playing in tune

[jake]

I recently recorded a song with a guitar player. The same thing happened as you pointed out when I played the “Da Doo Run Run” on your video blog. The player said I sounded flat. When I play with my tuner, if anything my notes are coming out a little on the sharp side. I redid the song I did with the guitar player and played along with another tenor sax and I think it sounded better using the same notes. When I put my mouthpiece on the tenor, it is almost all the way to the end of the cork on the neck. Can’t really put it on any farther.

In your experience is this something that happens when playing with guitars? Are there adjustments that need to be made??

Thanks for your help.

[Michael]

Hey Jake: Johnny told me not to put our duet up until he started a new blog for Member’s Videos. Your tone on the Tenor, taking the lead on this duet, is gorgeous and VERY good. Hats off to you on that for sure—I think that is the BIGGEST improvement I’ve noticed in your playing. That must come from applying what Johnny teaches in the Altissimo course? Putting aside being able to play in the Altissimo range, even what it does for our playing in the normal range of the Saxophone?!? That’s the point I wanted to emphasize when I put that video on the blog. Can you believe it’s already going to be part 7 of member’s videos?!? Part 6 went a lot quicker than I thought LOL and that’s fantastic–I get a lot of encouragement by watching everyone and taking in Johnny’s insights, as well as everyone else, every time there is feedback provided to someone. That’s how Sxpoet was able to take note and make a list of common mistakes that we all tend to make–very important!

I’m most certainly “guilty” of the Mouthpiece and the reed being out of place and it usually takes just trying to play a simple note or so to realize something is off. So when this happens to me, that’s the very first thing I check, and sure enough, it’s because of something being out of adjustment–like not tightening my ligature down good enough and the reed slipped out of place, etc..

[jake]

Thanks Michael. Is the video done? I know you are going to wait to post it on the new part 7 page but I would love to see how it came out. Feel free to send me the link in a message and I will check it out. Anxious to see the hard work we put into this.

I am attributing my tone to finally finding a decent setup and of course Johnny. I also am working on his new course he just put out for the daily saxophone routines. Simple stuff that just hammers home the fundamentals! This stuff really works. I had been so busy with playing a benefit and working on this duet that I haven’t been focusing on the altissimo stuff as much and my overtones are showing that. I have had most of this week off from work and have been practicing a good 3 or so hours a day and they are slowly coming back. Even played some altissimo notes with some control. Played the A right up to D. Very encouraging. Its funny how much easier they play after practicing those overtones for a while. I’m still struggling on hitting the 3rd octave at will. It comes and goes. I am going to keep plugging away at it though. Like you said, even if I never play the altissimo notes my tone is making huge strides by putting in the practice. (I am going to get those altissimos tho!! LOL)

[Anonymous]

Hey Jake – i’ve played guitar on and off for over 40 years.
One thing i noticed with the guitar is you have buy new strings more frequently if you play the guitar a lot.
The strings get clagged up with sweat and start sounding dull and flat.
Even if you tune up the strings they still sound dull! Put a new set of
strings on and the guitar sounds more lively!

The other thing with guitars is they are a but like pianos,
in the sense that if you try out a load of guitars, even if
they are in tune they do sound slightly different.

I won’t tell you how to tune the sax!
If you are unsure of the reed & ligature positioning
on the mouthpiece. Then just try playing duck calls
on the mouthpiece itself – you should be able to play the notes of a complete scale,
if you can’t then adjust the reed & ligature
until you can.
When thats done stick the mouthpiece on your
sax – and you should be blowing perfect notes!
Then put the mouthpiece in tune – sliding in and out,
other than that i can’t think of any other tuning issues

[john]

a proper sax will be able to tune to A440. If you can’t tune up to the guitar it’s because he didn’t use an A440 himself. If a guitarist just tunes up by ear he can be anywhere. if he used a good tuner then you should be able to tune up to him.
on the sax neck cork you have a fine lined area that you can slide in and out of…
if your mp is hangin so close to the tip that it wobbles then it’s obviously no good.
if it’s so far in that it covers almost the entire cork it’s no good.
there;s a sweet spot in the middle that we can play in otherwise too far either way won’t let the sax play in tune with itself.
so, if you have to put the mp in that it covers the cork, you may have made one note sound in tune to the guitar (which is probably not tuned to A440) but now you’ll have a hell of a time trying to make the other notes sound in tune cause the sax isn’t in tune with itself.

[john]

to add to that, there is a trick you can do which involves the low Bb;
play the low Bb then play the F and Bb overtones above it. these notes should sound in tune, if they don’t, your sax isn’t in tune with itself. you can prove this to yourself by doing what I said not to do in the above post!

[Michael]

I’ll have it done late this afternoon/evening and send you the link Jake; so check your messages before this evening. Once Johnny creates a new Member’s video blog you can post it…….you took the lead playing so you go ahead and post it too 🙂 All you have to do, as you know, is click on the youtube link and share it; very easy to do.

[Anonymous]

I presume if the sax isn’t in tune with itself – then you have to take it the repair shop?

[Anonymous]

assuming you still can’t get it in tune with itself after trying various mouthpiece positions

[john]

before I confuse anybody let me clarify that…
if your mp is extremely in or out it makes it pretty much impossible to play every note in tune.
if your mp is perfectly in the middle area which it’s supposed to be and your sax is out of tune then you have a mechanical problem…these are 2 different things.
doing the low Bb trick will tell you if the sax is in tune with itself from a mechanical standpoint.

[Author]

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