For what it's worth: I envisage the tip of my fingers as something of a camshaft. They only need to travel the distance of the valve. Silly, perhaps, but it woks for me. It feels weird at first to consciously minimise movement, only moving one joint,but after a while it starts to feel effortless. Thanks for the video, Jamie!
Thanks Mr Anderson. In Russia we have saying, sound like that: "Repeating is the Mother of a study". Sometimes i think about myself: "Maybe im beaver?". It is very important knowledge. My hands and my body must be relaxed, and i try to not forget about this.
This is a great technique tip for everyone. A gorilla grip (or flailing fingers) is much more common than we think. It easily creeps in during stressful moments. Playing in front of a mirror to look for any finger position or movement that is not as relaxed and efficient is essential for improving technique. It’s also important to have your sax maintained so it doesn’t require a gorilla grip just to close and seal the keys. Thanks!
I just bought a Buescher 400, and found that the left palm keys for my pinky were difficult to reach, and awkward to roll. Your gorilla grip detox really helps me remediate and overcome this "flaw" in an otherwise great instrument. I have recently taken up my sax playing after many years of "now and then". I promised myself to make a serious attempt to improve my playing. Your videos and approach have boosted my tone, my technique and my joy in playing. After three fabulously inspired weeks on your channel, I find myself already at a higher level than ever before. I just want to thank you for your Great pedagogical skills, and for your relentless effort to make us better and more content saxophonists🎉
I regularly practice (in front of mirror) keeping all fingers in constant contact with keys, but relaxed. Very slowly at first, playing simple stuff like scales. Little finger of LH is the one I have to concentrate on hardest. Just five or ten minutes once every week or two keeps me honest.
It's interesting how you mention dropping your wrists. That's definitely how I play tenor, because it fits my hands better. But on alto, I was taught in college raise my wrists little so my fingertips would stay on the pearls. I had to correct the issue of having my knuckles flat-fingered over the pearls rather than using my fingertips with curled fingers as we should.
Ex chief engineer in the merchant navy. I worked years with different devices (using and fixing them), and learn about an instinct that gets the best of you when you are in trouble with buttons, joysticks, levers, switches, etc: If your press the button, and you need desperately that it works, and it doesn´t, you press harder. Until you break it. The same happens to me when trying to learn sax: I noticed that, the harder the part I try to play, the harder I press the keys. Even knowing I'm doing it wrong, panic makes me do it.
Let me hasten to add that if one simply slows down while playing and focuses on finger/hand/wrist position for a month or two and reduce (temporarily) the many other songs, licks and exercises we busy ourselves with, we'll see how much more our overall sound and proficiency with the instrument improves. I worked on this for several weeks and found how far less intimidating the more complex exercises, songs and transcriptions became. Learning to relax while playing gives a significant boost to any player. Don't reinforce bad habits by practicing poor techniques!
I used to encounter this all the time with young players when I was teaching. I don't have this issue on sax (thank goodness) because I've been playing a long time. I do have this issue on clarinet though...especially on my right hand that also holds up the instrument.
@angelasoden4285 I used to have the same right hand problem on clarinet. The trouble was carrying the weight with the right thumb. So, I slipped my sax neck strap under the thumb rest to carry the weight. At first, it was distracting, because my left thumb touches the strap. The right hand tension went away. After a few weeks, I removed the strap, and my right hand remains loose. Cured! The answer was in keeping the right thumb somewhat stiff while also letting the right hand fingers run freely. Try the strap.
Looking in a mirror while playing is helpful to keep hands, shoulders, arms, etc. in a good position. -- Last night I attended a Kenny Garrett concert. Wow! Just wow! The night before I saw James Carter -- I never saw anyone with such command of the horn!
I was helped a lot when a teacher noticed my tension was due to using right thumb for carrying weight of 🎷. Make sure the strap is at the right place to carry all the weight and right thumb is used for stability not weight support.
I have a problem with my thumb with the gorilla grip my thumb doesn’t move as fast so hopefully this will help me but that’s really my problem my thumb when I hit the active key is crazy
On tenor, I don't have any trouble with this, but with the soprano I feel like I tense up too much. I feel like I'm holding the instrument more and the body position is different. Any tips for the soprano?
@contscot Yes, the right thumb carries a lot of weight on a straight soprano sax. My right arm gets tired. The solution is to separate the muscles of your right hand, in your mind, so that the right thumb is stiff, but only the thumb. The right hand fingers need to feel loose and free. If this is too difficult, you may need to try a curved soprano.
Appreciate the explanation thanks Jamie. Can you recommend a practice method to instill this better finger technique? Try as I might I feel my faulty hand technique is rather ingrained and fear that; like with piano players, if I had been taught this correct hand position before even playing my first note it would not be so hard to correct it all these years later 😢 Is there any particular method to practice that could help correct this? I try to focus on it but once I get into playing songs I like, I forget all about what my fingers should be doing. I fear my bad habits are now entrenched...
@lisawanderess I have noticed with my students that they often hold their sax tightly because they are trying to lift it up higher, or trying to keep it in front of their body. Sit down. Rest the sax on your right thigh. Sit up straight. Raise the strap and turn the neck and mouthpiece slightly until the mouthpiece comes into your mouth. Do not move your head to reach for it. Your left thumb now has control to move the sax to your right or left. The left thumb will carry some weight to keep the sax upright. Your right thumb has control of the mouthpiece angle into your mouth. Push forward (along your right leg) for a straighter angle. Your right thumb should feel like it carries about the same amount of weight as your left. Now wiggle your fingers, loosely, as fast as possible, raising your fingers only slightly above the key surfaces. Often, I notice that I never completely remove some fingers from the key surfaces. Think of the sax as an instrument that was made for speed. Because it was made for speed!
Instantly improve your sax skills with this free masterclass👉🏻 www.getyoursaxtogether.com/masterclass
For what it's worth: I envisage the tip of my fingers as something of a camshaft. They only need to travel the distance of the valve. Silly, perhaps, but it woks for me.
It feels weird at first to consciously minimise movement, only moving one joint,but after a while it starts to feel effortless. Thanks for the video, Jamie!
Cool. Thanks 🙏
Thanks Mr Anderson. In Russia we have saying, sound like that: "Repeating is the Mother of a study". Sometimes i think about myself: "Maybe im beaver?". It is very important knowledge. My hands and my body must be relaxed, and i try to not forget about this.
Very good!
This is a great technique tip for everyone. A gorilla grip (or flailing fingers) is much more common than we think. It easily creeps in during stressful moments. Playing in front of a mirror to look for any finger position or movement that is not as relaxed and efficient is essential for improving technique. It’s also important to have your sax maintained so it doesn’t require a gorilla grip just to close and seal the keys. Thanks!
All true.
I just bought a Buescher 400, and found that the left palm keys for my pinky were difficult to reach, and awkward to roll. Your gorilla grip detox really helps me remediate and overcome this "flaw" in an otherwise great instrument. I have recently taken up my sax playing after many years of "now and then". I promised myself to make a serious attempt to improve my playing. Your videos and approach have boosted my tone, my technique and my joy in playing. After three fabulously inspired weeks on your channel, I find myself already at a higher level than ever before. I just want to thank you for your Great pedagogical skills, and for your relentless effort to make us better and more content saxophonists🎉
I regularly practice (in front of mirror) keeping all fingers in constant contact with keys, but relaxed. Very slowly at first, playing simple stuff like scales. Little finger of LH is the one I have to concentrate on hardest. Just five or ten minutes once every week or two keeps me honest.
@@GauteBjrnsen-eq9ci anytime man. Thanks for watching.
@@rongibbs390 perfect!
It's interesting how you mention dropping your wrists. That's definitely how I play tenor, because it fits my hands better. But on alto, I was taught in college raise my wrists little so my fingertips would stay on the pearls. I had to correct the issue of having my knuckles flat-fingered over the pearls rather than using my fingertips with curled fingers as we should.
Interesting!
Ex chief engineer in the merchant navy. I worked years with different devices (using and fixing them), and learn about an instinct that gets the best of you when you are in trouble with buttons, joysticks, levers, switches, etc: If your press the button, and you need desperately that it works, and it doesn´t, you press harder. Until you break it. The same happens to me when trying to learn sax: I noticed that, the harder the part I try to play, the harder I press the keys. Even knowing I'm doing it wrong, panic makes me do it.
🙏
Short and sweet for the win
Yup!
It is funny. I live in California and always work Saturday nights but always get to enjoy some sax inspiration just before bed. Thanks Jamie.
I hope it’s sax inspiration not sad inspiration. 🤣
Yes, that was the end of a long day.@@GetYourSaxTogether
Really helpful, i see i had a problem with saxophone fingering and that maked my sound so much worse. Thanks for the help and great video
Glad it helped!
Let me hasten to add that if one simply slows down while playing and focuses on finger/hand/wrist position for a month or two and reduce (temporarily) the many other songs, licks and exercises we busy ourselves with, we'll see how much more our overall sound and proficiency with the instrument improves.
I worked on this for several weeks and found how far less intimidating the more complex exercises, songs and transcriptions became.
Learning to relax while playing gives a significant boost to any player. Don't reinforce bad habits by practicing poor techniques!
🙏
@aljerones99 Don't "hasten" to add - just say it. You have good advice!
You are the Man, Jamie
Thanks 🙏🏻
I used to encounter this all the time with young players when I was teaching. I don't have this issue on sax (thank goodness) because I've been playing a long time. I do have this issue on clarinet though...especially on my right hand that also holds up the instrument.
@angelasoden4285 I used to have the same right hand problem on clarinet. The trouble was carrying the weight with the right thumb. So, I slipped my sax neck strap under the thumb rest to carry the weight. At first, it was distracting, because my left thumb touches the strap. The right hand tension went away. After a few weeks, I removed the strap, and my right hand remains loose. Cured! The answer was in keeping the right thumb somewhat stiff while also letting the right hand fingers run freely. Try the strap.
@@MarkPeotter thank you. I'll try that.
I hear you!
Clarinet neckstraps are blessings in disguise!
Looking in a mirror while playing is helpful to keep hands, shoulders, arms, etc. in a good position. -- Last night I attended a Kenny Garrett concert. Wow! Just wow! The night before I saw James Carter -- I never saw anyone with such command of the horn!
r u living on Mars since 1994?
🙏
Great final growl !! 😝
🙏
I was helped a lot when a teacher noticed my tension was due to using right thumb for carrying weight of 🎷. Make sure the strap is at the right place to carry all the weight and right thumb is used for stability not weight support.
Thanks for the suggestion 👍
I have a problem with my thumb with the gorilla grip my thumb doesn’t move as fast so hopefully this will help me but that’s really my problem my thumb when I hit the active key is crazy
🙏👍
On tenor, I don't have any trouble with this, but with the soprano I feel like I tense up too much. I feel like I'm holding the instrument more and the body position is different. Any tips for the soprano?
@contscot Yes, the right thumb carries a lot of weight on a straight soprano sax. My right arm gets tired. The solution is to separate the muscles of your right hand, in your mind, so that the right thumb is stiff, but only the thumb. The right hand fingers need to feel loose and free. If this is too difficult, you may need to try a curved soprano.
Sure - relax!! What more can I say? 🤣
Appreciate the explanation thanks Jamie. Can you recommend a practice method to instill this better finger technique? Try as I might I feel my faulty hand technique is rather ingrained and fear that; like with piano players, if I had been taught this correct hand position before even playing my first note it would not be so hard to correct it all these years later 😢
Is there any particular method to practice that could help correct this?
I try to focus on it but once I get into playing songs I like, I forget all about what my fingers should be doing. I fear my bad habits are now entrenched...
@lisawanderess I have noticed with my students that they often hold their sax tightly because they are trying to lift it up higher, or trying to keep it in front of their body. Sit down. Rest the sax on your right thigh. Sit up straight. Raise the strap and turn the neck and mouthpiece slightly until the mouthpiece comes into your mouth. Do not move your head to reach for it. Your left thumb now has control to move the sax to your right or left. The left thumb will carry some weight to keep the sax upright. Your right thumb has control of the mouthpiece angle into your mouth. Push forward (along your right leg) for a straighter angle. Your right thumb should feel like it carries about the same amount of weight as your left. Now wiggle your fingers, loosely, as fast as possible, raising your fingers only slightly above the key surfaces. Often, I notice that I never completely remove some fingers from the key surfaces. Think of the sax as an instrument that was made for speed. Because it was made for speed!
If your bad habits aren’t stopping you play songs you might be alright?
@@MarkPeotter thanks will give that a go
@GetYourSaxTogether under no.illusions of ever becoming a pro so yeah guess if it sounds OK I shouldn't worry too much about how it looks to the pros?
@@lisawanderess yeah. Exactly.
Now you've got me thinking... could a real gorilla try to play a Sop or would he eat it?
😂