How do I choose a saxophone mouthpiece?
The Saxophone Mouthpiece (and Clarinet Mouthpiece) Tip Size, or Tip-Opening, is the distance between the reed and mouthpiece tip. This number is usually on the side of the mouthpiece body, or on the table. The smaller the tip size the more narrow the opening; the larger the tip size the larger the opening.
Do saxophone mouthpieces make a difference?
Some people feel mouthpiece material has a direct impact on sound and some feel otherwise. The result is that there is no significant difference in a listener’s perception of saxophone sound when steel or hard plastic mouthpieces of similar dimensions are employed in playing long tones on a saxophone.
What do different saxophone mouthpieces do?
The tip-opening of the saxophone mouthpiece will impact the comfort of play, the volume and the tone-colour of the instrument. With the same reed strength, increasing the tip-opening of the saxophone mouthpiece will allow you to increase the volume and give more body and width to the sound.
What pitch should a saxophone mouthpiece sound?
Mouthpiece Exercise For the soprano saxophone, a concert C#6 (two octaves above middle C) should naturally come out when the mouthpiece alone is played. Similarly, the alto mouthpiece should produce a concert A5, the tenor a G5, and the baritone a D5.
Why does my saxophone sound bad?
If you’re noticing harsh, squawking sounds, cover less of the mouthpiece with your mouth. If your saxophone is making quiet, muffled sounds, place the mouthpiece further into your mouth. If it sounds like you’re not getting enough air into your saxophone, you probably aren’t; covering more of the reed will help.
What pitch should a saxophone mouthpiece and neck sound?
It is important not only in determining the correct tension for the embouchure, but it also matches the frequency of the mouthpiece and neck to that of the “missing cone”. In short, the pitch for alto should be Ab concert and the pitch for tenor should be E concert.
Why is my D so sharp alto sax?
Middle D is a problem for a lot of saxophones. It can be very sharp (10 to 20 cents) and can be “stuffy.” To flatten it out you can hold the left hand pinky B or Bb key. You may also be able to flatten it a bit by changing your embouchure for that note (and the Eb too).
Why is my tenor sax so flat?
Traditionally instruments tune to a concert A (F# on alto and B on tenor). Often blowing very loud causes the saxophone to go flat so tune at a moderate dynamic. Using vibrato may cause the sound to be slightly flatter.
What note does an alto sax tune to?
E♭
Is there a way to tune a saxophone?
So if your sax is cold, blow some air through it to get it up to room temperature. Once warmed up make sure your sax is in tune overall. A chromatic tuner will show your tuning on any note, but it’s best to start by checking the notes, A and F# in both your low register and upper register (with the octave key on).
How much does it cost to tune a saxophone?
Saxophone Repair
| SAXOPHONES | Average for Playing Condition | *Repad |
|---|---|---|
| Student B Flat Soprano | $80.00 | $490.00 |
| E Flat Alto | $80.00 | $490.00 |
| B Flat Tenor/ C Melody | $90.00 | $500.00 |
| E Flat Baritone** | $125.00 | $630.00 |
How long will a saxophone last?
12. How long will a saxophone last my child? A decent instrument that is well cared for and regularly maintained should last for several years. Many students progress right through their grades on a decent student instrument some progressing to university level.
Can I learn saxophone on my own?
Many people say that it’s easy to make a sound on the saxophone, but harder to make a good sound (at least, at first). But if you’re considering getting started with saxophone lessons – don’t be discouraged! Any self-disciplined student can progress in their saxophone skills by taking the right steps as a beginner.
Can you refurbish a saxophone?
Your saxophone will be reassembled, lubricated, performance tested and final adjustments made. . We’ll finish off by cleaning your saxophone and case to make it performance ready. Re-lacquering is available for an additional fee, please contact us for an estimate. *Prices are based on instruments in average condition.
What can I do with an old saxophone?
Sell it. Take the sax to the most reputable repair shop near you and have them appraise it. This is a fast and simple way to learn what the sax is worth. They may have consignment options or offer to buy it from you directly.
Can you get scratches out of a saxophone?
A scratch of the garden variety is pretty easy to fix, it is buffed out. If it is really bad it is first sanded or filed out and then the buff is used. But once you have the scratch out you have an area on the sax that is bare brass.
How do you fix the G key on alto sax?
This is usually because the cork or felt in the linkage between the G# lever and key has compressed. Without changing the cork or felt, a normal correction would be to hold the G# lever down and bend the linkage arm of the G# lever slightly further down than it is at present.