Stopping Squeaks: "squeak-buster" tips….

[Jazz Cat]

thread idea: pleasae share your favorite tip(s) that work to minimize squeaks….

a) one I found today is, make sure mouthpiece is straight into your mouth, not at a slight angle.
I was getting high-G squeaks today til I did that.

b) make sure reed is wet enough…first thing I do before practicing is put reed in mouth… then
set up sax & music..

got a tip? let’s hear ’em…

[Anonymous]

c) stick to the same mouthpiece – i don’t squeak full stop. I only start squeaking when i play on a different size mouthpiece (in my case its all from the embouchure)

My teacher plays a size 9 metal mouthpiece on tenor and on alto he plays a size 7 rubber mouthpiece – that way he doesn’t squeak as both mouthpieces are roughly the same size. if he plays a size 9 rubber mouthpiece on altonthen he squeaks

[William Cingolani]

Good tips Jazz Cat. I have to remember those tips.

[Mark Kiziuk]

I know I’m brand new but I want to try to help too! Try not to blow too hard into the mouth piece, also I just purchased D’Addario Multi-Instrument Reed Storage Case with Humidity Control Pack for all Clarinets and Saxophones from eBay that’s supposed to keep the reeds moist before you put them on the mp. I’ve seen that your supposed to put the reed in your mouth while putting the sax together, but for me that’s like a minute! It doesn’t seem like a long enough amount of time to moisten a reed so going to try the reed storage case with humidifier to moisten my reeds to cut down on any squeeking. I will keep everyone posted about this new reed case I just purchased.
Mark

[William Cingolani]

My wife says i’m too loud on the tenor: using a MB11 mouthpiece

[Jazz Cat]

my dog objects violently to my sax playing, lol…so I practice in the basement, bark-free

[William Cingolani]

My first Aussie objected so much I had to go outside and practice. No basement in Florida on the beachside

[William Cingolani]

Mark. I usually soak a reed or some reeds in water & vodka for about 30 minutes before I play. So far the vodka prevents any mold from forming on a stored reed. I keep a sealed container of water/vodka mixture on my desk. Also makes the reed taste good.

[Mark Kiziuk]

Great Idea William!
Yeah I’m going to give the humidifier thing a whirl, but I didn’t think about mold growing on the reed. I’m also getting a lot better at my saxophone, I practice EVERY DAY so far for 18 days. It might only be about 10 minutes a day,(my mouth muscles for my embouchure need to develop further) but everything is getting better as far as my tone,embouchure, training my brain to where the keys are, speed AND far less squeeks. For me it’s all in the correct embouchure and not blowing so hard reduces the squeeks!
Mark

[Marc]

I’ve found so far that squeaks were frequent when I put the ligature too far back (i.e. reed too free to vibrate).
So I use to put the ligature up to the line of the “french file cut” on the Rico Royal I usually play.
And yes, blowing too hard drastically increases the squeak probability.

[Author]

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