Right! It's a fun setup to play around with. I've also found that it can be easier get familiar with the overtone series, because they seem to respond more easily.
I had 2.5 reed, after this video as a quick fix I reduced its thickness with sand paper. Worked perfectly to lower volume and make practice easier.. at least for me as a total beginner 🙂
Interestingly, "harder" and "softer" reeds are the same thickness. It's actually the density of the fibers within the reed that determines how hard or soft it feels.
Neighbors just have to deal with it...but I gave them my email address to give me a heads up if they're ill and stuff. But in Germany, musicians have a right to self expression and is ruled to not be any more intrusive than TV, Radio or lawnmowers. That said, the sax is considered a loud and piercing/pressuring instrument and is limited to two hours per workday.
Terrific playing, as ever. The every-key lick is almost incomprehensible to me. And that time in the gym is paying off for you as well WRT forearms. Nice.
The 12 keys thing is a lot easier than most people realize. You've just got power through the unfamiliar keys, but consistently. I've only got a few minutes to practice each day, so the way I did that particular lick was to play it very slowly, in as many keys as I could every day (all 12 if possible, but if I only got 6 in, I'd do the next 6 the following day) All the while thinking about what was happening with the chord progression underneath it. For the first week or so it was really sloppy and hit-or-miss in many of the keys. My entire practice session could be just making it through all 12 keys once, but just barely, and with lots of mistakes. After a short while, it started to be easier to get through all 12 to the point where I could do multiple cycles in one practice session. Now it's a question of better time, better articulation, and cleaning up particular finger transitions; Ab to Bb always gets me! With phrases we know really well, we've typically played them a few hundred/thousand times in a certain key. Like 500 times in G vs 5 times in Ab. So, on one hand it makes sense why some keys are so much easier to play in, but on the flip side it means we can also play very easily in all 12 keys if we just start doing it as much as possible.
Only in the sense that it can feel little different than when playing at a normal volume. Sometimes when trying to play softly, we can get into the bad habit of "holding back" the air, which makes the altissimo more difficult, because it needs a steady airstream. But it's very good tone control practice to work on soft(er) altissimo.
Thanks for the advice! I’m a complete novice player - do you think this will affect my playing when I do go back to normal reeds when I practice in places I am less worried about volume?
I don't think so, just try to keep the same fundamentals at work with both setups; flexible and relaxed embouchure, steady or "supported" airstream, etc.
I feel you, saxophone can be an expensive, and loud hobby. Especially in the beginning when you're still developing subtle control of the muscles involved in tone production. Finding a secluded place outdoors is the cheapest solution.
It's definitely easier with a guitar. I've pretty much stopped playing the saxophone for the time being, and guitar is much easier to work on at all hours of the day.
Neighbors! One of my biggest roadblocks to practicing regularly. Thanks for the tip. Definitely worth trying.
I just bought a Signature reed, which was too soft….and now your tip is a very useful surprise!!💡😅
Right! It's a fun setup to play around with. I've also found that it can be easier get familiar with the overtone series, because they seem to respond more easily.
I had 2.5 reed, after this video as a quick fix I reduced its thickness with sand paper. Worked perfectly to lower volume and make practice easier.. at least for me as a total beginner 🙂
Interestingly, "harder" and "softer" reeds are the same thickness. It's actually the density of the fibers within the reed that determines how hard or soft it feels.
I tried this. and it works! Thank you Super Sonic Sax. I had a box of unused soft reeds in my case, but now they are being put to good use!
Really super useful for getting extra practice in when you have volume constraints!
Good tip and super skills !! You are light years ahead of me w.r.t. scales and altissimo.
Thank you! Keep practicing and you'll get there too! That was a C major scale, my Db major is light years away from that tempo.
Neighbors just have to deal with it...but I gave them my email address to give me a heads up if they're ill and stuff.
But in Germany, musicians have a right to self expression and is ruled to not be any more intrusive than TV, Radio or lawnmowers.
That said, the sax is considered a loud and piercing/pressuring instrument and is limited to two hours per workday.
Here in the us I might get shot!😂
Terrific playing, as ever. The every-key lick is almost incomprehensible to me. And that time in the gym is paying off for you as well WRT forearms. Nice.
The 12 keys thing is a lot easier than most people realize. You've just got power through the unfamiliar keys, but consistently. I've only got a few minutes to practice each day, so the way I did that particular lick was to play it very slowly, in as many keys as I could every day (all 12 if possible, but if I only got 6 in, I'd do the next 6 the following day) All the while thinking about what was happening with the chord progression underneath it.
For the first week or so it was really sloppy and hit-or-miss in many of the keys. My entire practice session could be just making it through all 12 keys once, but just barely, and with lots of mistakes. After a short while, it started to be easier to get through all 12 to the point where I could do multiple cycles in one practice session. Now it's a question of better time, better articulation, and cleaning up particular finger transitions; Ab to Bb always gets me!
With phrases we know really well, we've typically played them a few hundred/thousand times in a certain key. Like 500 times in G vs 5 times in Ab. So, on one hand it makes sense why some keys are so much easier to play in, but on the flip side it means we can also play very easily in all 12 keys if we just start doing it as much as possible.
Thank you for a good tip!
Great advice, Marc. Would you share your mouthpiece/reed setup, please? Thanks.
On tenor I think I've been using a Saxquest "the Bridge". I know it's a 9* tip opening, and the reed in this video is a 2.25 Legere American Cut.
@@Marcimusic257 Thanks again, Marc. You sound excellent.
@@dennis9242 Thank you!
How do I make a nice yet quiet sound
It takes time, but in general, you want to stay relaxed and keep the air moving. How would you describe your sound now, when trying to play quietly?
Does blowing softly affect ability to hit Altissimo?
Only in the sense that it can feel little different than when playing at a normal volume.
Sometimes when trying to play softly, we can get into the bad habit of "holding back" the air, which makes the altissimo more difficult, because it needs a steady airstream.
But it's very good tone control practice to work on soft(er) altissimo.
Thanks for the advice! I’m a complete novice player - do you think this will affect my playing when I do go back to normal reeds when I practice in places I am less worried about volume?
I don't think so, just try to keep the same fundamentals at work with both setups; flexible and relaxed embouchure, steady or "supported" airstream, etc.
@@Marcimusic257 Thanks for the reply!!
I aint got money for all that cuz i just started... it bothers my family
I feel you, saxophone can be an expensive, and loud hobby. Especially in the beginning when you're still developing subtle control of the muscles involved in tone production. Finding a secluded place outdoors is the cheapest solution.
@@Marcimusic257 you're right, im having a ton of fun playing, although practicing isn't the easiest on such an amazing instrument😂
i can practice with a silent guitar, but how the heck could i practice at 22 o clock with a sax
It's definitely easier with a guitar. I've pretty much stopped playing the saxophone for the time being, and guitar is much easier to work on at all hours of the day.