Sax Guide

So... you are ready for a professional saxophone... :)) You are on the right path looking into the Yamaha altos... The one that is currently considered the 'best' would be the 82Z or Custom Z Alto. Below is a review for you to read and decide for yourself if it is definately for you.

Thanks for reading.

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Yamaha YAS-23 Alto Saxophone? Is it good?

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:23:22 +0000

The Yamaha YAS23 alto saxophone features a clear durable baked-on epoxy lacquer finish. Nickel plated power-forged keys provide excellent durability while the refined tone hole dimensions and placement provide superior intonation. Is it good enough for a first year of band?

Yamaha's are great horns, especially the YAS23 for beginners. I had one from 6th grade all the way until the end of my sophomore year of high school. It's a very sturdy horn and it lasts. Someone a couple posts ago told you that if you begin on a Yamaha you'll never be able to play anything else....sorry but that's bull**it. All I have ever owned are Yamaha's and just a month ago I purchased a Selmer Serie III black laquer soprano. The transition wasn't difficult at all, I just had to work on voicing for a couple weeks since corks on Selmers are shorter, and therefore require a different oral cavity to play them. I say go for the YAS23 for a great student model horn. Of course there are other makes out there....Selmer and Yamaha being at the top right now. I would suggest going down to your local music store and trying out a 23 just to make sure you like the tone and quality. It's good to give yourself options, so try out a couple different brands they suggest. Good luck!

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How good is the Yamaha YTS275 Tenor Saxophone?

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:23:22 +0000

im looking to buy my first tenor saxophone. im just beginning. also how good is the case that comes with it, i need one that will fit it but that is strong enough to be able to take a good battering when it gets taken to school. what else will i need, does it come with ligature, reed, cap , strap etc.?

I am a professional woodwind player, certified teacher, and competition judge in NY since 1971. You CANNOT go wrong with Yamaha. Have your own teacher advise you about the mouthpiece, ligature, reeds - etc. - that is personal to each player. As for the strap - I seriously advise a sax HARNESS - some wise guys call it a sax bra (duh . . ) - it puts the weight of the horn on your BACK, like bookbag straps, instead of on your neck. There are also padded straps, gel straps, etc. - but this harness is far and away the most ergonomic, especially for a younger or smaller person - this is a BIG horn! A guy that teachers with me used to have the BASS sax summer gig at Disney - OUCH!!!

Good luck with learning the sax - I hope you get a GREAT private teacher - its makes ALL the difference!

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Where Can I find free Baritone Saxophone sheet music?

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:23:17 +0000

I need to get some Bari sax music so I can practice.
I'd like jazz or well known pieces.
Thanks.

www.8notes.com

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How do you play the lower notes on the baritone saxophone?

admin — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:23:16 +0000

i just switched to the bari sax after 7 years of playing the alto, and i cant get the low notes below the middle C. If i do manage it, it wavers in tone until it jumps up an octave, i cant get it it stay low without jumping. If anyone has any tips on playing a slow-winded instrument like the bari after switching from the faster alto, or a video link, i'd appreciate the help, because i really have no idea how to play the bari right.

If you're having difficulty getting low notes, try taking in a LOT more of the mouthpiece and blow with a really relaxed embouchure. This will allow the reed to vibrate without your alto embouchure having to much affect on it. I'm pretty sure you'll get it to work if you do this. Once you get the sound and are used to the sound of the low notes, back off a little to get some quality in the sound and reduce some of the honkiness.

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How do I preform vibrato on my Baritone Saxophone?

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:23:16 +0000

I need to know for a solo I'm doing. Does it have to do with the emochure, the tounge? Or is it something totally different?

There are multiple ways to perform vibrato. One is, as someone said to move your jaw slightly. Also, you can use your tongue, or you can also use your throat. You just have to experiment to see which method works best for you. Baritone Sax will be a little tougher because it's such a big horn, and takes a lot of air to fill it up.

There is nothing wrong with not using vibrato. It's better not to use it that to try to do it when you really don't know how. Use your ears and don't use the vibrato unless the music calls for it.

What jazz piece should I play on alto saxaphone for my school exam?

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:23:11 +0000

I play alto saxaphone and i have about 4 weeks to learn a piece. I want a piece that sounds really good but is reasonably easy. To give you a measure im about a year away from playing charlie parker EASY stuff. Can also tell me were i can get it for free or email the music to me.

If you claim to be that close to Bird status, you should start working on a transposed Giant Steps or Countdown. =)

Since that probably isn't the case, a fun song I enjoy playing (albeit on soprano) is Oliver Nelson's "Patterns". Its a 6/4 minor modal piece with a relatively simple chord progression. Can't give you the music, but there's an Aebersold play-along book (Volume 73) that has it in there.

Coltrane's "Mr. P.C." and "Blue Train" are also good fallbacks. They're 12-bar C minor and 12-bar Eb major blues, respectively ("Blue Train" starts in Eb minor then segues into Eb major for solos)

Good luck.

BTW: You aren't Bird-worthy if you can't spell "saxophone" right.

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I just started renting a saxaphone? Any tips on how long to practice?

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:23:11 +0000

I have been playing flute for almost 2 years now so the fingerings on saxaphone arnt really to difficult. I've had the alto sax for about 2 weeks now and can play most of my scales and 3rds. How much should i practice and for how long? i wanna play jazz next year.

Snap! I play the flute too and i also play the saxaphone now!!
The saxaphone is a great instrument when you get pretty good and it sounds great with jazzy pieces.
Playing the sax does take up alot of breath and you don't want to over do it by playing for hours and then ending up fainting and feeling sick, but because you've got the flute background your breathing system will allready have good suport, so you should start with about 1/2 hour to 45 mins a day and when you start to get used to it more then you can do about i hour or so. The more you practice the better you will get and you will soon be playing jazz!!
Good Luck! xx

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What is the note conversion between saxaphone and cello?

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:23:10 +0000

I play saxaphone and my sister plays cello, she wants to learn a small part of one of my saxaphone pieces on the cello, so we were wondering what is the note differance...g on the saxophone is b flat on the flute...ect... or if you know a website that would really help thanks...oh if you could explain half steps too that would help a bunch in rewriting it thanks
to stiofan_lok... learn to spell yourself bub, (for your sister to "pay" them.) ... then you can call me honey, ok:)

Tell her the notes in concert pitch like your "A" being a Concert C since she is a concert instrument then tell her the note is C. More efficiently go to www.finalemusic.com and download finale notepad make a duet by typing in the alto (or bari) part and copy then print it will automatically transpose for you.

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