Thanks for sharing Gavin. I've only ever played an old "pea-shooter" (tenor without a trigger) where the pedals are limited to low Bb down to E. Like high range, it takes consistent practice to slowly gain greater access, you just have to chip away for a long time. When I started, it was difficult to even tell if the notes were in tune, they all just sound "low". 😆 The analogy of a thumb on a hosepipe, controlling the spraying water, is a useful one. I currently play with pedals by lip slurring up and down an octave. I believe it's possible to reach two octaves down (but only Bb thru E on my instrument!). I never use these notes in performance, but I find practicing them really improves everything else I play, generally, by strengthening the chops and gaining finer control over the all-important air column. A half-way house between breath-attacks and tonguing is the double-tonguing syllable (usually "K" or "G", using the back of the tongue).
Thanks for sharing Gavin. I've only ever played an old "pea-shooter" (tenor without a trigger) where the pedals are limited to low Bb down to E. Like high range, it takes consistent practice to slowly gain greater access, you just have to chip away for a long time. When I started, it was difficult to even tell if the notes were in tune, they all just sound "low". 😆 The analogy of a thumb on a hosepipe, controlling the spraying water, is a useful one. I currently play with pedals by lip slurring up and down an octave. I believe it's possible to reach two octaves down (but only Bb thru E on my instrument!). I never use these notes in performance, but I find practicing them really improves everything else I play, generally, by strengthening the chops and gaining finer control over the all-important air column. A half-way house between breath-attacks and tonguing is the double-tonguing syllable (usually "K" or "G", using the back of the tongue).
Totally agree! Proficiency in your extreme registers clarify your tone and help with technique at the extremes of normal playing range.
promosm
Huh?😂