It seems that there are notes, like D above middle C, where the octave key is called out to press, yet it does not open the octave valve or seem to do anything while the other required keys are pushed for the D.

If the octave valve does not open then why do you have to press it???
Thanks Neal!!!

Randy

And a similar variation of this question,

The third key from the top on the chart makes my octave key not work

My response:
Actually, you’re probably fine.

There are two octave mechanisms on the saxophone, let’s say the one on top of the neck is the primary mechanism, there is a secondary one that opens when you have the octave key pressed but also have the third key on the left hand (bottom finger for G) pressed.

When you play notes with the octave key pressed you will have one of the two mechanisms opened, but not both.
It’s good to know about both of the mechanisms for a few reasons. On my alto, sometimes the ‘secondary’ mechanism sticks and at first it took me a little while to figure out what was wrong. Then I cleaned it off and the horn played better.

Here’s a video to show what’s going on.

The octave mechanism on the neck works for the highest notes, A with the octave key and above (as long as the G key is not pressed) and the other octave mechanism works for notes G and below with the octave key pressed.

Basically the effective length of the saxophone is from the mouthpiece to the open holes (can be all the way to the bell if you’re playing low Bb). So the octave mechanism is higher on the horn (on the neck) for the higher notes and you use the lower one for the lower notes.

The distance between the octave mechanism and where the air leaves the saxophone is more similar for all the notes and makes the effect more even. That’s my understanding of what is going on.

How to put it (saxophone) together?
-Katherine

Saw this question via Drift.

That could be a good video to make.

I kind of do the opposite when I clean the saxophone, you can see how I hold the saxophone and the neck, etc though, Cleaning the saxophone

To put the saxophone together, start by putting the ligature on the mouthpiece, then the reed, then put that on the neck, then put the neck on the body

What’s a good way to learn to read notation?

I sometimes transcribe it to letter notes so I can play a song and that’s time consuming

I have several (books) but they are all in notation so they are of little use to me at this point.

(Knows two scales, C and D)

Working on,

aint no sunshine when she’s gone,Tequila, amazing grace,pink panther

-Jim

You could buy my beginning class to work through some things slowly and learn how to read.

Saxophone Foundations: Beginning Saxophone Class

How to play do re mi fa sol la and ti (on saxophone)?

-Chris

Got this question on Sax Station today. Basically, there are two systems within solfège, a ‘fixed-do’ and a ‘moveable do’. (I’m not sure if that’s the official terminology).

The major scale is

do re mi fa sol la ti do

If you want to play those with C, each syllable lines up with a note

C D E F G A B C

There are twelve major scales, so you can think of any notes as being ‘do’ with a ‘moveable do’.

So, any major scale uses these solfège syllables.

If you use a fixed-do then concert C will be do. That would make it D for tenor/soprano saxophones and A for alto/bari saxophones.

Here’s a link to my class on scales for saxophone.

I think that solfège can be useful. But I also think it’s more useful in more diatonic music (staying in one key). And I would recommend learning the system of notes with letters as well as being able to play in all keys.

“I have been playing for 3 years, I practice everyday at school rehearsals, but at home I only do it around 1-3 days”
-Austin

So this isn’t exactly a question, but I thought I would comment on it. It’s something that a person said via the Drift Plugin that I just installed. Go ahead and try it out if you would like. Right now I’m asking a couple of questions and I’ll probably switch it up sometimes.

However, if you have a question, go here, thanks

https://saxstation.com/ask-a-saxophone-question

By providing some information I ask for on that page, you’ll get a better answer to your question.

Rehearsals are pretty different than practicing. At a rehearsal, the group gets better, but the focus isn’t on your own playing most of the time. If you can practice at home more often, you’ll improve much faster.

Practicing on your own is probably the most important part of improving at music. It’s also important to play with others and can be dangerous not to, but you can do things like slowing down a section to 60 bpm and playing it a hundred times on your own. Not something you can do in a rehearsal or at least any that I’ve been to.

I have been asked quite a few times about how the notes work on saxophones, what you see on a tuner, etc.

So here’s a chart. Concert notes in the middle alto (and bari on the left) and tenor (and soprano) on the right. You can also compare alto to tenor on the same row.

If you’re having trouble with transposing, you could save this image on your phone for reference.

Go to https://saxstation.com/downloads to get a larger version, a fingering chart, and some other things. Follow the directions and subscribe to get access if you have not already.