you very much Jay for these useful tips!
Thanks for these explanations. I can already see that practicing every day and stop bitting by thinking a word while playing changed a lot my sound. It's only begining but this is a first step for me. Thanks for your advice 👍
Good tips! Thanks for answering our questions! Nice woodsy area and a nice collie!
Jays videos taught me how to play and I will continue to accept any wisdom he gives us, thanks Jay!
I just upgraded my mouthpiece as a junior from the student one to a selmer concept and I absolutely notice the difference. It’s great.
Thank you so much, Jay. You’re great.
Nice! I’m a tone geek too and Here’s some of my favs:
1) turn out 2) push in 3) The “hinge long tone routine” 4) Joe Temperly’s long tone routine 5) Long tones with filter pedals and micing from the tone holes to isolate the fundamental blending and maximizing it through the dynamic range 6) Long tones blending the sound of the bell with sound of tone holes (play into a wall or put the neck on backwards to hear that the two tones are different (This is a UofMiami thing) 7) scales on mpc or mpc and neck and while fingering and playing on mpc slowly put the mpc onto the sax; keep it free-blowing by voicing to compensate for the added resistance (brass player exercise)
can you explain the 1 and 2 more
@@cadence649 Hi “turning out” refers to rolling out the lower lip like Dexter Gordon does. It will feel weird at first but it’s a totally different way of playing than most people learn and the lip dampens different parts of the reed playing that way. “Pushing in” means playing in tune but from a few millimeters pushed in at the cork. For me the horn resonates more and takes more air when I play lower in the sound and tune accordingly.
Thank you. On behalf of the Sax community thank you! ❤
Amazing words, thoughts and insignes. Gracias
I’ve been playing for 6 months. One of the things I discovered to help me get the sound right is I had my sax check up. Got it use but was in new like shape. Found out a I had a few keys that needed an adjustment and the octave key needed adjustment. But improvement on sound right there. Second I explored a lot into different reeds. Recently discovered a brand called rigotti jazz reeds. It end up being a expensive investment. Becus rigotti uses a weird numbering system. I end up living the rigotti jazz strong size three Reed and love how it respond. I had to try out two different size in medium strength and strong strength to find Wht works best with my mouthpiece. I end up loving better then the other brands. Then I tried different mouthpieces. Was learning on a meyer 6 mouthpiece. But just recently switch to Jody jazz dark series hard ruber size 5 and end up playing super well.
I'm a 66-year-old guy starting out green is the grass I'm only using a 1.5 read and I've been trying to do everyday at least an hour I would say take one piece at a time and don't act like it has to be done in one day
I love you video's, these help me alot!!
Excellent advice Jay.
Glad you think so!
Hi Jay really helpful video, thanks...love your dog!
Every comment is Golden Jay.... Your passion an knowledge shines through.... After 35 years of playing (doing lots of things wrong) I wish I'd followed much if this video suggestions. Recently enrolled in your Pentatonic Foundations Course. More enjoyment and fun ahead... Please do more of these type videos.... They add another dimension. Cheers Jimu
Great to hear thanks
this deserves a ton of likes !
Hello, I am a person living in Korea. I've been learning saxophone for over a year. I've been practicing every day, so now I can hear some sounds. I think it will be a great performance until 10 years later
Thanks for the tips 🙂
Whoa. “…it’s more a question of commitment, not convenience.” THAT. RIGHT. THERE.
Love that - great stuff, Jay!
Great advice I love all your videos definitely subscribe he knows his saxophones very knowledgeable
Been playing for about 7 years now, and Ima be honest, I've never really used your videos to teach me anything, but they were great reminders time and time again. I've picked up on learning the guitar for about 2 years now, and I still enjoy the beautiful sounds of a saxophone the most. I want to make a request for a video, something that I've never thought about until a few days ago, I tune my guitar in many different keys, and I've listened to Warren Hill's saxophone performances. He has his own very unique sound and different sound than other saxophone players, there's something I noticed though about how he plays, it's a bit more different than many other saxophone players generally play their saxophone. I'd like to request a video on if you can tune a saxophone in different keys, (for instance, tuning in in d or d sharp) or if you can maybe make different sounds based on the amount of pressure you hold the keys on the saxophone. I hope you see this and will appreciate it very much if you can fulfill my request.
Great and honest advice !
Yep! Hard, daily work and one day a week off to let the muscles restore. And Stan Getz was my influence.
Thanks, Jay, I'm going to watch this video every time I need a motivational boost while I'm practicing every day for the next ten years, ha ha. Seriously, this really helped. Thank you.
Im 65 started playing on Sax two years ago and I can tell Im crazy of playing from day to day.....and so sorry it's too late but I don't loose my heart
Ty!
this is really good, to the point and simple. i wish I had this 20 years ago!
Man I’m from a small town not really anyone here that plays saxophone so I was left with no one to really talk to or ask questions, but between you and McGill I have been able to learn and find things out that would have taken years to learn on my own. Thank you for you’re content!
Man, you always knows what I am looking for, and also you are very acertive advicing.
I am sort of biased, as a retired small animal veterinarian but your Shelty stole the show. They were some of the finest dogs to work on. I wish I had 1% of their energy. Great advice on sound production btw!
I'm into your inspiration for the upcoming youth, I've a Henri six, been playing with you, thanks
Great video and thanks for answering my questions.
No problem
Always a blessing
Thank you for this video it was very helpful. To anyone just starting in their journey as a new player or a player returning to their horn I highly recommend buying a course or two. I was returning to my horn after many years. I played in High School and a couple years after that. All reading music of course, even in jazz band. I always wanted to improvise but never got anywhere, regardless of what Abersold play along I bought and attempted to learn from. Jay's Pentatonic Foundation course literally changed my saxophone life! I had a great sound and could read music. What I did not have was any fun. After the course I played along to his backing tracks at the end of every practice session, just using the pentatonic scale. That was my gateway drug! Soon after I bought myself a "jazz" MP and bought some softer reeds. Playing long tones with a tuner (and drone) everyday changed the way I approached the horn. Eventually you feel the sound come from you and not the horn because you are not trying to hard. Anyways, once I built up confidence I was able to join my church group and even hop on stage and improvise solos. If you like rock, blues, or pop you will be amazed at how much FUN you can have just with the pentatonic and blues scale and it will motivate you to expand on your abilities and eventually follow changes (I am not there yet).
Thanks Nathan much appreciated.
Beautiful information sir
Thanks a lot!
This is really a great video!!
Wonderful place, with your sweet and beautiful dog-buddy, so happy running free.. So nice!!
And also all this good typs, like #3 (use softer reeds), specially to sounding warmer, fuller, soft and subtle. Congrats for this nice video!
Thank you very much!
I played sax and golf for many years. Both are frustrating, golf probably more so.
Just getting back into both after a very long break. Great tips. 👍
I played saxophone for 7 years graduated highschool but stopped playing, didnt get my license for a couple years after kept telling myself couldnt play where i lived and couldnt go anywhere since no car. Here i am another 7 years since i stopped just bought some new reeds (vandoren 3 because thats what i used to play). Going to order some softer reeds might get a new mouthpiece (still have the mouthpiece that came with my saxophone). Hoping to get back in and enjoy once again
I had a cheap saxophone from a second hand store for around the first year of playing saxophone. Recently i tried playing on an intermediate model that was in much better condition and it made a world of difference, and i could feel an immediate upgrade with my sound quality and tuning, etc. Having a good saxophone compared to a crappy one definitely makes a difference.
Im a saxophone player that have been playing for a year or two and this will help so much because it has been super frustrating
I found a good teacher it's you thanks
Great points, especially number 3 bc it's such an (overlooked) easy fix. I asked my first teacher why he played a 2 reed once and he just said, "I don't like to work." lol.
A couple other things that really helped my tone starting out was:
1) try to be as aware of everything that can and does move in your throat/airway/embouchure
2) constantly be vigilante in seeking out and relieving tension
3) Regardless of everything else: if it didn't sound good, you didn't play it right
Truth! Finally opened my mind to the Church of Long Tones, and it made a huge difference in my low notes. And biting...isn't that us trying to substitute for embouchures that are not fully developed strength wise (and later, just a bad habit)? Definitely something to get conscious of, along with my compulsive automatic vibrato that I need to eliminate. You covered SO MUCH essential stuff in this vid. People need to expand their concentration spans and really absorb every word of this. Thanks!
This is such a beautiful video and it make me subscribe because it is content I love. Keep up the erethral work!
Great videos i love your contend you are awesome ❤
ohh just the video i was looking for
This is a great video :) I really enjoyed the change of scenery actually and wanted to say that the camera you have looks amazing. The lighting (even though it's natural) was really great haha.
I've been watching you for the past 4 years, since I started saxophone when I was 12 and wanted to say that your channel has really helped me with motivation and learning the saxophone. I am the only saxophone player in my high school that knows all my scales and regularly practice long tones and I owe that to you. My sound is really good and improving, and just next week I'm having my first solo sax performance at my school (playing Just the Two of Us by Grover Washington) and I am so excited. I don't think I would have had the motivation to get through those first 6 months of playing if it weren't for this channel, and I know I would have been severely behind where I am today. Thank you :) also very cute dog
Great to hear. You deserve all the credit for doing the work. Keep it up and have a great show.
Hi, hoping you can download the video of your first solo performance it would be great to watch how you play...thanks..
download the video , please and congratulations !
Good stuff. Don't stop! I'm 62, playing since 15
appreciate you
Another very interesting video that will concern a lot of saxophonists like me. Lots of valuable advice, which we sometimes forget over time 👌👍.
Very happy to also note that we live in the same geographical area.
Maybe one of these days in the Brague Valley 🚶♂with our dogs 🦮😄
3:57 there's a guy near me who practices at a dead end near the motorway - the traffic won't complain but some honk and wave to him!
I just bought your swab set. They a great.
Glad you like them!
So true. This last winter, I was really down in the dumps, and didn't touch my sax for 4 months. Huge mistake. Now I'm catching up. I was surprised at how quickly one can lose technique and remember how to play certain songs. I do have a hard time staying relaxed while playing, both mouth and hands. Especially with a quick paced piece like "In the Mood". Thx for the tips.
I can tell you it works very much guys
I live in Canada, the colder part, it’s still winter here.. wishing I had a car, or a booth, so I could learn to play better experimentive jazz, which I hated when I was a baby gal.
Thank you for your advice.
I started playing 3 days ago.
I’m starting to feel comfortable like the sax is a part of my body.
Also I found sitting in the roots of jazz and understanding how the first Jazz Friend started jazz on the instruments and zero classical theory.
(From my own play style) to tell a story, sometimes even your own life.
It’s the feeling.
Perfect timing on this video Jay. Sounded thin and spitty and figured I needed to fix my tone.
I’ve wanted to play a sax since the early 90s, finally got one for my 50th birthday, love this channel, as ever slowly slowly catches the monkey study and patience, I truly sound awful at the moment 😂
Enjoy the journey and the progress you will make.
upgrading saxophone is important too, upgrading to a pro sax from student sax will give you free sound quality boost, which greatly motivates you to play more
I've found the best way to get a beautiful saxophone sound begins all in the embouchure. I found this to be true when I play the Bb trumpet and flugelhorn, too. 🎷🎺🎶
I know I’m a little late to this but I had the opportunity to have a few in depth conversations with the great Walter Blanding. He said to do long tones everyday through the entire range of the horn to get a better sound. He also said to do them quietly, to control the sound. Long tones are terrible to play but man do they help
5:04
Another great video Jay. Super job as always, and I know creating all the content is a huge amount of work.
Just a comment to add, the same advice you give here is also applicable to all the folks who’ve been playing for many years and took a long time off. Yeah, we should know better but you know how it goes : )
Thank you!
I think that downgrading to a smaller read number is what helped my sound improve the most
It is important to have reeds with enough heart if you plan to play long term. I know some don't emphasize this point, but after taking lessons with Harvey Pittel, I think this is correct. Even tone quality throughout the horn makes the sax sound so much better.
Thanks for all that helpful advise Jay! Especially about going to a softer reed. This one teacher (don't go to him anymore) also one of these teachers that says you have to have music in front of you when you playing scales) I memorize my scales without having the music in front of me.) anyways this teacher kept telling me, you need a harder reed and talked me into getting a 3 1/2 reed, and I had such a hard time getting any decent sound out of my Saxophone, I ended up engraving deep teeth marks in my mouthpiece like a rat trying to chew it's way out something. I finally went back to a 2 1/2 reed and what a nice diffenance! Of course I still have ways to go on my playing and my tone, but it's alot easier to get a tone out and less frustrating when I'm playing the Saxophone now. Thank you Jay!!
Glad to hear it helped you.
Hi Jay.. how did I miss this one when it came out? This is invaluable information. Absolute gold here. Now… how do I skip all this “years of practice” stuff and be good by say, next week? …. J/k Seriously great points here. I wish someone had told me this (and I would have believed them) when I was young! Alas, I am taking it step by step at this late age. Your courses are great… And I always enjoy your videos! Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Love it. I’m on the woodwind doubler spectrum (I call it a spectrum because there is something about our brains that are wired differently to *want* to learn the piccolo), and I have a dog that can’t stand it. My solution? The garage. Too cold? I installed a heater. It’s a little crazy to some, but it keeps the chops going.
I use LaVoz reeds same ones I started with in elementary school, #2's. Clearance Clemmons and Boots Randolph were both fantastic players just different styles.
I immediately tried a softer reed after watching this video. My sound opened up. I don't have a lot of pressure because I double on Bassoon. Thanks for the tip.
Excellent!
10 years you say? Challenge accepted. My yas 280 is in the mail rn and I have no life lol. Awesome video. Great advice. Thank you for you time sir.
I'm in love with your blue merle Sheltie. What a cutie! I had two Shelties that were awesome and I named them Jazz & Bebop. Thanks for including him/her? in the video running outside. It made a huge smile cross my face today. I really enjoy your channel for all the great tips.
Her name is Sky
@@bettersax Great name!
The way i practice my sound and get the sound i want is to bounce the sound off a wall or preferably glass like a glass door .. stand facing close to the wall or glass door and play notes very purposefully and take note of the sound as it returns to your ear when it bounces off the wall .. this is the only way to truly hear the nuances and the details of your own sound.. and then as you're hearing your true sound you can make small adjustments with your embouchure and air stream and make small adjustments with the depth of your mouthpiece while youre playing your horn facing a wall about 12 inches away .. glass does return your sound to your ear better.. untill your ears are pleased with what they hear..
Playing wind instruments are literally like physically training for strenght and percision - skip few days, you lose it faster than gain if you played those days.