“What is your opinion on the best sax?”

-Nate

There is not a universal agreement on the best sax. But people definitely tend to like certain saxophones more than others.

The saxophone that most people would probably say is the best is the Selmer Mark VI. And Selmer makes a saxophone very similar to that horn called the ‘Reference 54’.

Many people also like Yamaha, Yanagagisawa, Keilwerth, Cannonball, and other brands.

Other sax players prefer vintage horns including Buescher and Martin.

If you have been playing less than a year, the saxophone is not going to make a huge difference in your sound. And realistically, you may want to wait to spend the money on a top of the line saxophone until you know you will play it for a long time. Also, with regards to the vintage horns, it’s often harder to play an older saxophone, so it may not be the best saxophone to start with.

Many companies make very good saxophones. I would recommend trying out some different saxophones to see what you like yourself.

However, also realize that the reed and mouthpiece may be the things you should change before getting a new saxophone.

One thing that many people seem to believe about playing saxophone is that it’s better to play a harder reed.

Should you play a #1 after five years?

No (for almost everyone).

But at the same time, you probably don’t need to play a #4 or higher, especially if your mouthpiece has a bit of an opening.

I personally have played different strengths of reeds. For a very beginning student I recommend using a 1.5. Between 2 and 3.5 is about normal for most sax players, depending on your preference.

Received a question and had a bit of a conversation about it.

Question/background

Having challenges with sound quality – relating to breath control

Playing roughly six and a half years.

On Day 1, “I guess i didn’t sound real good. Probably breathy and somewhat resembling an angry goose.”

How can I improve the quality of sound I am making? I always sound breathy, and sometimes my tone isn’t great either.
-Ryen (Australia)

Response/conversation

What mouthpiece and reed are you using?

-Neal

Currently I’m using a Yanagisawa 5c mouthpiece and a Vandoren Java 3 1/2 reed.
-Ryen

Have you tried a softer reed?

A reed that is too hard usually causes a breathy sound for me.
-Neal

Cool, thanks. I’ll give that a try. My teacher has actually been prompting me to try a harder reed. Any idea why?

She is also encouraging me to play the clarinet. She says it’s less forgiving on technique, so it will help…

-Ryen

She might be good at the saxophone, I’m not sure.

She is right in what she says about the clarinet. It’s easier to go from clarinet to saxophone than the reverse. I started on clarinet. If you want to play clarinet, maybe you should.

However, I disagree about the reed thing. I think you should try a softer reed and see if it works better for you.

If you were using a mouthpiece with a more closed tip opening, then the harder reed might be a good idea.

Or if you were using a very soft reed. But I see no reason for you to use a harder reed, especially if it sounds from what you’re saying like it is too hard for you/your mouthpiece/instrument.
-Neal

Thanks Neal, I’ll try that.
-Ryen

Basically, if your reed is difficult to play and sounds breathy, you probably should play a softer reed. Go down by a half size and see what happens. You can always come back.

-Neal

First of all, I got some new reeds. Three two-and-a-halfs, one two, and one one-and-a-half.

I’m currently playing two, and it’s working much better.

It’s no longer hard to play, I’m no longer breathy, I can play louder and I sound clearer. Thanks heaps for the advice.

-Ryen

What should I be looking for when I am listening to a piece and how do recognise the notes.

Thank You

Jackie

My response:

Hey Jackie,
You want to listen for all the dimensions of music – notes, rhythm, articulation, phrasing, space, emotion, etc.  But you can work on them one at a time.

And you can take a small section at a time.

To recognize the notes, if you just get one, you can hear the interval from there to the next one and from that one to the following one.

Start with simpler music and progress.  Just takes practice. It can also help a lot to get feedback on your playing.

Check out Saxophone Tribe if you would like feedback from me.

-Neal

I don’t know if I’m playing the noted right.

As I make a good sound I think I played it correctly but I just don’t know.

I’ve only played for like 3 days.

How do I tune it properly?
-Cameron

My response
You may not want to worry about tuning the saxophone too much if you have only played three days.

Focus more on good technique for your fingers, learning the notes, etc.

Tuning is important, but it will take some time to gain the control necessary to play in tune. Keep practicing every day and it will start to improve. And also be aware as you listen to yourself.

In general, people tend to be flat when they start playing. So your default position for the mouthpiece should probably be pushed in a bit.

I wrote this guide to tuning if you want to check it out,

https://saxstation.com/saxophone-tuning-guide.htm

Hi, like your site. I am learning your “blues saxophone line-alto sax”.

I want to play around with it and expand on it. I would like to play it against a backing 12 bar blues.

What key would work best? Also what scale is that riff built from? Thanks!!

-Paolo

Do you know any of the blues scales?

-Neal
Yes, i am learning the Gmin pentatonic.
I like your ” blues line for alto” and like ” jamming” with it and expanding it, but would like to play with a blues backing.

What would be the right key for that riff?

Also, what key is that riff in?

Thanks. Learning a lot
-Paolo

Minor pentatonic is similar to the blues scale, but there is one less note.

The ‘blues scale’ and licks will work over many changes. But better over some changes.

Best thing to do would be to try it in different situations.

But you can also just look at which notes seem to be emphasized the most. Which notes in the lick would you say are the most emphasized?

Also, you asked two questions,

What would be the right key for that riff? Also, what key is that riff in?

What is the difference between those two questions? (to you)
-Neal

Thanks. I think your riff uses the A blues scale ( an added 5th flat note to the minor pentatonic).

But it does not seem to ” go” easily to an A maj blues.

I will try it with an A min blues and see how it goes.
-Paolo

What is the lowest note on a tenor saxophone?
-Joshua

Low Bb

I’m 68. Played sax in high school and some rock bands. Haven’t played in 50 years. I have a 1956 la monte superiore (sorry about spelling) sitting in my closet driving me nuts.

Problem is, I have an upper plate and am hesitant to try playing with such. Not fond of pain.

I know the alto will need looking at, and can’t afford  the expense of extensive repairs as am on very limited pension.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-Carlisle Snider

My response

I actually just got my tenor back from my repairman. Hadn’t been to see him in a little while, in general I would recommend going about once a year to get a check up. The repair person will have things like a leak light that can help you discover exactly where leaks are.

In your case, you may want to get someone (who knows how to play) to just try playing the alto. That will be a fast way to determine what condition it’s in. If it’s playable now, maybe you don’t need repairs. If most of the notes play, maybe it’s all right for now. If only a few notes can be played by a professional saxophone player….. then it probably needs to be fixed.

A ‘complete overhaul’ will be expensive. But your horn may or may not need that. My tenor had a number of small problems, ended up not being too expensive to get them fixed.

So,

1. Get someone who knows how to play saxophone try your horn
2. Go to a repair person and get an estimate, might be worth it to get it fixed