Today I had this moment. I was so happy. It came after repeating the mantra “I believe in myself. I started to send the air up and into it instead of straight from my throat. It did feel like I was going awww. It was really nice, if my lips didn’t get tired… I would be doing them right now. It worked like every time. Really nice feeling to get a low Bb note especially consistently with this kind of approach in mind. I’m watching this after my practice from earlier but this just confirmed my insecurities. Haven’t seen my teacher in two weeks and having Chinese neighbors is a art of war like momentum so having a way to get these notes cleanly out consistently is really needed!
I'm so glad this is helping you! Just keep at it - it's something that takes time to feel comfortable with but once it becomes second nature you're going to absolutely love your sound!
This certainly helps! I'm still developing embouchure, and I often hold a pencil (eraser end) in my mouth for exercise. I've found the more relaxed I am, the better. Not a fan of the "lip curl over teeth" method lol.
Great lesson as always! One thing that I have always struggled with is articulation. How to properly practice it? A video about that would be greatly appreciated!
This is really good dave. You put words on abstract concepts. Personally i would love a video on how to start exploring the altissimo register :) Smart man!
When you say "Awww," it sounds a bit like the Boston accent or Brazilian portuguese "Ó". Not 100%, but there is an influence hearing from the west. For us west coasters, how do we adapt? Our "Aww" is not quite the same.
I love your content man. Killin. I would love to learn more on how to play altissimo. I've been trying for about 4 years now with no avail. I do my overtone exercises, but even then I have a hard time getting to the second octave note. I play tenor mostly. Thanks
Thanks for the Lesson Dave. I'm 6 months into learning the alto. My sound is exactly like you first described being thin and sharp. Would you say that the "Aww" adjustment is mainly a change in throat shape? Would you recommend rolling your bottom lip out more? I've definetly learned the way you described with rolling my lip on top of my teeth.
Hi Dave. Since you asked, can you cover the application of grace notes and also how to solo over music when you play by ear ( i.e. how to know what scales to use)? Thanks in advance.
Can you make a video for kids. I’m 11 and I have played for 3 years, but all the videos I see on TH-cam is very complicated to understand. I just want to sound good and to play faster
Here's some things to help you get better, 1. Don't bite, EVER 2. Use hot air. Pretend your blowing to a window and trying to get it to fog. 3. PRACTICE. This will help you get better tone and get deeper notes, try for a month and you will see a difference
Interesting, I've been struggling with using voicings for different notes so I'll try sticking to the same one. Why do you think people use different voicings for different notes? Cheers
Well I do adjust for different notes and don’t keep it the same, but thinking “aww” versus a closed sound is step one towards a nice open relaxed tone!
I have been forced to using the double lip embouchure due to dental problems. I find that jazz subtone is either not possible or difficult with this type embouchure though classical subtone is no problem at all. Is this a sufficiently wide spread problem for you to make a video dealing exclusively with this problem or has a video alradgy been produced related to this matter? Thank you for your reply which I am looking forward to.
i find my tone feels so shaky :( i play on a 3 1/2 , and sometimes i get tired playing pianissimo long tones... but even when i think my embouchure is controlled, it still comes out almost shaky? do you know why this is- can other people hear it?
Well the question "can other people hear it?" can be answered by recording yourself and listening back. If it's shaky, your embouchure or air might not be consistent. Think about blowing THROUGH the neck of the saxophone instead of just into it.
@@DavePollack I agree , but i also think that the instrument must contribute to the tone , I mean I cant get my Yamaha yas 62 to sound anything like the tone you are getting, mind you I’ve only been playing sax for a year so there may be hope still 😀
Yep top teeth still on and bottom lip still slightly over teeth. The "aww" vowel is almost 100% about getting the tongue lower and out of the way, and not so much anything on the outside of your mouth.
Even when you tried to sound bad, you sounded good. Kudos to your playing.
😂 thanks!
Changing the sound from AWWFUL to AWWESOME.
😂
Today I had this moment. I was so happy. It came after repeating the mantra “I believe in myself. I started to send the air up and into it instead of straight from my throat. It did feel like I was going awww. It was really nice, if my lips didn’t get tired… I would be doing them right now. It worked like every time. Really nice feeling to get a low Bb note especially consistently with this kind of approach in mind. I’m watching this after my practice from earlier but this just confirmed my insecurities. Haven’t seen my teacher in two weeks and having Chinese neighbors is a art of war like momentum so having a way to get these notes cleanly out consistently is really needed!
I'm so glad this is helping you! Just keep at it - it's something that takes time to feel comfortable with but once it becomes second nature you're going to absolutely love your sound!
Just now picking up the tenor sax over 40 years old. This definitely helped good job thank🎷🙂👍
That’s amazing to hear!
Awesome tip. I ran into my house grabbed my sax and tried it. Definitely a big difference
Awesome!!
Always bringing good info for us sax lovers.Keep them coming I watch them all and have improved.
That’s so great to hear! I have a ton of stuff planned!!
This certainly helps! I'm still developing embouchure, and I often hold a pencil (eraser end) in my mouth for exercise. I've found the more relaxed I am, the better. Not a fan of the "lip curl over teeth" method lol.
Great to hear!
OH GOD THIS HELPED SOOOOOO MUHUHUCUHCCHHCHCHHHHH thank you, Dave
So glad to hear that!
Great video, thank you!! For the next videos I would love to understand how to keep a consistent sound when changing octave.
Omg thank you so much you are a life saver 😭🙏
You’re so welcome!!
how to play altissimo notes in order. And thank you for the lesson it has done me well
Great idea, and thanks!
Great lesson as always!
One thing that I have always struggled with is articulation.
How to properly practice it? A video about that would be greatly appreciated!
That’s a great idea!
Thank you for this tips really helps along with my tone
You’re welcome!
Thanks man great lesson
You're welcome!
This is really good dave. You put words on abstract concepts. Personally i would love a video on how to start exploring the altissimo register :) Smart man!
Thanks so much! I will definitely be diving into altissimo in one of these.
In the meantime, overtones will help! 'Top tones for the saxophone' by Sigurd Rasher has some great exercises, and I'm pretty sure it's public domain
very informative!! I do not like complicated advice, this was very easy to understand.
I don't like complicated advice either! That's why I make the lesson videos the way I do - easy to understand, digest, and implement.
Amen brother. 😊
🙏
When you say "Awww," it sounds a bit like the Boston accent or Brazilian portuguese "Ó". Not 100%, but there is an influence hearing from the west. For us west coasters, how do we adapt? Our "Aww" is not quite the same.
Well done!!!
The best online saxophone lessons out there! 🎷🎷❤️
Thanks so much Mark!
Thank you very much!. My tone has improved a lot
Glad to hear that!
Please sir....kindly do a video on How to sound sweet and emotional on the Saxophone
Thank you so much 🙏 I’ve been learning saxophone with a main in clarinet this was a huge help!
Awesome!! Embouchure is always tough going from clarinet to sax, so opening up is a BIG thing
this was so helpful thank you
(it was actually instant)
You’re so welcome!
Yes please, this is going to be super useful
Audible improvements in my sax tone instantly. Thanks!
nice points Dave, and presented very well!
Fantastic information
Thank you so much
Great tip, nicely explained.
Thanks!
beautiful lessen. Thanks. Subscribing
You’re very welcome!
Awesome video, have heard that a lot but your summary is more precise and on point :)
And could you maybe make a video on vibrato?
Thanks! I'll definitely put that on the list of topics.
Thanks! I'll definitely put that on the list of topics.
I love your content man. Killin. I would love to learn more on how to play altissimo. I've been trying for about 4 years now with no avail. I do my overtone exercises, but even then I have a hard time getting to the second octave note. I play tenor mostly. Thanks
It works!
Yup!
👀👍...Thanks mr. Pollak
Would be helpful to see a profile shot so we can see the differences in mouth position.
its kinda weird how good you are at explaining things. Great video! Keep up the great work of making saxophonists sounding better!
Thanks for the Lesson Dave. I'm 6 months into learning the alto. My sound is exactly like you first described being thin and sharp.
Would you say that the "Aww" adjustment is mainly a change in throat shape? Would you recommend rolling your bottom lip out more? I've definetly learned the way you described with rolling my lip on top of my teeth.
🎷Useful, very usefully
Hi Dave. Since you asked, can you cover the application of grace notes and also how to solo over music when you play by ear ( i.e. how to know what scales to use)? Thanks in advance.
Can you make a video for kids. I’m 11 and I have played for 3 years, but all the videos I see on TH-cam is very complicated to understand.
I just want to sound good and to play faster
Here's some things to help you get better,
1. Don't bite, EVER
2. Use hot air. Pretend your blowing to a window and trying to get it to fog.
3. PRACTICE. This will help you get better tone and get deeper notes, try for a month and you will see a difference
So, besides using the awe sound, are you suggesting to change the embouchure from m a tuckef bottom Lip to rolling the lip out ?
It's still kind of "tucked," just not much at all
The "before" sound is what I think about when I think about Coltrane
aww-some
Thanks for that 👍👌
You’re welcome!
Timing for another video
Absolutely I’ll do one on this!
Interesting, I've been struggling with using voicings for different notes so I'll try sticking to the same one. Why do you think people use different voicings for different notes?
Cheers
Well I do adjust for different notes and don’t keep it the same, but thinking “aww” versus a closed sound is step one towards a nice open relaxed tone!
@@DavePollack Ohhh, I got it. The point is open up your sound overall. Thanks!
I have been forced to using the double lip embouchure due to dental problems. I find that jazz subtone is either not possible or difficult with this type embouchure though classical subtone is no problem at all. Is this a sufficiently wide spread problem for you to make a video dealing exclusively with this problem or has a video alradgy been produced related to this matter? Thank you for your reply which I am looking forward to.
1:15 that sounds like me
I did not get how to change the embosuhure.
i find my tone feels so shaky :( i play on a 3 1/2 , and sometimes i get tired playing pianissimo long tones... but even when i think my embouchure is controlled, it still comes out almost shaky? do you know why this is- can other people hear it?
Well the question "can other people hear it?" can be answered by recording yourself and listening back. If it's shaky, your embouchure or air might not be consistent. Think about blowing THROUGH the neck of the saxophone instead of just into it.
My teacher gave me a different analogy which is funnier and more visual:
Having an egg in your mouth
My teacher often says my sound is too open... Should i press more then?
Is it out of tune? What do they mean by “too” open?
I thought this video was going to discuss curled lip embouchure
What happened with the platform you had created, isn't it gonna be available again?
What platform? Do you mean my course “Simple Steps to Improvisation Success?”
@@DavePollack the one where you get an entire life subscription, is that one?
@@jonathanromero333 It will be available to join sometime later this year - if you're on my email list you'll hear about it first!
It also helps if you have a Selmer mk6😂
Instruments don’t have a good sound - instrumentalists do
@@DavePollack I agree , but i also think that the instrument must contribute to the tone , I mean I cant get my Yamaha yas 62 to sound anything like the tone you are getting, mind you I’ve only been playing sax for a year so there may be hope still 😀
Sorry, can't resist - I'm a pianist, so I improve _my_ saxophone tone by hiring a better saxophonist!
(Not just a bad joke, a tip...)
😂
So are top teeth still on the mouthpiece? And is the bottom lip meant to protrude? Going aawww doesn't really clarify. Cheers.
Yep top teeth still on and bottom lip still slightly over teeth. The "aww" vowel is almost 100% about getting the tongue lower and out of the way, and not so much anything on the outside of your mouth.
✌🏾🎶🎵🎷
awww :)
Wouldn’t aww constrict your throat? I feel like an aah would be more full but idk
It’s about moving your tongue out of the way - try it out yourself!
do you think having your bottom lip out creates a better sound than curling it over your teeth?
✨ I can't play the saxophone ✨
AWW but it's gotta be a jersey accent
Look up Joe Allard and the "No Embouchure."
People! Hes giving our free secrets that desperates real players from beginners. w