according to your pictures: you also need to play the tenor for a great sound. (except for Candy Dulfer of course. She can make a hosepipe sound sweet.)
@@Sarscian so with alto it’s pretty much the same concept you just have to be more careful as it isn’t as prominent or noticeable if your mouthpiece and neck are at a different desired angle. Sometimes it helps to have your neck parallel to the ground with also makes your mouth piece parallel to the ground and you just adjust your lips/head to get your desired angles. AND always make sure you adjust your neck strap so it’s easier to do so
I was having a problem with this yesterday (my sound on low B/BFlat was awful) and didn’t realize the cause until I watched your video. Looking back I remember feeling the strain in the neck and the pressure on my bottom lip. Thanks, Jamie. Great advice, as usual!
On Point, Jamie! It's uncanny how your recent videos have hit exactly the techniques I'm working on. I, for one, really appreciate it when you give the science behind these tips. I like to know "why!" This one makes perfect sense when you think about the difference the angle makes with the throat. It's like I was taught when having to swallow vitamins. If you crane your head up, it constricts the throat opening, but if you tilt your head down, the throat is opened up and it's much easier to swallow. Funny how we tend to do the opposite, but this change makes a big difference. Same concept here. It's science! Thanks, Professor 🤓😉
Ive been playing sax for a long time and could not figure why to stay in tune, my mouthpieces could practically fall off. I’ve learned quite a bit from Jamie.over the years, Taking several of his courses. Thanks a bunch for this one. 🎷👍🙏
OMG!! Thank you so much for this! I legit played at a gig yesterday and was wondering why I sounded like that and why at times it sounded like that every now and then. But now it makes sense! Thank God for youtube recommendations cuz I didn't even search for anything and boom here you are! Life saver!!!
Thank you for this lesson! My teacher used to emphasize NOT to nod my head down, because it restricts the air flowing across the larynx and upper pallet. Some of those photos you used were probably taken while the musician was looking down at sheet music. David Sanborn has managed to get a lot of air flow despite his "crane" angle. However, I think he developed that angle so he could get the sax neck out of his view of the sheet music.
@@GetYourSaxTogether I often play with my head down when I am on stage with a loud band. I do it to hear myself better. But it limits my air flow and do not like it. Otherwise, I play straighter.
Jamie, you are a blessing!!! The pouting / "Hoe" embouchure tip improved my sound and playing INCREDIBLY in like 10 seconds...and now this tip on the posture. Thank you thank you thank you. Please never stop making videos. Best "virtual" sax teacher, hands down. Big hug from Rome, Italy!!
I came across this video by chance, and I had actually discovered this myself during my practice today. I’ve only been playing the saxophone for a week, so I’m very new. It’s amazing to see that this is actually a technique!
Well, this is a game changer for me. I've never had advice on this before and none of the other coaches mention it - this simple tip has changed my tone and the ease of shaping notes. Thanks very much!
@@GetYourSaxTogether The only trouble is I could do with the opposaite being true! My dentist wants to take out my front top two teeth, so I need less tooth pressure, not more!
Many thanks for this "Tip". I have been playing for 40 + years and have been out of business for the last year due to Bells Palsy.. definitely disheartening. I have been playing on an AE 30 Wind Synth but I just don't compete on stage with Rock/ Blues dynamics. It has been good to keep me in the game with smaller/ solo gigs, but I have missed the real sax!. Thankfully I have been able to slowly start gigging again on my Soprano and for limited numbers of songs on my Alto. Praying I can support Bari and Tenor again soon and this video may help. By INCREASING that angle with a steeper nod, I am easing the load on my lower lip on my Alto! It reduces the BLOWOUT due to the weakness on the right side of my lower lip from the Bells Palsy. AMAZING Thank you so much! I think I will also buy an angled neck for my straight Soprano as I have struggled with the "Muffled" feeling on Soprano for some time and never considered the rather steep angle down I normally play it at. This is my first viewing of your channel; it will not be the last. Hopefully this will speed my return to longer sessions and gigs from this Palsy. Thank you again and great success to you!
Hey Jesse, really sorry to hear that you have been going through it. Hopefully, you'll keep building and come through it all the stronger. I'm so glad that this has helped in any way. All the best and thanks so much!
I mostly agree with you but there are some who "crane" with success too. Dave Sanborn and Ralph Bowen come to mind. Perhaps the tongue angle trumps horn angle. I myself think neutral is best as extremes could introduce consequences to technique.
Not mentioning names but some teachers are teaching the ‘ extended back neck ‘ method as the way to get a sound . Try doing this while singing and the sound becomes constricted ! Then sing with the head a little down just a little and the sound opens up . It’s the same with the sax and to me , one gets a much fuller sound with the ‘ nodding ‘ position and more control too .
This was very true for me recently. I misplaced my tenor neck strap for a day and tried using my alto strap instead. It wouldn't adjust long enough and forced me to play in that "crane" position. It was very uncomfortable and closed off my sound. Don't ever use a too short neck strap! 😕
An interesting thing I’ve noticed: most sax players crane their neck when they’re playing into high altissimo, notably brecker. he kept a nod when playing in middle register, but when he went higher, he gradually craned his neck.
finally a video where my tone exactly matches yours! unfortuntely it matches yours from the "doing it wrong" segments. look forward to trying nodding when it's not 5am
@@GetYourSaxTogether thanks for the encouragement! fun fact, first proper gig I ever went to was Incognito (mid 90s, cambridge corn exchange, support from Omar iirc). might've been before your time. anyway the nodding helps
I used to have the strap too high for years and it pushed my neck back . I switched to the nodding position a few years back and it made the world of difference . My lower lip has far more endurance . Of course there are exceptions like Lew Tabakin and David Sanborn but most of the old school players used the head slightly forward position .
you're the best man, I heard this from other saxophonist but didnt quite getit or the explanation that i needed to tilt downward and was wondering why I could not achieve that sound ive been longing for.. thought it was my cheap mouthpeice or the instrument again. IOU coffee Jamie lol
Months of overtones-hitting-the-brick wall. This one video, sir, and it has changed my tone, overtones come out easy, tonguing feels more natural. Nobody has said it like you did. Even the best of youtube teachers profess "neutral position". No. NOD! Thank you so much!
Beautiful and very useful video. Thanks. In my case I love David Sanborn and Rangell’s music. I would like to know, how do they do to sound like they do it if they put the head with the head up. Best wishes from Ecuador and thanks again for this video
In my case, I think angling the mouthpiece like that of Sanborn and Rangell greatly helps with overblowing. Craning the neck does not necessarily mean you play with a lot of pressure on the reed, but it probably is the case with beginners, so the "head nod" is good advice for most players. If you want to emulate the Sanborn style, I would suggest finding a position that makes overblowing easy (since that's a huge part of the style) while still maintaining comfort and an overall good sound.
For the time being, I exclusively play the soprano sax. My straight sop has no neck or you could say that it's fused with the body in one integral piece, a straight shot all the way from the tip of the mouthpiece to the bottom of the bell. It's a common design. I'm positive that you've seen these before. I typically hold it at a 45 degree angle with the floor. I've found that I get that kind of muffled sound when I slack off and allow the mouthpiece to drift out of my mouth from where it should be. Lately, 've been good at keeping enough mouthpiece in my mouth, though.
It’s just the same thing but it won’t look the same because, as you say, the angle is different. But it’s the mouthpiece angle in your mouth that matters.
I switched to your “goldfish” embouchure recently and it TRANSFORMED my low notes, but I now have to put significant pressure on the reed to not get a piercing shriek whenever I try anything above high C 😅 also I have issues transitioning between octave key notes without squeaking, something I didn’t have on my old embouchure. I have an alto and a Rousseau Studio Jazz mouthpiece with a 7 tip opening, if that helps?
Well, that’s one theory. The picture of Michael Brecker is old, probably when he was between 20 and 30 years. Look at pictures of him the last 10 years of his life: He has changed the angle of the mouthpiece in his mouth from “NOD” to “CRANE”. The same will you find if you look at pictures of Branford Marsalis: “NOD” when he was younger, but “CRANE” when he got older. Marsalis even have a video/workshop where he explains why it is so important to play “CRANE” not “NOD”.
Yup. I’ve heard him say the same actually. Can’t beat a bit of saxophone controversy! Just do what works best for you I guess. Even if this video just makes people think about it to do the opposite that’s cool with me.
Thank you for this detail. I’m learning on a baritone and holding it at the right angle is more challenging to me. This video made me realize that I’m probably ‘teeth heavy’ at a higher angle. I’m looking forward to making some adjustments during today’s practice session toward a fix 🎷
When you talk about nodding the head down to keep the neck muscles loose, it is very important to mention that the head nods NOT the head and neck. You CANNOT move the head forward. You can actually achieve a marvelous tone while looking up IF your throat is open (larynx). It is the opening of the airway and the ability to keep the weight of the head light on top of the neck that produces the brilliance in tone that we're after. If you look at a musician like Grace Kelley, she can literally jump up and down while playing with her sound because she has that light coordination of the head neck and back. Just my two cents as I work this all out for myself!! :)
I'd also like to point out that the neck muscles you describe along the front of the throat are at their greatest ease when you look up. It is the large trapezius at the back of the neck that will engage when you stiffen up. This will have the affect of tensing up the jaw as you look up and THAT will really kill your sound. So I love the idea of the video, but the anatomical reasoning behind the nod producing good sound is not quite there. BUT as a sax sound tip for a beginner, it can help to play with the idea and see what happens to the sound!
Thanks John. There’s actually a few misconceptions there though. Your larynx, or more precisely your vocal folds inside your larynx, are actually often almost closed in your airway, especially for note bending, palm keys and altissimo. Weird that, but true. And I’m not sure you make your head lighter on your neck? It’s always the same weight? Maybe you mean something else.
@@GetYourSaxTogether yeah i'm talking about the musculature surrounding the voice being open and engaged. It's a darn tricky thing for me to put into writing so sorry for the confusion! When I talk about the weight of the head feeling lighter on the neck, this is a sensation that will occur as the neck softens up and comes to it's greatest volume. If the muscles at the base of the skull have extra tension, this will pull the head down onto the atlas (top vertebra), increase the jaw tension, and stiffen up the rib cage. So while your head has the same weight, it can exert different degrees of pressure onto the spine based on how all of the neck muscles are coordinating. As you can tell, I think this is maybe THE most helpful thing for someone to understand to improve their tone :)
Follow Stan Getz double lip embouchure with no teeth bearing down on the mthpiece. His first instrument was the bassoon with a double reed and all bassoonists use that loose downward jaw and loose lower lip. His technical mastery to produce all the natural full warm sound it was originally designed for, at all speeds and volume levels throughout the range !
This was hard to notic at first from somone coming from clarinet. Had one lesson where my teacher pointed it out and had an immediate change in tone just tilting my head down a bit. Breaking bad habits now after 20 years of only playing Clarinet.
Ya this is a great video! Really not enough talked about. I'm curious if this can be affected by different neck (sax neck) angles? I've noticed the BSS neck create a bit more crane if that makes sense. I also wonder if players might find their setup more resistant when they move to the 'NOD' configuration?
Hey Jamie, thanks for such an informative video! I was wondering if you tend to keep the back and middle of your tongue humped for the whole range of the horn, or just for the low and high notes? I've heard a 'ayyyy' (flat tongue) position is advisable for the mid range notes. Thanks again! 🤟🏻
@@GetYourSaxTogether thanks Jamie. You mentioned in your video on low notes that a 'you' tongue position works well for those notes and I just thought there might be other syllables for high or middle notes. Appreciate the note!
Thank you for showing this technique, it was pretty informative. But I wish you would be more genuine/transparent in demonstrating your examples, like adding vibrato and trills to make it sound even better on one side.
David Sanborn, Harry Allen would disagree. I tt Harry a little about this and he said he angled his airstream to the baffle because Coleman Hawkins did it so he started doing it. Do what works best for you.
Que legal, parabéns! Gostei do seu canal. Estou usando legendas e tradução para português, pois infelizmente não sei inglês. Desculpe. Vou me inscrever no seu cal. Muito obrigado.
I think Brandford Marsalis would disagree. I remember watching a clip of him taking about setting the sax very high. Something he learned from Joe Allard.
I'm a flute player trying to learn sax. I'm so not used to the sax at full volume and keep trying to push up the reed to make the sax quieter lol. is there a way to not get sued by my neighbors while get the full saxophone experience?
Sidney Bechet preferred to hold the soprano horizontally at 90 degrees so that the whole column of air went up from the diaphragm and then just turned right, as opposed to up and down again, like some classical clarinet players. Sidney had complete control but also used a mouthoiece with a long lay and aperture beneath the reed, from pianissimo to double forte, rivalling any trumpet player. Totally contrary to Branford Marsalis, able to bend with tonal effects, growls and glissandos !
Good morning Christoph Brykla, David Sanborn suffered through polio as he grew up and this caused considerable damage to his spine, muscles, posture (at one point he needed wheelchairs and crutches) and these continue presently. He needed to adapt; thus, changing from the normal embouchure and posture to what you see. He is quite conscious about this including his daily life. Please talk to Bill Singer about this. Bill is not only his good friend but also his sax technician. I wish you health and joy. -Dr D
@@dr.rolanddavis Thank you for your swift response. That explains it very well, wasn't aware of it. So it's even more remarkable that he has such a huge sound.
@@christophbrylka6256 You are welcome. I hope your saxophone and musical journey is fun and rewarding. I’m *still trying to learn and improve … and I’m old ! I wish you many more rapturous musical moments. -Dr D
Hey, get YOUR sax together with this awesome free lesson!▶️ www.getyoursaxtogether.com/masterclass
And after a slight bit of experimentation, my tone improved incredibly in a time span of like 3 minutes! Thank you!!
Excellent!
Ever since I got that advice some years ago and changed my posture I am able to play the low notes with great sound - it's so worth the effort!
Awesome. Love to hear that. 👍🏻
according to your pictures: you also need to play the tenor for a great sound. (except for Candy Dulfer of course. She can make a hosepipe sound sweet.)
Yeh good point. On alto the neck is a different angle and it doesn’t look as obvious.
@@GetYourSaxTogetherGreat video-How can you apply this to alto?
Tenor saxes on top
@@Sarscianyeah I need a tutorial
@@Sarscian so with alto it’s pretty much the same concept you just have to be more careful as it isn’t as prominent or noticeable if your mouthpiece and neck are at a different desired angle. Sometimes it helps to have your neck parallel to the ground with also makes your mouth piece parallel to the ground and you just adjust your lips/head to get your desired angles. AND always make sure you adjust your neck strap so it’s easier to do so
I was having a problem with this yesterday (my sound on low B/BFlat was awful) and didn’t realize the cause until I watched your video. Looking back I remember feeling the strain in the neck and the pressure on my bottom lip. Thanks, Jamie. Great advice, as usual!
Glad it helped! Cheers 🙏
On Point, Jamie! It's uncanny how your recent videos have hit exactly the techniques I'm working on. I, for one, really appreciate it when you give the science behind these tips. I like to know "why!" This one makes perfect sense when you think about the difference the angle makes with the throat. It's like I was taught when having to swallow vitamins. If you crane your head up, it constricts the throat opening, but if you tilt your head down, the throat is opened up and it's much easier to swallow. Funny how we tend to do the opposite, but this change makes a big difference. Same concept here. It's science! Thanks, Professor 🤓😉
Fantastic. Glad to have helped! Thanks Cindy 🙏
Ive been playing sax for a long time and could not figure why to stay in tune, my mouthpieces could practically fall off. I’ve learned quite a bit from Jamie.over the years, Taking several of his courses. Thanks a bunch for this one. 🎷👍🙏
Happy to help!
OMG!! Thank you so much for this! I legit played at a gig yesterday and was wondering why I sounded like that and why at times it sounded like that every now and then. But now it makes sense! Thank God for youtube recommendations cuz I didn't even search for anything and boom here you are! Life saver!!!
Glad it helped! Keep up the great work
Thank you for this lesson! My teacher used to emphasize NOT to nod my head down, because it restricts the air flowing across the larynx and upper pallet. Some of those photos you used were probably taken while the musician was looking down at sheet music. David Sanborn has managed to get a lot of air flow despite his "crane" angle. However, I think he developed that angle so he could get the sax neck out of his view of the sheet music.
I believe David sanborn played like that due to his polio? Have you tried both?
@@GetYourSaxTogether I often play with my head down when I am on stage with a loud band. I do it to hear myself better. But it limits my air flow and do not like it. Otherwise, I play straighter.
@@MarkPeotter fair enough! 👍🏻
When studying with Lee Konitz I also learned the importance of taking in more mouthpiece for an open sound!
There are lots of factors to consider. Experimentation and what works best for you. 🙏
What a great tip, you are an awesome teacher Jamie. Thanks a lot!
My pleasure!
Nothing short of Awesome advise. It made and Immediate change that i never got with changes reeds or mouthpieces . You are an amazing Teacher.
Great. Thanks so much!
Jamie, you are a blessing!!! The pouting / "Hoe" embouchure tip improved my sound and playing INCREDIBLY in like 10 seconds...and now this tip on the posture. Thank you thank you thank you.
Please never stop making videos. Best "virtual" sax teacher, hands down.
Big hug from Rome, Italy!!
🙏
I came across this video by chance, and I had actually discovered this myself during my practice today. I’ve only been playing the saxophone for a week, so I’m very new. It’s amazing to see that this is actually a technique!
Awesome! 🙏
Well, this is a game changer for me. I've never had advice on this before and none of the other coaches mention it - this simple tip has changed my tone and the ease of shaping notes. Thanks very much!
That’s made my day John!
@@GetYourSaxTogether The only trouble is I could do with the opposaite being true! My dentist wants to take out my front top two teeth, so I need less tooth pressure, not more!
@@johnwhyte-venables2167 tell your dentist, hell no,!!
you need those teeth to play the saxophone!!!!
Many thanks for this "Tip". I have been playing for 40 + years and have been out of business for the last year due to Bells Palsy.. definitely disheartening. I have been playing on an AE 30 Wind Synth but I just don't compete on stage with Rock/ Blues dynamics. It has been good to keep me in the game with smaller/ solo gigs, but I have missed the real sax!.
Thankfully I have been able to slowly start gigging again on my Soprano and for limited numbers of songs on my Alto. Praying I can support Bari and Tenor again soon and this video may help. By INCREASING that angle with a steeper nod, I am easing the load on my lower lip on my Alto! It reduces the BLOWOUT due to the weakness on the right side of my lower lip from the Bells Palsy. AMAZING Thank you so much!
I think I will also buy an angled neck for my straight Soprano as I have struggled with the "Muffled" feeling on Soprano for some time and never considered the rather steep angle down I normally play it at.
This is my first viewing of your channel; it will not be the last. Hopefully this will speed my return to longer sessions and gigs from this Palsy. Thank you again and great success to you!
Hey Jesse, really sorry to hear that you have been going through it. Hopefully, you'll keep building and come through it all the stronger. I'm so glad that this has helped in any way.
All the best and thanks so much!
Thanks for keeping the tips coming our way!
You bet!
I,m a beginner.I appreciate these good,simple explanations.
Glad it was helpful!
Game changer!! Made such a huge difference
Awesome!
Wow! Everything makes sense now! Thanks! This is really helpful especially for beginners like me!
Glad it was helpful!
Great tip Jamie, not only did it make a difference to my sound but also helped with the low notes , especially on tenor, cheers mate
Great to hear!
I mostly agree with you but there are some who "crane" with success too. Dave Sanborn and Ralph Bowen come to mind. Perhaps the tongue angle trumps horn angle. I myself think neutral is best as extremes could introduce consequences to technique.
Always exceptions absolutely!
A good class, I was working on this subject today.
Thanks so much!
I'll try this tech nxt time.. the slight nod. Thanks. Completely Beginner 39 y o . Peace
Good luck 🤞🏻
Your Tips always make a big difference
Ta!
Not mentioning names but some teachers are teaching the ‘ extended back neck ‘ method as the way to get a sound .
Try doing this while singing and the sound becomes constricted ! Then sing with the head a little down just a little and the sound opens up .
It’s the same with the sax and to me , one gets a much fuller sound with the ‘ nodding ‘ position and more control too .
Oh, hey Ray! Thanks for commenting man. 🙏🏻
This was very true for me recently. I misplaced my tenor neck strap for a day and tried using my alto strap instead. It wouldn't adjust long enough and forced me to play in that "crane" position. It was very uncomfortable and closed off my sound. Don't ever use a too short neck strap! 😕
👍
Muchísimas gracias!!! Un gran saludo desde Argentina!!!
Thanks 🙏🏻
This video is very helpful for a beginner like me. Thank you for making this video.
Great! You're welcome
Wow! Instantly better! 🤯
Great!
Clearly you deserve WAY more views.
Aw, thanks! 🙏🏻
Thank you for all your tips and instructions. I appreciate your help.
You are welcome
Hello. You are my King today and forever. Thanks old for the tip. It took me to a new level.
Ha! Good to hear. You're welcome 🙏
Thx this helped a lot!
Glad it helped!
As always… excellent!
Thank you! Cheers!
This was a breakthrough for me.....thanks!
Brilliant! You're welcome
An interesting thing I’ve noticed: most sax players crane their neck when they’re playing into high altissimo, notably brecker. he kept a nod when playing in middle register, but when he went higher, he gradually craned his neck.
Yeh, it’s interesting isn’t it?
Today is my first time on this channel and I'll be subscribing. Great insight!
Great to have you here! Thanks so much 🙏
finally a video where my tone exactly matches yours! unfortuntely it matches yours from the "doing it wrong" segments. look forward to trying nodding when it's not 5am
You got this!
@@GetYourSaxTogether thanks for the encouragement! fun fact, first proper gig I ever went to was Incognito (mid 90s, cambridge corn exchange, support from Omar iirc). might've been before your time. anyway the nodding helps
I used to have the strap too high for years and it pushed my neck back .
I switched to the nodding position a few years back and it made the world of difference . My lower lip has far more endurance . Of course there are exceptions like Lew Tabakin and David Sanborn but most of the old school players used the head slightly forward position .
👍
you're the best man, I heard this from other saxophonist but didnt quite getit or the explanation that i needed to tilt downward and was wondering why I could not achieve that sound ive been longing for.. thought it was my cheap mouthpeice or the instrument again. IOU coffee Jamie lol
Glad it's working for you man. Thanks!
Thanks Jamie. That has helped a lot. Geoff in France.
Great. Glad it helped Geoff! 🙏
Months of overtones-hitting-the-brick wall. This one video, sir, and it has changed my tone, overtones come out easy, tonguing feels more natural. Nobody has said it like you did. Even the best of youtube teachers profess "neutral position". No. NOD! Thank you so much!
Brilliant! Glad to have helped 🙏
I showed this to my wife and it works for couples too 😂
🤣
Thank you SO much !
You're welcome!
This is lowkey how I be sounding. Wow. Such a simple fix for a great result. Thank you so much
Great! So glad it helped
It's work, Mr Anderson. Thank you very mach.
You're welcome! 🙏
Great tip!
Glad you think so! Cheers 🙏
Hey Jamie. Nice point. The airflow is very importaint. However i think David Sanborn have skipped this lesson, but his sound is still very powerful :)
Yeh! Sanborn is an exception!
Sure.. I always tell this to my students!
Great!
This is an absolute helpful advice. Thank you!
Great! You are very welcome
Beautiful and very useful video. Thanks.
In my case I love David Sanborn and Rangell’s music. I would like to know, how do they do to sound like they do it if they put the head with the head up.
Best wishes from Ecuador and thanks again for this video
That’s the beauty and mystery of saxophone. You can do it many ways!
In my case, I think angling the mouthpiece like that of Sanborn and Rangell greatly helps with overblowing.
Craning the neck does not necessarily mean you play with a lot of pressure on the reed, but it probably is the case with beginners, so the "head nod" is good advice for most players.
If you want to emulate the Sanborn style, I would suggest finding a position that makes overblowing easy (since that's a huge part of the style) while still maintaining comfort and an overall good sound.
I tried the crane today and I was actually able to play the low c# at a ppp lvl I’m going to try the nod tomorrow
👍
Thanks Coach, that made a big difference! 😊
Happy to help!
Thanks so much Jamie, that fantastic, I will try it.
Hope you like it!
Yes it was great. Your advice is always spot on as usual.
Lovely tip.
Glad it helped!
So clear, thank you
You're welcome! Cheers 👍
좋은 강의~
감사합니다^^
Good job !! 🎷🤞🏻
Thank you!! 🙏🏻
very nice video !!!
Thanks so much! 🙏
For the time being, I exclusively play the soprano sax. My straight sop has no neck or you could say that it's fused with the body in one integral piece, a straight shot all the way from the tip of the mouthpiece to the bottom of the bell. It's a common design. I'm positive that you've seen these before. I typically hold it at a 45 degree angle with the floor. I've found that I get that kind of muffled sound when I slack off and allow the mouthpiece to drift out of my mouth from where it should be. Lately, 've been good at keeping enough mouthpiece in my mouth, though.
Ok cool. Thanks for sharing.
thx
👍
Hi Jamie, good tips.
Any advice with the alto, as the neck is already angled downwards.
Cheers
It’s just the same thing but it won’t look the same because, as you say, the angle is different. But it’s the mouthpiece angle in your mouth that matters.
We used to call it dropping the jaw for a more open sound.
Taking more mouthpiece into your mouth also opens up your sound!
👍
Eddie Lockjaw Davis is one of my absolute favorite players, great sound. Maybe his sound had been even greater if he had seen this?
Being British means my sarcasm radar is finely tuned! 🤣
Sos un genio gracias!
🙏
I switched to your “goldfish” embouchure recently and it TRANSFORMED my low notes, but I now have to put significant pressure on the reed to not get a piercing shriek whenever I try anything above high C 😅 also I have issues transitioning between octave key notes without squeaking, something I didn’t have on my old embouchure. I have an alto and a Rousseau Studio Jazz mouthpiece with a 7 tip opening, if that helps?
Yeah when you set the sound free there is less control than you might be used to. Like letting a dog off the lead!
Well, that’s one theory.
The picture of Michael Brecker is old, probably when he was between 20 and 30 years. Look at pictures of him the last 10 years of his life: He has changed the angle of the mouthpiece in his mouth from “NOD” to “CRANE”. The same will you find if you look at pictures of Branford Marsalis: “NOD” when he was younger, but “CRANE” when he got older. Marsalis even have a video/workshop where he explains why it is so important to play “CRANE” not “NOD”.
Yup. I’ve heard him say the same actually. Can’t beat a bit of saxophone controversy! Just do what works best for you I guess. Even if this video just makes people think about it to do the opposite that’s cool with me.
@@GetYourSaxTogether Brecker CRANE in 1977 :-)
ua-cam.com/video/OgNVreyX_II/v-deo.html
감사합니다. 좋은 조언으로 많은 팬들의 힘이되는군요. 감사합니다 ❤❤❤❤
👍
Good tip, Jamie. You can't see me right now but I'm nodding in approval 😁
🤣🤣
Thank you for this detail. I’m learning on a baritone and holding it at the right angle is more challenging to me. This video made me realize that I’m probably ‘teeth heavy’ at a higher angle. I’m looking forward to making some adjustments during today’s practice session toward a fix 🎷
Glad it was helpful!
When you talk about nodding the head down to keep the neck muscles loose, it is very important to mention that the head nods NOT the head and neck. You CANNOT move the head forward. You can actually achieve a marvelous tone while looking up IF your throat is open (larynx). It is the opening of the airway and the ability to keep the weight of the head light on top of the neck that produces the brilliance in tone that we're after.
If you look at a musician like Grace Kelley, she can literally jump up and down while playing with her sound because she has that light coordination of the head neck and back.
Just my two cents as I work this all out for myself!! :)
I'd also like to point out that the neck muscles you describe along the front of the throat are at their greatest ease when you look up. It is the large trapezius at the back of the neck that will engage when you stiffen up. This will have the affect of tensing up the jaw as you look up and THAT will really kill your sound. So I love the idea of the video, but the anatomical reasoning behind the nod producing good sound is not quite there. BUT as a sax sound tip for a beginner, it can help to play with the idea and see what happens to the sound!
Thanks John. There’s actually a few misconceptions there though. Your larynx, or more precisely your vocal folds inside your larynx, are actually often almost closed in your airway, especially for note bending, palm keys and altissimo. Weird that, but true. And I’m not sure you make your head lighter on your neck? It’s always the same weight? Maybe you mean something else.
@@GetYourSaxTogether yeah i'm talking about the musculature surrounding the voice being open and engaged. It's a darn tricky thing for me to put into writing so sorry for the confusion! When I talk about the weight of the head feeling lighter on the neck, this is a sensation that will occur as the neck softens up and comes to it's greatest volume. If the muscles at the base of the skull have extra tension, this will pull the head down onto the atlas (top vertebra), increase the jaw tension, and stiffen up the rib cage. So while your head has the same weight, it can exert different degrees of pressure onto the spine based on how all of the neck muscles are coordinating. As you can tell, I think this is maybe THE most helpful thing for someone to understand to improve their tone :)
and apologies for posting a link. it was simply an attempt to communicate the balancing dynamic of the head!
Follow Stan Getz double lip embouchure with no teeth bearing down on the mthpiece. His first instrument was the bassoon with a double reed and all bassoonists use that loose downward jaw and loose lower lip. His technical mastery to produce all the natural full warm sound it was originally designed for, at all speeds and volume levels throughout the range !
👍🙏
Can we get a video on playing the high D !!!
This might be a start? ua-cam.com/video/dXrFmqIRWTc/v-deo.html
Very useful tip as usual!
Thanks 🙏🏻
This was hard to notic at first from somone coming from clarinet. Had one lesson where my teacher pointed it out and had an immediate change in tone just tilting my head down a bit. Breaking bad habits now after 20 years of only playing Clarinet.
Glad it worked for you!
Ya this is a great video! Really not enough talked about. I'm curious if this can be affected by different neck (sax neck) angles? I've noticed the BSS neck create a bit more crane if that makes sense. I also wonder if players might find their setup more resistant when they move to the 'NOD' configuration?
I think head down feels less resistant if anything. I guess neck angle must matter, yes.
Super helpful
Great!
What do you think of the new Dickerson Resonator Ligature - it's new and popular
Never tried it. Soz.
Hey Jamie, thanks for such an informative video! I was wondering if you tend to keep the back and middle of your tongue humped for the whole range of the horn, or just for the low and high notes? I've heard a 'ayyyy' (flat tongue) position is advisable for the mid range notes. Thanks again! 🤟🏻
Not that I’ve seen inside my mouth, but I think it changes all the time. Not one shape fits all.
@@GetYourSaxTogether thanks Jamie. You mentioned in your video on low notes that a 'you' tongue position works well for those notes and I just thought there might be other syllables for high or middle notes. Appreciate the note!
Potrei avere una sintesi in italiano? Grazie
Sorry, don’t speak Italian.
The NOD more jazzy, the CRANE more classical
🙏
I tried these techniques as you explained them but I just couldn’t hear any difference, does this mean I’m doomed to never get that iconic sound?
Practice!
Thank you for showing this technique, it was pretty informative. But I wish you would be more genuine/transparent in demonstrating your examples, like adding vibrato and trills to make it sound even better on one side.
Yeh that is a fair call out I guess, soz.
Question, does this apply to classical at all? Also, does it apply to bari and soprano?
I couldn’t comment on classical. Bari and sop, yeah why not.
Does that work on a soprano sax without a removable neck? I would imagine it being a little bit more difficult
Same principle yeh. It's all about the mouthpiece angle, not the neck of the sax.
David Sanborn, Harry Allen would disagree. I tt Harry a little about this and he said he angled his airstream to the baffle because Coleman Hawkins did it so he started doing it. Do what works best for you.
Yeh! Experimentation and do what works best for you absolutely!
Que legal, parabéns! Gostei do seu canal. Estou usando legendas e tradução para português, pois infelizmente não sei inglês. Desculpe. Vou me inscrever no seu cal. Muito obrigado.
Muito obrigado!
I think Brandford Marsalis would disagree. I remember watching a clip of him taking about setting the sax very high. Something he learned from Joe Allard.
Yeh - someone else said that too.
With the alto saxo is the same?
Yeah I guess. But there’s lots of different ways to get a good sound!
Playing the sax is like trying to perfect your golf swing lol
🤣
But what to do when you have a lower jaw protrubation?
That’s the kind of thing I’d have to see you for personally. Tricky to say over a YT comment.
Sanborn doesn't nod and sounds awesome😅
Aye. He does.
Bit annoying but good to learn so early, i found it way easier to make a sound craning oof
Well, there’s always more than one way of doing things I guess.
Eddie Lockjaw Davis would be a notable exception to this.
Yeh. There are exceptions!
Dave Sanborn might be an exception too
I'm a flute player trying to learn sax. I'm so not used to the sax at full volume and keep trying to push up the reed to make the sax quieter lol. is there a way to not get sued by my neighbors while get the full saxophone experience?
Talk to them.
How does this work when you are playing a straight soprano sax?
Good question - I guess you just have to use the same theory. Keep your nose down a bit! Dave Liebman often looks like that.
Sidney Bechet preferred to hold the soprano horizontally at 90 degrees so that the whole column of air went up from the diaphragm and then just turned right, as opposed to up and down again, like some classical clarinet players. Sidney had complete control but also used a mouthoiece with a long lay and aperture beneath the reed, from pianissimo to double forte, rivalling any trumpet player. Totally contrary to Branford Marsalis, able to bend with tonal effects, growls and glissandos !
I noticed that Sanborn did not appear in the "nod" photo gallery. I always wondered why he is using such a "bad" angle.
Good morning Christoph Brykla,
David Sanborn suffered through polio as he grew up and this caused considerable damage to his spine, muscles, posture (at one point he needed wheelchairs and crutches) and these continue presently.
He needed to adapt; thus, changing from the normal embouchure and posture to what you see. He is quite conscious about this including his daily life.
Please talk to Bill Singer about this.
Bill is not only his good friend but also his sax technician.
I wish you health and joy.
-Dr D
@@dr.rolanddavis Thank you for your swift response. That explains it very well, wasn't aware of it. So it's even more remarkable that he has such a huge sound.
@@christophbrylka6256
You are welcome.
I hope your saxophone and musical journey is fun and rewarding. I’m *still trying to learn and improve … and I’m old !
I wish you many more rapturous musical moments.
-Dr D
Yeh. Different sound. Different technique. As Dr. Roland says. Cheers
Dave Sanborn is definitely the odd one out! He tilts his head so far up he looks like a clarinettist!
Yes, there are exceptions of course!
Thanks for the tip, but do you have any recommendations for someone with overbite?
Same advice - at least try it and see what happens. It’s all just experimentation. 👍🏻