Jazz vs Classical Embouchure and 40 More Sax Questions Answered | Q+A 4
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ค. 2024
- #bettersax #saxophone #saxophonelessons
Jay Metcalf answers common saxophone questions from BetterSax viewers in this Q+A session.
*The giveaway mentioned in this video has ended.
🔥 Join the Reed Revolution and try the new BetterSax Jazz Cut Reeds HERE ➡ geni.us/reed
🎁 Access the FREE BetterSax SHED with tons of sax lessons, pdf downloads and backing tracks HERE: bettersax.com/shed
===========================
⚡️Featured BetterSax Gear
“Designed BY Saxophonists FOR Saxophonists”
===========================
🎷BetterSax Saxophones: ➡︎ geni.us/saxophones
🎷BURNIN’ Mouthpieces: ➡︎ geni.us/Burnin
🎷Jazz Cut Reeds: ➡︎ geni.us/reed
🎷Must Have Accessories: bettersax.com/store
===========================
🎓Want to Study Saxophone with Jay Metcalf?
===========================
🔥 Join the BetterSax Studio for personalized video feedback from Jay as well as new lessons and downloads every month ➡️ bettersax.com/course/studio
💪🏻Get lifetime access to BetterSax courses that have helped 10s of thousands of saxophonists at every level around the world ➡️ bettersax.com/products/
===========================
Connect with us!
===========================
IG: ➡︎ / bettersax
Tik Tok: ➡︎ / bettersax
Facebook: ➡︎ / bettersax
===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the BetterSax Podcast HERE:📱
===========================
➡︎Apple: apple.co/3rmr9no
➡︎Spotify: sptfy.com/OWAr
Our mission here at BetterSax is to help saxophone players improve steadily, while enjoying the process of learning. We aim to help people find sax gear for every budget that delivers exceptional value and performance.
This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.
Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the BetterSax TH-cam channel. bettersax.com/terms
I was a full time college professor of music, teaching and performing on clarinet and saxophone (and music theory/comp) for 35 years. Your straight, insightful comment about being a "professional musician" and the reality of no benefits, no employment guarantees, etc. is such an important message for today's enthusiasts. Full time positions such as I enjoyed for my career (with benefits and a regular paycheck) are now nearly nonexistent. Your advice of keeping music as an avocation I heartily also share for 99% of players! An anecdote- back in 1976 when I received my first full time paycheck (a physical, old school type of check) in my mailbox, I looked at it and smiled thinking "Wow, I don't even remember playing the gig!"
I love your playing, your content, and your advice.
Thanks
“Make Every Exercise a Tone Study,” I want this on a banner in my studio. Love the rapid fire Q&A!
Wow you have a terrific voice, get with the piano and practice, you can do both!
I would if I didn't spend so much time making TH-cam videos.
@@bettersax damn, your voice is fantastic! I can imagine you covering some blues songs! I personally stopped with Guitar and switched to Sax cause my voice is terrible and people always expect you to sing while playing guitar. Maybe do a cover for youtube, so you combine all things (learning piano and making videos of it).
@@bettersax Jay...make 4 us a video singing and...Mix your own Sax playing as Background. It will be very appealing. 4 sure
"The Nearness of You" is one of my all time favorite ballads. Would have liked to hear your vocal rendition of the entire song, with perhaps you editing in a sax solo. Just sayin' ya got some vocal chops, with a bit of a tolerable sounding Bob Dylan quality to it.
@@michaelthomas4805 good suggestion. Jay would probably get 2 Million Hits 😊
I really enjoyed the Q&A format…just sitting down and having a chat with you. I know a lot of this info, but learned things too - even about stuff I know! I love hearing pros just talk about their playing, gear, and answer questions. Great video. I know, I’m behind. I’m seeing all these older ones as they come up in my feed. Btw I laughed when you said “no” to making your own mouthpiece! Never say never, eh? LOL. Thanks for all your great videos and lessons in the BetterSax site. Great lessons and practice pathways! You help me a lot.
Wow he can sing too!
P.S. love the little transition toot 😂
haha thanks
Brilliant questions and brilliant advice thanks Jay 👍🏻🎷
I recall years ago asking my instructor why he didn't go pro, and he replied "because it's a shitty life," although I think that's a personal thing. The word amateur is, of course, derived from amour, and making music _is_ the reward after all; too bad about that having to make a living part, lol.
Lots of pros get bitter and with good reason.
A great video with many useful advices that go straight to the point.
I agree 100% with your answer to the second-last question. Playing musical instruments with a group is very rewarding as a hobby, but can be a very hard way to make a living, especially as a sax player. I'm so glad that I realized that I didn't have the drive or talent to be a professional musician. However I stuck with sax and clarinet and have enjoyed decades of playing as an amateur.
Playing with a local amateur symphony, on t-sax, renewed my love of playing music. It took away the stress and ego I had wrapped up in so many years of seeking rock-stardom on guitar. Now, I just improve, as I can, and contribute to the group; and love the experience.
hey jay! imlacsina here from question #10. went on my first gig a few weeks after posting that question. 6 months later im playing on weddings, busking, small bars etc. thanks for the lessons! ;)
Thanks for answering both of my questions Jay! Quality content as always
Thanks for asking them.
Yes, I love "Nearness of You".
Thanks man! Best Wishes/Regards!
Love this video!
Your voice is incredible!
Thanks for answering my question, Jay!
Lots of good advice. Nice voice Jay!
Thanks!
Love this!!
Thank you
Thank you jeff. i just ordered the icloud sax mic andbits prettg amazing. I really love it.
His name is Jason (Jay) Metcalf, not Jeff.
Awesome that you mentioned Hank Mobley!! He’s my personal favorite and I feel like he doesn’t often get the credit he deserves. His playing is so delightfully lyrical!!
Mobley is great.
Soul Station
I just watched this in 2022. Still relevant. Well done, Professor 👏🏽
You have a lovely voice Jay!
Thanks
Thank you for sharing Jay 🎶🎶🎶🎷✌🏽😎
My top 3 alto players: Bird, Cannonball, and Maceo!
Regarding sight reading, transcribing helps to really hammer out rhythms in your head. Also, the Charlie Parker Omnibook is a great way to get through sight reading a lot of runs and melody variations.
@10.50 - excellent, excellent advice.
Jazz vs classical embochure: „There is nothing like this“
Jazz mouth piece: „what is a jazz mouth piece“
Difference between jazz and classical embochure, and the role of the mouth piece: „Not a big difference; mouth piece relevant for tone“
Wait whaaaat
I was told classical players are not allowed to tap their feet. Come to think of it 100 players would probably sound like a stampede!
Usual great advice with no BS.
Get some vids of your singing - it is seriously good!
Nice one Jay. Great quickfire. Everyone wants to know about classical vs jazz set ups eh? lol
Re the sax on a plane thing, totally agree about the attitude. Not to be promoting vaguely “rival” channels or anything, but Chad LB did a great video on that topic on his channel - loads of great tips to get your sax on board.
Kinda agree with you about being a pro saxophonist! 🤦🏼♂️ I just went a month without gigging, which is unheard of for me in my whole life, as I was sick and it’s hit us hard financially man. Tough. That’s one reason why I’m making long term moves toward an online set up. 👍🏻
No rivalries. Clb is 🔥🔥
LOOOOVE your voice!
Thanks
Great video lot's of ground covered...I imagine you can do whatever musically you wish to do..Trumpet , Piano , sing , Sax ....Thanks for including Sax advice ...As a newbie the words you use....Intonation....Big sound...tone....Technique ...and other words might make a good beginners video .....Thanks Jay...I have a Cap but it reads...I'm old Jay , What's Better Sax ?...lol..
Thanks Harvey
Thanks for answering my questions! 😀🚀
Thanks for asking them.
For the guy biting his lower lip, I practice Larry Teal exercises from The Art of Saxophone Playing. He has 3 drills you can do without your horn or mouthpiece and can do while watching TV or driving. Feels like your pumping iron when you're thru and helps build and maintain your embouchure. Ex. press your lips together as hard as you can without cutting into lip for 10 sec immediately repeat without resting 10 times followed by another drill. Great feeling and helps dampen the guilt if you didn't get to play that day. Do these through out the day! Even better.
1:34-1:47 Is a game changer! I have always been suspicious whenever someone harps on that subject. One teacher was insistent about my bottom lip getting a "jazz" embouchure. I am glad another pro (You) said what I intuitively believed. Some of these teachers even play with two embouchure s! One for classical and one for jazz... Maybe one day, you could interview other pros and see what they say... I am curious.
If you want a career playing music, consider auditioning for a military band. The U.S. Navy and Air Force have outstanding opportunities. If you also want the opportunity to fill a combat role, the Army and Marines also have bands. The starting pay and benefits are much, much better than 99% (this is a guess, based on personal experience) of what professional gigging musicians get. Hit me up if you have questions.
Nr. 34, never thought about, but still did :D
Hello from a newcomer to the channel - I've really been enjoying your content, Jay!
Lots of interesting questions - and answers! Unfortunately, I'm still confused about the "classical" and "jazz" embouchure. Also quite frustrated and desperate, to be frank.
After 9 years of hiatus, I've finally started playing my alto again, which I played for about 3.5 years until I stopped. Although the first days were difficult, after a week or so I got the ball rolling and my sound started improving. My embouchure would probably be classified as "classical" (i.e. lower lip rolled in and quite tight), and it's what I learned at my music school playing classical music.
Now that I'm starting over, I wanted to ditch all that classical stuff and learn some jazz. I found a teacher, and the first thing he told me was to roll my lower lip out. He also gave me a few tips on how to do it right, but generally I was told I need to figure it out on my own, because everyone's mouth is different. I've been practicing that for the past few days and... I can barely get a sound out. It's either squeaky or warbling, or if I can get something out in the lower register, I'm unable to play mid-high notes and vice-versa. Also, the seemingly different amount of pressure I need to apply to squeeze out a sound the higher the notes I try to play causes me to want to change my lip placement.
To be honest, I feel completely lost - how much rolled out should my lip be? Is it supposed to not cover the lower teeth at all? I watched your video about embouchure, but I still can't figure out the difference.
Can anyone help me here? :)
Solved. Your updated video on embouchure (and another one) helped me figure out how to position my lip. I'm a happy player again, thank you!
For question 21 about the 3rd party, I have a paraschos wooden neck from amazon and I don’t really notice that much other than it looks pretty cool
Master 🙌🙌🙌🙌
whats a jazz sound ? i love your answer.
Love your videos - I've learned so much. I was just checking out your fingering chart - best one I've seen yet. However, there is no mention of when/where to use the front F key! It is delineated on the photograph, but not in the charts.
That is discussed in my beginning altissimo video. Check it out.
Re. practicing in front of a mirror for relaxation: I’ve found videoing myself to be more helpful than using a mirror because I tend to relax more when I’m looking at myself in a mirror, and then I go back to being tense IRL. Use the mirror of course, but I find that the phone never lies.
Great video and lot of great content in it, thank you for all thoses answers... (huge laugh at 1:15 ^^) ... And about the first gig, I can just confirmed that, had my first gig 4 days before, I was prepared as much as I could for it, and it was a big mess (for me, even if people where very kind and said a lot of compliments to me) ! I'm clearly learning from this experience. Great voice with the piano too :)
Glad you’re out there getting the experience. It’s all about the process. Better every time.
@@bettersax Yeah it's just that I was a little in panic and I missed half the notes that I wrote, but I improvised something in the good tone so, for those you didn't knew the notes I was suppose to play, it was ok :) ... Now time to work, and one day to do a second gig !
Can you do more videos on how to improv or how to play blues
Yes I will, have you watched all the one's I've done so far? There's a playlist on my channel page.
Better Sax i have only watched one but i will watch the rest aswell. Keep doing awsome content, you are a huge inspiration for me.
Watermelon Man is a good blues to practice improv on.
great voice singing
Jay. For your next Q+A video. When I know it is time to change to a harder strength reed?
good question
What do you do with your tongue for embouchure? I’m a clarinetist, and have been taught to voice my tongue in an “E” position. Does that translate to saxophone, or do you think a different vowel shape?
Hey Jay, want to buy a new saxophone and I know that you're a big fan of Yanagisawa. Now I have a question:what do you think of the Selmers, for example series 3 or Reference 54? Aren't they very good saxes too and why do you think anyway the yanagisawa are better? And another question: which would you buy today: an A-WO10 , an A-WO 20, an A-WO30 or an A-WO33? And why? Wich one sounds nicest to you?
Would be happy to hear from you!
okay there are vocals!!!! If you play the piano and sing I would love to play my tenor behind that one day!
you're on.
@@bettersax Im down whenever you are
Is using the twist and tune on the neck worth it
Jay, is that a Yamaha YAS 280 in the corner of the screen?! 💕😄🎶🎼
It might be 😉
I have another question, is it uncomfortable to play alto and tenor as mains instruments ? Do you sometimes feel lost by transposing in Eb instead in Bb (or reversely) ?
Sight reading.
Get any busking book, any pitch and play very slowly! every tune, one shot, next page, next page, say the note in your head as you play it. Four hundred tunes later you will be getting there.
when playing ballads, some people short cut the longer notes….use them to concentrate on your tone and dynamics. If it is a whole note….play the whole note. Yea i know you can embellish a lot but sometimes a note is just a note. Not everything needs to be a fast flurry of notes. That doesn’t make you ‘better’.
Believe it or not, I play sax and I would also like to play piano I I weren't playing sax. (no singing though)
I don't know how to read notes on piano but I've learned a couple of classical songs
Hey Jay,
I’m looking for a new metal mouthpiece with options for altissimo for my bariton sax. Do you have any tips?
Greetings from the Netherlands
The Theo wanne Gaia is supposed to be the bomb. I haven’t tried it yet though.
Yeah!! ONE embouchure - but get it RIGHT
IsJerry Bergonzi’s ‘ no embouchure’ embouchure to be taken seriously or was it intended to be some sort of joke?
Have you any sure method for production of subtone on tenor? Thank you for your reply.
concepts . use what works for you.
Jay. You never answered my question about the palm or hand keys. What exactly are they for?
Download my fingering chart which explains all the keys on the saxophone and what they do. bettersax.com/sax-101-basic-saxophone-fingering-chart/
Hi Jay. First...your voice is lovely, man! I wish we could do music together. 🌝 2nd I Love playing the sax , singing and... semi-professional photography with High-End gear... some musicians also use to be photoghraphers...are you one of them?
Haha thanks. I bought my first camera less than a year ago.
Hey theres a tenor saxophone that I was wondering if you could review it's a knockoff but I have it because it's cheaper than other saxes I'll comment the link :3
I’m beginning saxophone and only been playing for 10 months I was wondering if anyone has some tips I may need
What do you think about the sopranino saxophone (i bought the jp atom 146 i’m waiting for the delivery)
those notes are too high for me...
Better Sax haha i bought it like to travel with it i can’t travel even with my alto
I have a question. I have been playing the saxophone for 4 months (mouthpiece size 4 and 2,5 reed) and I want to upgrade my mouthpiece. Can I start on a metal mouthpiece? All my heroes used Otto Link STM (Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Coltrane, Chris Potter...) so naturally I want it. Is that smart?
You can, maybe start with a 5 or 6 tip opening so it's not too much of a jump for you. You may need softer reeds at first.
@@bettersax I will do that. I know Coltrane used a 5* with reed strength 4. I will get 2. Thanks for the advice.
Just a beginner - I have a Yamaha 4C alto mouthpiece, set everything up per your videos as best I could, and can't get the pop effect with either Rico or Legere signature reeds. What's next? I get an ok sound as far as I can tell, so maybe it doesn't matter at my level?
@GounterMcSnounter FWIW, I'm trying out plastic reeds in order not to worry about having a poor reed - if my sound is bad it's my fault. I'm also trying cane.
So I just rented a tenor, with a Yamaha 4c mouthpiece, and got some Royal reeds, and a metal two-screw ligature. The pop test works with these, for what it's worth, and it plays really easily for me. Maybe my alto mouthpiece's table isn't quite flat?
@GounterMcSnounter Thanks for the advice. FWIW I have a Rovner 1RL I guess leather ligature on my alto. - I've been playing flute for many decades and have just been winging the saxophone for a month based on videos and my ears - it probably is time to get an actual teacher before I get too many bad habits.
You answered to questions of mine in a row. It felt weird
I just went in order pretty much..
@@bettersax I forgot to say thank you for the answers
Hi I play alto sax
Hi me too
Cool
I play tenor
Little Nuggets64 I was gonna play tenor but I just wanted something more higher
I am intermediate and I want to buy a sax which model do you recommend
Yamaha YTS 480 Tenor or are you looking for something else?
it's very expensive for me
The Jean Paul AS 400 I reviewed last week is an amazing instrument for the price...
Hey Jay, I have a question on tonguing/fingering.
When I play, I can read sheet music perfectly fine and don’t have trouble keeping up with myself when reading. I struggle when playing by either my tongue can’t keep up with my fingerings or the opposite. Does anyone have any solutions to help get past this?
Slow down, use a metronome (maybe set to eighth notes) and tongue every note on whatever technical exercises you are using (although standard scale exercises would be fine). Either your tongue is not in time or your fingers are not in time. Most likely your tongue is lazy.
3:05
Hey Jay will I die of old age before I can play Lambada ? What's that tattoo it looks like a pumpkin Ah haha wanted to make you laugh Jay have a good day.
Haha it’s from the engraving on one of my horns. Vine like I admit.
Number 13 doesn't work very well if your name is crazy Joe Davola; never mind, I'm sure it would still work.
9:11
🎵Subtítulos en Español en todos tus videos plis 🙏🏼
Sound.
Play ballads and put as much feeling and soul into them as you can. Think Otis Redding - don't know about you but I feel drained after playing like this.
I viewed a video by Bergonzi in which he briefly stated what he referred to as a No Embouchure embouchure. He stated that this embouchure required the lips to be in exactly the position that they would be in when drinking through a straw. Nothing more was mentioned or referred such as how much of the mouthpiece is taken into the mouth, position of lips and whether the top teeth rest on the beak etc etc. I have not been able to get any information about this Bergonzi embouchure . I have come to the conclusion that all this was intended to be some sort of joke as there does not seem to be one single reference to this Bergonzi video. So do you think this is a joke or was Bergonzi making some sort of statement. Thank you sincerely for your comments.
Ojala estiviera subtitulado en español 😔
i have that same split system(s) for climate control...real nice
yeah that works great.
What are you talking about here? Did I miss something about climate control? Or is it that big umbrella looking thing on the background that I though was for photographs??
Frank E. Rosado-tha white thing on tha wall down low....
First
J A Z Z
Salut pk tu fais pas des vidéo en fr c'est plus simple
Pour les français oui.
@@bettersax tes video sont intéressants mes durs à comprendre je demande 1 ou 2 vidéo ou tu nous donnerai des conseille pour débuter en fr
9:18 well that didn’t age well...
Haha at the time I had never considered it to be fair.
"pad saver" what is a pad saver? They don't exist.