WOW! 3 minutes for real - I couldn't find a pencil to take notes that fast. This is so helpful to me since my orchestration book from college has nothing on sax. You're a pleasure to watch too!
Thanks! Haha I intend to keep going until I run out of instruments. In mid-late September I plan on starting to come out with some videos about some of the more unusual woodwinds, so if you liked this one make sure to subscribe!
Geez, this is a really great video that covers a lot of territory in 3.5 minutes. One question though: most textbooks indicate the bottom fifth or so of the range is difficult to play quietly yet you were discussing subtones in that range. Is the difficulty in playing quietly in that range more of a non-professional problem?
Subtones actually don't work much higher than that range. It's a different embouchure. For everything except classical or something obnoxious I pretty much default to it these days, it just sounds better. Playing quietly in the low register should be achievable by most professionals.
Thank you so much. I am an organist/keyboardist and don't know how to communicate with my sax player. Can you suggest ways I can assist him for contemporary worship music? Thank you!
I need a video about how to voice 1 alto, 1 tenor, 1 bari....AND emphasis on getting tasty ranges as they appear in concert pitch (tenor and bari in bass clef). Got anything? Style: jazz, with trumpets and trombones playing too (3 of each)
Keep lead alto around middle C-F a 12th above, that’s a super comfy melody range. Tenor: Ab at the bottom of the bass clef to Ab an 8ve above is usually warmer, A-A fatter, and above can get thin or bright depending on the player, keep bari low! I’ve got a whole writing for bari video
Re: Tenor you mean, Ab bottom of bass clef and just one octave higher (top of bass clef) for warmer? So just one octave you are recommending? What is the "A-A fatter" - what do you mean by that?
Definitely practice overtones. A harder reed can help as well. I know some people use them specifically if they have a rock gig that calls for crazy altissimo playing.
Composer question. How transferable is saxophone ability? Like, if I wrote chamber music and asked a tenor sax player to switch to their baritone or alto, understanding the Bb and Eb key differences. Would it be insensitive to assume that they know how to play the two since the instruments are in different keys? I'm writing for a flute consort and tenor sax but I think it'd be nice to not be limited to the tenor sax but not just jump straight to the Soprano. Thanks for reading Josh.
So assuming you're transposing your parts (which should happen almost without exception), most sax players will be fine switching between the saxes. I'd be cautious about letting tenor players play alto (assuming they never play it and have an old one lying around) because they usually end up with a very thin and high sound. Some sound great on alto, but that is a common issue. But essentially any good sax player should be able to switch between them all with no problem. Many sax players only own one sax though, don't assume they have them all. Write for a specific person whenever possible!
Have any tips on hitting Altissimo G because someone's I mess up and end up hitting Altissimo B or C or end up hitting a octave above Altissimo C Sharp when I'm fingering a high F Sharp
Flutter is done by rolling your r's, but some people do it with a sort of growl in the back of their throat. They do sound different, and the growl in the back of your throat is certainly easier. Slap tongue is done similar to the way you click your tongue on the roof of your mouth, but with your reed. Haha both techniques aren't that useful though, because composers rarely write for them (until they watch all my videos!).
Try to play the alto sort of like a tenor... I've heard a lot of tenor players who end up with a thinner sound for whatever reason, and alto with a thin sound is the worst! But that transfer should be pretty easy overall.
This is a great video! You should really check out Loe P, he is incredible!!! If you search Lucky Chops or TOO MANY ZOOZ you'll defiantly find him. (he's the bari sax player)
Adjectives! As a player I'm often disappointed that writers don't just write in plain English what they're looking for. A lot of people also do the "a la [insert famous player here]", but I think that's a bit dangerous, since you never know for certain that a player knows who you're referring to. Or do both: "Growly a la Boots Randolph" couldn't be clearer.
Idk why but my tenor has a gap in the altissimo range. I can go up to an altissimo g but I cant play g#,A, Bb or b. But then I can play altissimo c, c#, d and Eb. Then I can’t go any higher. Can anyone explain why
Your technique isn't there yet. Don't feel bad about it, those notes are the hardest to get, and even worse to hit consistently in tune. See a good book, maybe Rascher or Rousseau for some exercises.
@@bryanconlong9457 well I’m glad to say my altissimo has greatly improved in the 2 year span from when I commented this. Don’t have that range gap any more and have a lot of control in the high range
Wait, I’ve been playing tenor for about 2 months now, and I only just now learn above an e is altissimo, i thought altissimo would be way harder to play but I guess not
This is almost a video on how to NOT write for saxophone. Do not tell a performer to play two saxes at once. Especially do not tell them to play an A by covering the bell with their leg. You will be laughed at.
WOW! 3 minutes for real - I couldn't find a pencil to take notes that fast. This is so helpful to me since my orchestration book from college has nothing on sax. You're a pleasure to watch too!
+1 Sub ! Great stuff !
Il est partout
Can you do a Bassoon one please
Hell yeah
Yes
@@sebastianzaczek coming very very soon?!
Josh! That was a GREAT VIDEO! Awesome job dude! Gonna be super useful to a lot of people and fun and entertaining.
Spectacular, thanks Josh!
When I learned about buzzing into the saxophone I messed around with it for a bit the highest I can get on a tenor saxophone with a clear tone is a G
What is the song you played im 1:35? It sounds so good
That's Fly Me to the Moon
Fly Me to the Moon
Nice and quick, down to the point video. Smart guy!
Awesome Video, Thanks
Thanx Josh, really helpful !
Can you do a lesson on subtones?
You have some fantastic videos! Keep it up.
Thanks! Haha I intend to keep going until I run out of instruments. In mid-late September I plan on starting to come out with some videos about some of the more unusual woodwinds, so if you liked this one make sure to subscribe!
can you wright a how to play oboe in 3 minutes
Geez, this is a really great video that covers a lot of territory in 3.5 minutes. One question though: most textbooks indicate the bottom fifth or so of the range is difficult to play quietly yet you were discussing subtones in that range. Is the difficulty in playing quietly in that range more of a non-professional problem?
Subtones actually don't work much higher than that range. It's a different embouchure. For everything except classical or something obnoxious I pretty much default to it these days, it just sounds better. Playing quietly in the low register should be achievable by most professionals.
Hy mate thank you really helped me your ideas
I want to see someone play two saxophones at the same time in a concert.
Well this helped me out a lot. Thank you!!!!!
Awesome video
Thanks!
You are amazing ❤❤❤❤
3:01 song?
Do you have a tutorial on vibrato?
Great video!
great video! congrats!
Sorry, im musically uncultured, what's the name of 3:00? I cant remember.
O. B. bad to the bone
Thank you so much. I am an organist/keyboardist and don't know how to communicate with my sax player. Can you suggest ways I can assist him for contemporary worship music? Thank you!
i just watched this. actually searching for advice on scoring for saxes...nice one
Hey that’s what the video’s here for! Let me know if you have any specific questions :)
I need a video about how to voice 1 alto, 1 tenor, 1 bari....AND emphasis on getting tasty ranges as they appear in concert pitch (tenor and bari in bass clef). Got anything? Style: jazz, with trumpets and trombones playing too (3 of each)
Or would it be better to have a/a/t or a/t/t considering the style and 9 winds total (3 bones/3 trumpets)
Keep lead alto around middle C-F a 12th above, that’s a super comfy melody range. Tenor: Ab at the bottom of the bass clef to Ab an 8ve above is usually warmer, A-A fatter, and above can get thin or bright depending on the player, keep bari low! I’ve got a whole writing for bari video
Re: Tenor you mean, Ab bottom of bass clef and just one octave higher (top of bass clef) for warmer? So just one octave you are recommending? What is the "A-A fatter" - what do you mean by that?
Do you have tips to not Really squeak a little bit in the altissimo register. I am a tenor sax player and just want to ask
Jet Ruiz practice a lot overtones, a lot of it is shaping of your tongue and using the right amount of air.
Nice Sax Rice thanks for the advice （＾ｖ＾）
Definitely practice overtones. A harder reed can help as well. I know some people use them specifically if they have a rock gig that calls for crazy altissimo playing.
overtones, and a ton of lip and tongue maneuvers
Very helpful
Composer question. How transferable is saxophone ability? Like, if I wrote chamber music and asked a tenor sax player to switch to their baritone or alto, understanding the Bb and Eb key differences. Would it be insensitive to assume that they know how to play the two since the instruments are in different keys? I'm writing for a flute consort and tenor sax but I think it'd be nice to not be limited to the tenor sax but not just jump straight to the Soprano. Thanks for reading Josh.
So assuming you're transposing your parts (which should happen almost without exception), most sax players will be fine switching between the saxes. I'd be cautious about letting tenor players play alto (assuming they never play it and have an old one lying around) because they usually end up with a very thin and high sound. Some sound great on alto, but that is a common issue.
But essentially any good sax player should be able to switch between them all with no problem. Many sax players only own one sax though, don't assume they have them all. Write for a specific person whenever possible!
Have any tips on hitting Altissimo G because someone's I mess up and end up hitting Altissimo B or C or end up hitting a octave above Altissimo C Sharp when I'm fingering a high F Sharp
Practice overtone exercises! Either that or find a new fingering: www.wfg.woodwind.org/sax/
Josh Plotner thanks
How do you flutter and slap tongue?
Flutter is done by rolling your r's, but some people do it with a sort of growl in the back of their throat. They do sound different, and the growl in the back of your throat is certainly easier.
Slap tongue is done similar to the way you click your tongue on the roof of your mouth, but with your reed.
Haha both techniques aren't that useful though, because composers rarely write for them (until they watch all my videos!).
Could you do a writing for guitar video?
The only chord I know on guitar is Em11...
Josh Plotner Oh that's so sad.
Do you have any tips for transferring from tenor to alto sax? I love your videos by the way!
Try to play the alto sort of like a tenor... I've heard a lot of tenor players who end up with a thinner sound for whatever reason, and alto with a thin sound is the worst! But that transfer should be pretty easy overall.
Thanks!
What about bari
It gets its own video! th-cam.com/video/cr7AV6_VX-4/w-d-xo.html
Please make a video abouth Ghe oboe!!!
could u tell me what king of Mouthpiece are u using for?
For which sax?
wow
This is a great video! You should really check out Loe P, he is incredible!!! If you search Lucky Chops or TOO MANY ZOOZ you'll defiantly find him. (he's the bari sax player)
😎
How can I notate what texture I want the player to play?
Adjectives! As a player I'm often disappointed that writers don't just write in plain English what they're looking for. A lot of people also do the "a la [insert famous player here]", but I think that's a bit dangerous, since you never know for certain that a player knows who you're referring to. Or do both: "Growly a la Boots Randolph" couldn't be clearer.
Idk why but my tenor has a gap in the altissimo range. I can go up to an altissimo g but I cant play g#,A, Bb or b. But then I can play altissimo c, c#, d and Eb. Then I can’t go any higher. Can anyone explain why
Your technique isn't there yet. Don't feel bad about it, those notes are the hardest to get, and even worse to hit consistently in tune. See a good book, maybe Rascher or Rousseau for some exercises.
@@bryanconlong9457 well I’m glad to say my altissimo has greatly improved in the 2 year span from when I commented this. Don’t have that range gap any more and have a lot of control in the high range
@@abedinsubashi I am having to revive mine after not playing for, er, 30 years or so!
@@bryanconlong9457 Best of Luck man!
what was the piece at the end???
Travis Khounphannavong It's my arrangement of Summertime. Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/X09Qsn-x4Xw/w-d-xo.html
Was that "Fly me to the moon" by Frank Sinatra!?
Yep!
Wait, I’ve been playing tenor for about 2 months now, and I only just now learn above an e is altissimo, i thought altissimo would be way harder to play but I guess not
I play all three
i play alto sax
Me too
WRITING FOR OBOE PLEASE!!!!!!!
You should do a writing for oboe, I think that you've done most others that you own yeah?
Is it a problem that I️ don’t put my teeth on the mouthpiece
Gibby ye
I just play alto. This is so cool. Now I know that being bad at 16th notes is somewhat okay.
This was very unhelpful. Still no clue how i have to write notes for sax
What didn't make sense?
Josh Plotner yeah! I guess this was just one step ahead of me. The tone of My comment was unjustified, sry for that.
The how to write for sax in 1 sentence version is: Don’t write out of the range, and transpose your parts. :)
i Play flute and alto sax
This is almost a video on how to NOT write for saxophone. Do not tell a performer to play two saxes at once. Especially do not tell them to play an A by covering the bell with their leg. You will be laughed at.
My alto sax doesn't have a high f-sharp key