Lower notes of Alto Sax?!
Question: I just got an Alto Sax. and am really enjoying it. (I also play clarinet and piano). Slowly I am learning the notes, but as I go lower and lower it becomes seemingly impossible to play. Basically when I play the low d (the note right below the first line on the staff) it always end up being an octave higher. Same thing with all the notes that are lower than that too. I know it can't have leaks or anything because I got it 2 days ago. I heard that I have to drop my jaw, but it just makes everything really flat and doesn't help much. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Answers: I just got an Alto Sax. and am really enjoying it. (I also play clarinet and piano). Slowly I am learning the notes, but as I go lower and lower it becomes seemingly impossible to play. Basically when I play the low d (the note right below the first line on the staff) it always end up being an octave higher. Same thing with all the notes that are lower than that too. I know it can't have leaks or anything because I got it 2 days ago. I heard that I have to drop my jaw, but it just makes everything really flat and doesn't help much. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
An instrument being new is no guarantee that it's in perfect adjustment. Have it checked , then try the following moves.
The sax embouchure is slightly different to clarinet. On clarinet, IMHO, young students are often taught to put too much lower lip over their bottom teeth. It they close their mouth normally and pull the corners of their lips, just enough lip will cover the teeth naturally. That's can be a problem when changing to sax because . . .
On sax, the aim should be specifically to form a cushion of lower lip to support the mouthpiece. Note what I said then; I didn't say "for the mouthpiece to rest on". It should be a firm cushion. The lower jaw will be a bit "further away" from the mouthpiece, allowing your lower notes to speak without going to the higher harmonic.
Ensure you have a reed that's soft enough. If your mouth is relaxed, a softer reed will allow the notes to speak. But if the mouth is too tight, it may still go high. That's why you have to have the sax in perfect adjustment, otherwise you won't know if it's you or the sax causing the trouble.
I had this same trouble when I got my new alto. Usually I find that its because of the reed. Usually its too dry.
Whenever I got new reeds it was a little hard to play.
Just try playing around with it, move your mouth up and down the mouthpiece and make sure your reed is WET (put it in water if you need to).
Ps. any notes lower than E are usually hard for beginners to play.
Hope this helps!
Try
A) Different Reed size
B)Wet the reed (if it's too dry it won't vibtrate right)
C) play around with your jaw, loosen your grip on the reed, tighten it up, and slide your lower jaw forward and back until you hit the sweet spot.
It's also going to take more air to hit and sustain those low tones.
To practice hitting them, start higher and slowly (holding on to each note) walk your way down...
and if you only have had it for 2 days... give your self some time.
If you've never played before your body (especially your chops) have to get used to it..