Depending on your saxophone and how long you play, you may have some neck pain. And if you play often with a larger instrument, this soreness can develop into real problems. With the soprano saxophone, players often do not use a strap and the alto sax tends to be small enough to not cause many problems.
But with larger horns, I have seen older players with serious issues. Hamiet Bliuett of the World Saxophone Quartet now uses a stand to hold up his baritone saxophone. Even the tenor sax can take a toll on your body.
There are many types of neck straps and harnesses and the designs make a difference. Some are basically just a string. In terms of physics, these straps create much more pressure on your neck since the weight is distributed over a very small area. The neotech straps are wider and made out of a material similar to a wet suit. Thus they distribute the weight a bit better and are more comfortable. I have one of them that I used to use.
As far as neck straps go, neotech is good, but I moved to an actual harness when I play. It doesn’t look quite as ‘cool’ but I play quite a bit and would rather not develop any problems.
My harness doesn’t have any padding and I bought it from the woodwind catalog years ago. I use it whenever I practice and sometimes when I perform.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m looking into buying a harness. Where did you get yours and what do you recommend? Did you shop around for one, at all?
A very relevant article, Neal. Wish I’d read it years ago, back when I first started playing my horn–though back then, I doubt the same options existed as today. I play a Conn 6M, which in many respects is a wonderful horn. But the ring for the neckstrap hook is situated higher on the horn, with the result that no commercial neckstrap has ever brought the mouthpiece up directly in front of my mouth. So for many years, I had to crane my neck forward and a bit down–not radically, but enough to affect my posture.
Some years ago, I asked my horn repairman about moving the ring down on the horn, but it sounds like doing so would create more problems than it would be worth. I’ve found that the Neotech brings my horn higher and makes for more comfortable playing. But the best I’ve come across so far is my own home-made neckstrap, which I made in a pinch out of a dog collar, a shoelace, and a spring latch. Not the most elegant affair, but not drop-dead ugly, either, and definitely an eye-catcher.
.-= Bob´s last blog ..COD Severe Weather Symposium: Are You Going? =-.
Neck pain has been a problem for me – not only when playing the sax.
I’ve tried several brands of harnesses until I bought the Oleg harness. This harness, for me works very well and is the only harness I’ve tried that moves the weight out on the shoulders and away from my neck.
I use it all the time for the Tenor and often for long practice sessions with the Alto.
Bob
The harness I use puts the weight on the shoulders too. Got it a few years back out of the woodwind catalog. What other harnesses did you try?
-Neal
I really need a harness. Years of tension….often headaches after long sessions. Problem i have with90% of slings, is the “slip factor”. Totally into a solo and your sling slips down a half inch. Man that pisses me off. I have always looked for slings with “holes&buckle”. This way, no slippage, and your horn will be constant in its position. I will have to give it some thought…….i guess they aint cheap.Neal, r.e. the bari stand…i used to have a1940′s “jiffy”. A clamped ring, attached beneath the bell. A tripod ( adjustable height) in turn fixed to this. Not the best description. Used it in big bands….bari sitting on your right at optimum height…and…….sling free! So….more useless information from Liverpool UK……….your welcome.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the bari stand, I haven’t tried one of those out.
About the harness, mine doesn’t seem to slip, but a system with holes and buckle would be more reliable I would think.
Keep it coming from Liverpool UK!