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How to play Low Notes on Saxophone / saxophone embouchure / beginner saxophone lessons

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0:00 - Introduction
0:19 - Check that your Sax has no leaks. Take it to a Saxophone Technician.
0:45 - Why are low notes on sax challenging?
1.35 - Are you squeezing the mouthpiece too hard?
1:50 - Too Much Tension
2:30 - Solution #1
3:10 - Poor Posture + Fix
4:00 - The Saxophone Embouchure is too tight
4:30 - Generating perfect airflow for sax playing
5:23 - Good Breathing Practice
6:08 - Is your throat too tight?
7:10 - A tip that allows you to change your throat shape
8:10 - Warm vs Cold Air
9:45 - Building consistent Airflow and a stable Sax Embouchure
11:25 - The correct direction of airflow?
13:30 - Uncertainty of Fingering on the Saxophone
14:25 - Breaking down harder passages and slow practice
16:20 - Spending more time down the bottom (end of your saxophone)
17:40 - A Test for Good Support - Do this to solve your low note problems on sax
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How to play low notes on Saxophone
Have you ever tried to play a low note on Saxophone and it’s everything but low? It’s happened to every sax player at some stage. Playing low notes shouldn’t be difficult, with correct approach and solid saxophone fundamentals you’ll be playing Bb’s at ppp in no time.
In this Saxophone Lesson I’m going to cover the most common reasons why students struggle with low notes and give you some sure fire solutions and techniques you can implement to improve this tricky area of saxophone playing.
What are considered “low notes” on Saxophone?
Generally speaking any notes that are played at the bottom of the treble clef or using the right hand buttons (without the octave key) are considered low notes on Saxophone. We have the easier of the “low notes” starting at F and then the more challenging extreme range of low Bb which is the bottom note on most saxes and involves passing air through the entire closed tube (Baritone saxes and some more experimental Saxophones include a low A tone hole and key).
Why are low notes challenging to play?
Low notes on the sax require a much more consistent embouchure and air flow to speak correctly. Beginner Saxophone players struggle with this as they often haven’t engrained the correct embouchure and conditions to allow the reed to vibrate at the slow rate it needs to. Most commonly low notes will be played as an overtone of an octave above where they should be (commonly referred to as a “squeak”), honk out too loud or not speak at all.
So, what am I doing wrong? Why aren’t my low notes consistent?
Here are the top 10 most common issues that I come across when students are struggling with low notes. These issues related to low notes these cause the majority of Saxophone problems and fixing them will improve your entire saxophone playing greatly.
The full lesson is above but if you'd like to get more lessons sheet music, backing track and demos then head on over to saxcasts.com to access hundreds more sax lessons.
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Опубликовано:

8 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 64

@SaxCasts 5 лет назад

Thanks for watching all, hope you found it useful! Please leave a comment below I'd love to hear your thoughts on low notes.

@michaellavelle9943 4 года назад

Dear Sax Cast, Thanks for a very helpful video on low notes. However, please could you sort out your terminology? I am an amateur tenor player, but I was a surgeon before I retired. You are using the word "stomach" when you really should be saying "abdominal wall muscles". The stomach is the bag that food goes into when you swallow it. Secondly, the diaphragm is a sheet of muscle which separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. It is shaped like an umbrella, and when it contracts, it flattens, drawing air into the chest. Therefore, the diaphragm muscle only works when you are breathing in. When you blow into a saxophone, you push the air out of your lungs using the abdominal wall muscles, not the diaphragm. During this process the diaphragm is relaxing. I do hope you don't mind me pointing this out, but I think it is very important. Otherwise, the video was really good!

@SaxCasts 4 года назад

@@michaellavelle9943 I don't mind at all Michael, great info there. Human anatomy certainly isn't my area of expertise. Over the years I've just learned what to tell people in order to activate airflow in the correct way. I knew that you can't consciously activate the diaphragm so I encourage people to push out their stomach (mostly due to starting with teaching kids and abdominal wall being a step beyond.) I actually never realised that the muscles were responsible for pushing out air, that fascinates me (I feel like somewhat of a neanderthal now but I'll take it!). I'd be interesting to have a conversation on this further if you'd be up for that. There will be a lot of value in getting the anatomy right here for future lessons and my own playing. Cheers for the comment and please get in touch! dan@saxcasts.com or via the facebook group.

@SaxCasts 5 лет назад

This video is going LIVE at 8:15pm GMT tonight guys. I'll be here to answer your saxophone questions and have a coffee with you! #saxophone www.saxcasts.com

@coopoylozenge5964 4 года назад

Best all-round kit bag for dealing with low Bb that I have come across.

@SaxCasts 4 года назад

Brilliant to hear Michael, thank you for taking the time to comment! 🎷

@thomascordery7951 2 года назад

Thank you for your great insight and clear explanations, these are really helpful. I just watched this through without my sax as it's a bit late, so I'm looking forward to watching again tomorrow, tenor in hand! Here's a number eleven from my own experience: don't walk onto the bandstand with anything still in the bell! Yeah, I've done it twice. Those collapsible sax stands designed to store in the bell can be culprits, but for me it was plastic water bottles. Both times were at rehearsal thankfully, especially because the first time took me a minute or two to diagnose the problem.

@SaxCasts 2 года назад

Haha Thomas! I think we've all forgot what was down there once or twice 🤣 Thank you for commenting my friend, really appreciate it! Dan

@MrMelby 3 года назад

Excellent lesson!

@Jazzcaz15 3 года назад

Great video!

@AnDang249 5 лет назад

I can do it now!!! Omg, you are the best

@SaxCasts 4 года назад

FANTASTIC to hear! Glad to help 😊

@reecestorey2263 4 года назад

Great video man thanks

@SaxCasts 4 года назад

No worries Reece. Keep smashing that sax!

@Jazz-jg9vo 5 лет назад

Hi there I have a inexpensive STAG soprano. It has been serviced but the low Bb sounds like the octave key down. Or it honks. I have played for a number of years on alto in the past. I’m trying to establish whether it is me or the instrument. Your video was very useful will try your techniques out. Thanks for sharing. If you have any further advice please let me know. Many thanks

@jrayke3200 5 лет назад

Here we come good quality D and C

@acdives 5 лет назад

and hopefully C#/B + Bb too! :'D

@zionalberto7680 3 года назад

A tip: you can watch series at KaldroStream. Been using them for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.

@piercespencer9876 3 года назад

@Zion Alberto yea, have been using kaldrostream for since november myself :D

@coinmarketlaunch1624 5 лет назад

I recently started playing, as a matter of fact I've been visiting Sax lessons for just over 2 months now. are self-tearchers good????, I have downloaded Tonestro, which is supposed to help me learn on my own. Is it adviceable for a newb like me to use such a software ?

@Coderedpirate 5 лет назад

the problem with being self taught is if you teach your self wrong, itll become a habit. Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent. I'd advise finding a teacher or soemone who is trained so that what you're learning/practicing is right.

@SaxCasts 4 года назад

Tonestro have spammed my RU-vid channel with comments by bots making me think it is a little suspect. I'd get a solid online course and back it up with a great teacher when you can.

@Kureshiman 3 года назад

So, on point 6: if I am going from G down to F & E, do I switch from blowing cold air to warm? How can I change that without it impacting the embouchure?

@SaxCasts 3 года назад

Technically you can't as you'll slightly change the throat position at least. Ultimately, you have your own anatomy and experimenting with what works the best for you is the only way. These tips just give you hints along the way.

@Redwane-Music 4 года назад

Question :i am having always difficulty playing the low 3 notes quietly, not a problem playing them loudly . i am doing something wrong? I keep hearing that you need a lot of air flow. so does that mean that it needs to be loud when it comes to playing those notes in particular ? and since I can play them loud does it mean that the saxophone has no problem or it may still have some ? thank you for answering because nobody really talks about this.

@SaxCasts 4 года назад

It's much easier to make notes speak on saxophone when you play loud. Do the notes often jump up the register when you play quietly too?

@user-zt3dv5cl4b 3 года назад

Been switching from Alto to Tenor, and I'm struggling with the low F and E they both go up an octave (when I play my scales, or just randomly, and I can't explain why as I've never experienced this problem with the alto) but not with the D and lower. It feels like the same type of thing you get with a recorder a tin whistle or a trumpet, only without overblowing the notes..

@SaxCasts 3 года назад

If you've tried everything in the video above It sounds like your sax may well have a leak. Do you have a teacher or tech locally that you could get it checked over with?

@myvid222 3 года назад

If you are holding down the octave key and the sound does change to high then is there not something wrong with your saxophone? Why is it a good thing if the octave key is not serving its purpose?

@SaxCasts 3 года назад

Due to you being in control of the airflow and sound production. The octave key opens a small vent in the body of the sax and as an exercise manipulating the air in such a way that you force the sax to act how you like its a great way of learning control. Ultimately, you rarely use this (you do use overtones and false fingerings for technique) however there are few better exercises for developing control.

@jonniewadd56 5 лет назад

Don't you just love spending more time "down there" ;)?..just fingering rather than fingering and blowing at the same time.Good lesson!!!

@aidanpark7705 5 лет назад

Fred Murray wtf lol

@jonniewadd56 5 лет назад

@@aidanpark7705 and you thought I wasn't paying attention!! Subliminal messages are my specialty!! :))

@aidanpark7705 5 лет назад

Fred Murray i love your humor thank you for making my day sir 😂

@SaxCasts 5 лет назад

Glad you enjoyed....the lesson... Murray lol.

@blackswan4486 5 лет назад

That sounded weirdly sexual 😂

@trickster7188 4 года назад

How do you play low a

@gryphonryder95 4 года назад

Baritone saxes have a special key for an A. Tenors and up don't (as far as i know lol) but i just recently bought my own bari (after graduating highschool 7 years ago lol. But newer ones have a low A, but older ones don't.

@SaxCasts 4 года назад

If you are flexible enough, you can finger a low Bb on sax and stick your knee in the bell to get that extra half tone. I suggest sax yoga...

@nnekaonwuachu5229 2 года назад

I need to see the person that will teach me saxophone

@Jazz-jg9vo 5 лет назад

P.S. I have very small little fingers so sliding to Bb is difficult as there is a bit of jump.

@SaxCasts 5 лет назад

It could be that you aren't pressing the Bb key hard enough to seal the pad. Try pressing harder or get someone else to push the key down to alienate this.