What was said about the stronger reeds was very interesting. I just started playing soprano sax this week. I started on alto. The soprano was difficult to figure out. I went reed after reed,literally soaking them in water. I would still get these wonky notes. I couldn't play the low E F F# notes. I was about to give up when I just picked up a reed with wetting it and the notes came right through.The stiffness of the reed made the notes come out. I thought about purchasing 2# reeds,but after watching this,thinking I should higher to maybe 3# or $# strength.
The harder reeds make the intonation better, get your sop checked for any leaks, the low E F an F# notes should come out easily no matter what strength reed you have on.
I think something is wrong with my horn. I am not able to get more than 5 notes out of it consistently. Some tones just seem out of place. I've been a multi instrumentalist for over 29 years. So I'm very surprised by the struggle I'm experiencing playing soprano saxophone. Any advice from your perspective is appropriated.
Interesting comment, the curved neck doesn’t make a massive difference, but a curved soprano makes a very different sound, a lot rounder and less aggressive. It’s also easier to record having the bell aiming up, so you can put the mic in the usual spot and it will pick up key and bell tones at the same time.
ricaard Thanks for the reply. A hard reed works for me, but everybody has a different shape mouth amd teeth. My next video will be a intonation test for Sop and Alto. S
@Larry Patterson Hi Larry. It makes like loads easier as regards intonation, you should still be able to get the higher notes with a softer reed! Get your horn checked out for leaks? S
Hi Roman. Here is a link to a Windcraft model that I think falls into your budget, I'm not sure which country you are in, but if you use my discount code 630817 you get 5% off www.dawkes.co.uk/windcraft+wss-200+-+soprano+sax+saxophone.dm?catno=wss-200
Sure there are some good horns in his price range. Kessler brand soprano saxophones aren't bad alternatives to a yani especially if you don't have $3,000 2 drop on a used horn.
@Furio Bigi MAIS BIEN SÛR QUE SI ! J'ai peut-être eu de la chance , mais mon sax soprano anglo-chinois ( Jericho horns TM by academy wind instruments ) que j'utilise tous les jours depuis 5 ans est VRAIMENT excellent , et ne m'a coûté que + ou - 300 euros !!!! . Précaution à prendre : essayer avant d'acheter , c'est tout , et ça en vaut la peine !!!
Simon great tips, my set up is also the Yamaha 4C with a RICO Royal Plastic Covered 3 1/2. This set up gives me great intonation across my Yani S981. The Yamaha 4C gets a lot of bad comments, but yet it is the mouthpiece that comes from the factory with all Yamaha saxophone’s. Now your making it sound so great. Thanks again
Thanks for the compliment, I will try plastic coated on the soprano, I use plastic coated reeds on the bari in a funk band, where i need a bit more power, I haven't thought about using them on Sop. Cheers
As Sax players we know every horn , set up, and player is different with that said I find this set gives me a nice warm sound. But it’s not hard to control it in any register. Cheers.
j'ai essayé des tas de reeds jusque la force 4 . Pourtant , au soprano , c'est avec 1.5 et 2 que j'obtiens les meilleurs résultats pour moi . C'est bizarre ça , non ???
à cause de la faible longueur de l'instrument ainsi que de sa courbure , certaines notes ne sont pratiquement jamais justes , il faut souvent "tricher" pour les obtenir !!! En plus , sa petite forme me font penser à un jouet d'enfant , et ça , CE N'EST PAS BON POUR LE MORAL !!!
I wish youtubers would work more with sound levels. The goes from sounding like they are talking in a tunnel to full blown volume in an instant alerting everyone around.
Hello! It was a impromptu video recorded on my phone. The thing about RU-vid is you don’t get paid for putting content on, if I have to spend time processing sound and picture I probably wouldn’t bother making the video. If you would like to pay for better quality content go to my website and sign up to the members area! Rant over!!!!!
Hey. I just switched to soprano sax (Selmer super action 80 series 2) after playing Alto sax for 8 years. I struggle with playing piano on it, especially in the lowest register. When I start in pianissimo or piano, the tone won't come out properly, and it usually jump to the higher octave. It has just been repaired, but I'm wondering if this happens because I'm used to playing a larger sax, or because it's not fixed properly? (Apologize if my english is bad)
Andrea BW Hi Andrea. I would get the sax checked again for leaks. Then if that is Ok, have a listen my vid on "sound like a pro". I think throat shape has a lot of effect on the ease of playing. Low notes large throat, higher notes smaller throat position.
I think you need to experiment with different reeds as harder reed no 3 for example will allow your top notes to speak but it will be difficult to play bottom notes whereas a softer reed will give you ease of playing in the bottom but throws the sax out of tune at the top notes and sounds thin. You also need to relax your mouth a lot to get the bottom notes but tighten your mouth for the higher register.
Been playing soprano professionally for 50 yrs. the opinion is not rubbish harder reeds on soprano and sopranino lock in pitch better and prevent the thin crappy sound “smooth jazzers” get on soprano along with their uncontrolled nanny goat vibrato..
Steve Lacy wrote a book on the soprano saxophone & he used a 1 & 1/2 reed, not a 4. Listen to Lacy's playing. There's nothing thin or anemic about it. His high register stuff is always solid. Lacy also said that all the talk about the soprano being difficult to play in tune is not especially accurate. When you play the mouthpiece by itself, it should be D flat. I found a 1 & 1/2 reed to be ideal for all registers, overtone jumps, tone, & my embrochure isn't drastically different going from soprano to clarinet or alto saxophone. One should never have to strain or force anything. The major difference between different size horns is the back pressure, which one adapts to easily enough (try going back & forth from soprano to baritone, for example). CHEERS
He did play a very open mouthpiece and had a powerful airstream.that most players dont have . When i saw him he had a 21/2 which is still pretty soft. I guess it depends how you use you personal airstream. 31/2 Van Dorens and .070 old Morgan makes me and most listeners happy but I certainly always enjoyed Steves concept.
Hi Doge. I haven't tried the soprano version of the 475, but the Alto version seems fine and in tune, it just seems to lack a bit of weight in the sound.
Hello doge shibe. I used to own a YSS-475 and hated it! Tuning was woeful and low and high notes really difficult. The worst saxophone I ever owned. I had a 62 in the past which was wonderful. I had a tenor student with a YTS-475 and it was excellent. So, perhaps just the soprano 475 is that bad. I recommend save up a bit more and get a Yanagisawa. I currently have the 992 which is remarkable.
@Real Royal Matrix hi there. I can't say. i bought my 62 in 1992. nowadays I'm a much better player than back then, too. i know plenty of people who play the 82ZR or 62 and sound great! I think a good Yanagisawa or good Yamaha are both great choices. the thing with the Yani is that build quality is superb, intonation is impossibly good (better than Yamahas, I would say), and it's smooth and even across the range. I'm a classical player and feel it's perfect for my needs.
@Real Royal Matrix No, I wouldn't say Yanis are brighter than the 82Z. Perhaps the Yamaha is a little brighter. I have a bronze 992. I have a student with a brass 991. The bronze is definitely a little warmer (darker). I played a Rampone soprano once (don't know which model) and it was awful. It was new but I suspect it hadn't been adjusted by a technician and didn't play well out of the box. My recommendation to you would be a Yani WO1 or Yamaha 62. Or, if you want to spend more money, WO10/WO20 or Yamaha 82Z.
This is a lovely video and it helped me a lot! Question, do you think it would be difficult for me to switch from the bflat clarinet to a soprano sax? And how different are the fingerings?
There is not much change in the embrasure, but the fingerings are easier on the soprano than clarinet. You will pick it up quickly, The sax is the higher register on the clarinet but in both octaves.
Simon Currie You Can Play Jazz absolutely! Just bought a Selmer Series III after wondering whether to get a Yanigasawa S-WO37. Any student soprano sax would be money wasted! Guess I’m more a Selmer guy as I already have a Series III tenor and SA 80 II alto. I play a Phil Tone Sapphire .67in tip opening and had to soften my Legere Signature Reed from 2 ½ to 2 ¼. Love it but embouchure is painful after one hour of practice when I can easily play tenor for 2 hours.
Simon Currie You Can Play Jazz Hi Low c Low c# Low b Low Bb I can slure the note ..but the articulation is dificult.. Some time come up and smoe time doesn't... I believe that all my problem with the emboucer
Hi Low c Low c# Low b Low Bb I can slure the note ..but the articulation is dificult.. Some time come up and smoe time doesn't... I believe that all my problem with the emboucer
Hi Oudai. First of all get your sax checked by a repairer, it might be that there are leaks in the instrument. Also use the hottest air and the widest throat position for the low notes. Check out my video on sound production ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hTYYRj5VL_8.html I see you are coming from a clarinet, which has a tighter embouchure, my sound video also covers that.
