Thanks for lesson. One of my issues is changing from D (octave on) to B (octave off). The B sounds as if the octave key is still pressed. When I slur it happens, when I tongue it happens sometimes.
A giant big huge thanks from me. You’re best teacher on youtube, not only because you’re a good sax player, not only good teacher, but also a good man. Your videos help me a lot in playing sax
I think you should relearn how to do the squeaks properly hahah Cause yours are pretty pleasant compared to mine! My squeaks are increadibly high frequency and very annoying.
Nice video! My alto saxophone sometimes squeaks when I play an A, G, F# and F Natural in both octaves and it also refuses to play; when I try my hardest to get a sound out of it, it does a very ugly squeak which is pretty embarrassing since I’m first chair alto in my Jazz band and Symphonic Band. Thanks again!
Great tips! Thanks for doing this, as a new player this is one thing I really want to fix. I try to position my reed perfect every time but still have a few high squeaks. The tongue tips are really good, I'll work on those for sure.
Favorite thing I just discovered. If the octave spring is weak or arm is misaligned it can destabilize the whole horn. As more air is needed it lifts and you get an octave squeak. I found holding the pad down by using a rubber band cleaned up low notes but I lost high octave. Noticed pad not centered and nudged it over. Lubed it and much better but not perfect. I know it doesn't need a whole repad and I can swap necks and get around it. Plus it wasn't my technique. Noticed my tenor d squeak goes away if I loosen up and also take in the mouthpiece further into my mouth. Thanks for taking the time to make a great tool for learning. Still looking for lessons for Money by Pink Floyd.
Excessive saliva build up on the inside of your reed will defiantly make you squeak. Take your reed out and look at the back side of it. If you see a lot of saliva build up just wipe it clean and in some cases, It's just better to replace your reed with a drier one. Also I have found that if certain notes squeak more than others, just put a little vibrato on that note and it can help a lot.
Suggestion: Tone/texture How to get a consistent tone/texture when the octave key is pressed. I have gotten a bit better at playing in the upper register from watching your videos. One thing I never hear saxophonists talk about is consistent tone/texture. When I press down the octave key the tone of the note is much smoother and loses the "grit" that my lower notes have. It's very smooth sounding. So it kinda sound like it's not the same instrument. Like I said earlier it has gotten much better, but it's still not quite there. Some of it has to do the amount of air pushed through the horn, embouchure/tongue placement etc. Is there something that I'm missing or can fine tune to get my higher notes to match the "texture" of my lower notes? Tips techniques. thanks
Thank you for the lesson; when I had time to go back to my saxophone I learn that my pads were leaking air. They were the pads for D# and on other pad, any time I played my D it would squeak, or when it did play it sounded flat. I also learned from this video that my mouth piece was worn out and was not holding my reed in place. Thank you it really help a lot. Word of advice don't drop you sax my fell during a marching band practice and caused these issues.
Great question, even better answers. Thanks for another vid, Scott. I’ve been using many of your tips to get me playing with more confidence, and next Monday I’m having an exam to enter music school, I hope I do well.
Hi, my problem playing between C and D is caused by a sticking pad that covers the tiny little hole (at the righ side at the top of the horn). When you play the tone D it has to be opened, but my instrument does it a little bit late. The solution for me is to do cleaning this particular pad before playing.
this video! i’ve been wondering if there’s a tongue technique for playing low, regular, and high notes for a while and sure enough there is! i’ve been searching the web to no avail. there needs to be a separate video on proper tongue position with the lesson in the title of the video! THANK YOU, SCOTT!! edit: found your 2+ year-old video on tongue position! ua-cam.com/video/CZ7_zK2dssY/v-deo.html
Thanks Scott I will look into that advice on the squaking. I keep having trouble in this one song I'm playing the B to C with the octive key but not there its after I take my finger off the octive key going to a F# to an A when the squeak happens. Not every time. Other times it will be ok. It's just every so many times it will squeak in that one spot. Feel like I start to run out breath by the time I play the lower notes.
I have a slow finger going from D to C. It squeaks. I also think I continue the airflow before all of the fingers are where they are suppose to be. I could be mistaken.
Good practical pointers. One good way to test is to check the sound with the mouthpiece and the neck and reduce the likelihood that the problem could be at this end - although this doesn't rule out the possibility entirely once you attach it to the rest of the horn. Does this makes sense ? BTW I have sticky key issues when changing from F/E/D to G#, seems like the G# key, cleaning the pads helps a bit until there is more moisture after a short use
Absolutely! The reed can be one of the main culprits. I switched to Legere Signatures a couple years ago, which removed the variable of a bad reed, so I rarely think about reed issues anymore. I probably should have talked a bit more about them in the video.
Hi Scott, first of all thank you so much for all the demonstrations and instructions. I am using Alto saxophone and I am a beginner started playing since February this year and carefully fallowing all your instructions. Hence I am not getting that melodious Alto saxophone sound. When I compare with others my saxophone sounds sort of base sound as though I am playing the note D. Please let me know is it something wrong with my Alto saxophone or what else.
Thanks. That was helpful as I was having a few issues with squeaking at times and I think it was my fingering as I noticed with one reed I was using, I was tightening too much when playing it, but changed strength of reed and stopped doing that. Another issue I found that could cause squeaking is the octave key on the neck octave key not sealing properly on the neck pip and leaving a slight gap. I have had a couple of issues with that before and was able to fix it myself. This works for overslung octave keys, but not sure if it would for underslung ones. I fixed my Yamaha neck key by holding down the top of the octave key on the neck and pulling towards me the back of the key and that bends the key slightly and puts it back into the correct position. Would you be able to help with an issue I am having? I used to have issues with a gurgle sound from excess moisture build up in the mouthpiece/neck, but I have much less of that now since I changed mouthpieces and found the correct reed strength for me and my embouchure got stronger (It still happens occasionally), but my main issue is when I play I think either a C or A+octave key on my alto saxophone, I often notice I get a weak, wet sound as it seems the body octave vent gets moisture in it and I can only fix it by wiping dry the vent inside the top of the body and often can't cleanly play those notes without the issue happening.
It's the grossest part of the playing the saxophone and why you should always keep you sax clean. We don't have spit valves so we have to suck the spit back in. If you don't do that you will always have a spitty sound.
@@ScottPaddock I suspect that a lot of the "spit" might depend on where you are playing and the climate and the weather. I am in southern Australia and if the weather is cooler, I will get a lot more "spit" compared to playing in summer when it might be more like your 100 fahrenheit, and hot and dry, too. I figure it's because when your body temperature air from the lungs meets the cold metal of the sax, there is condensation on the metal from the moisture in the air. A lot of this liquid is much more like water than like saliva, and absorbs instantly into a cotton cloth, unlike spit. In the USA, like here, there must be dozens of different climates, and these will affect the problem.
Thank you so much a lot of valuable information here. I play Yamaha 4 c mouthpiece I have been playing over two years and a few months now and I started to notice about months back a buzzing that I could not figure out. I always brought my sax into the shop often for repair to see it loose screw of neck screw but could never figure out still buzzing so I bought a legere 3 strength so still buzzing, I bought a 2.5 legere strength still buzzing. I still have a full box of rico royal 2.5. What mouthpiece would you recommend? I consider myself an advanced intermediate but not professional. Yet and note I say YET. But keeping your fingers working with your breath good to know and practice to not do it and if it does happen know why. This way I learn my sax even more thanks a lot. Pete
It sounds like you have a sympathetic vibration. That is when something on your sax that is suppose to be tightened down with a screw is a little loose. Usually these are in the key guards. A good way to check is play a note that only requires one hand (like a G) use the other hand to hold down parts of the sax, when you hit the right spot the buzz will go away. In other words just touch the key guard, then the other key guard, then a rail. Etc, eventually you'll find where the buzz is.
Hmmmm, those are generally pretty stable notes. It has to be either be finger/tongue problem, or possibly a leak or something wrong with your sax. Those notes generally come out really well.
What happens is you start on D with all the fingers down and it has a higher pitch sometimes? The E and F are fine when played by themselves. Any suggestions? Thanks
Are you talking about playing a low D and the D with the octave key comes out sometimes? If so, you need to lower your tongue into what I call the "ahhh" position (like you're trying to talk low) and that will make those low notes pop out. Check out my video on low notes. If that's not what you were talking about, describe a little more.
@@ScottPaddock thanks Scott that still excellent advise. I was just getting a harmonic sound when I played the low notes like D and E. I took it to the repair person and the found a leak in the E key
The pad had a leak in it (it wasn't seating properly) when I played, the airstream was blowing the leak in the pad open wider. So I wasn't blowing the key open, I was making the leak wider in the seat of the pad with a strong airstream. That's the term you use when your airstream is causing a leak to get worse.
My sax is really old and I have to keep it already assembled instead of taking it apart to put in the case.The middle section will not move so that I can take it apart.Is there anyway I can safely take my sax apart without harming it?
You are trying to get the neck off and not disassemble the lower part of the horn right? Tech is best but if not. Squirt wd40 slowly along the line where they join. Be sparing,, not sloppy. Lube should not reach pads! Wait for a few minutes. Repeat. Wait overnight. Gently wiggle ad more lube. Last resort heat the body side with a lighter and cool the neck with ice cube while feeding lube. If stuck wait overnight. Hail mary- Remove the thumbscrew and put a flat blade screwdriver in the slot and ever so gently try to open the body so wd penetrates. Pry,spray,wiggle,wait. If you are gentle, clean and patient you shouldn't harm it. Good luck. My friends son has a Paris Selmer he doesn't clean. Green crust with black moldy Reed. It was like watching a beautiful woman getting mugged in the alley.
I just got a new alto sax and im unable to play d# and g, i cant even get them to make a sound only a squeak every time i attempt those two notes other notes are crisp, but these two are not, is there a solution?
Are you calling your high D the one with your octave key or the one with your palm key? If it's your octave key, it is almost 100% one of your pinky fingers going up or down too slow.
Wait, your telling me it could be from my fingers not being clean? Was that a tip or a joke? I get pearls can jam, break or get sticky but, huh? huh.. Wow, Thanks! I guess...?
Hey Gary! Yeah, that can be a tough one. It's not your fingers, it's your tongue position. You're getting an overtone of the G. If you're getting the overtone above your tongue is to high.
Thanks for lesson. One of my issues is changing from D (octave on) to B (octave off). The B sounds as if the octave key is still pressed. When I slur it happens, when I tongue it happens sometimes.
move your tongue down a little more, your tongue being up to high is causing the octave jump
@@ScottPaddock Thanks much.
A giant big huge thanks from me. You’re best teacher on youtube, not only because you’re a good sax player, not only good teacher, but also a good man. Your videos help me a lot in playing sax
Thanks!!!
I got into jazz band! I was one of 4 trombones to make it!
Congrats!! That's awesome.
@@ScottPaddock Thanks!
I think you should relearn how to do the squeaks properly hahah Cause yours are pretty pleasant compared to mine! My squeaks are increadibly high frequency and very annoying.
Nice video! My alto saxophone sometimes squeaks when I play an A, G, F# and F Natural in both octaves and it also refuses to play; when I try my hardest to get a sound out of it, it does a very ugly squeak which is pretty embarrassing since I’m first chair alto in my Jazz band and Symphonic Band. Thanks again!
If I got a dollar for every squeak I’d be millionaire in a week 😂🙏
Same!!!
Brilliant Scott, Ive only been playing for just 4 months and I thought it was the actual Sax but it was me just being very lazy one day lol, cheers
Damn that sax sounds so clean and crisp...
Whats your set, Scott?
Thanks Martin! It's all in the video description.
This makes so much sense! Thank you so much.. easy solution to a, for me, difficult problem
"Your saxophone rebels" is such a good analogy for that squeak sound from C to D
😁😁😁
Great tips! Thanks for doing this, as a new player this is one thing I really want to fix. I try to position my reed perfect every time but still have a few high squeaks. The tongue tips are really good, I'll work on those for sure.
👍👍
Favorite thing I just discovered.
If the octave spring is weak or arm is misaligned it can destabilize the whole horn.
As more air is needed it lifts and you get an octave squeak. I found holding the pad down by using a rubber band cleaned up low notes but I lost high octave. Noticed pad not centered and nudged it over. Lubed it and much better but not perfect.
I know it doesn't need a whole repad and I can swap necks and get around it.
Plus it wasn't my technique.
Noticed my tenor d squeak goes away if I loosen up and also take in the mouthpiece further into my mouth.
Thanks for taking the time to make a great tool for learning. Still looking for lessons for Money by Pink Floyd.
Man! When you squeaked in the video it sounded great! Can squawking be used for embellishment?
haha! Thanks, I think. lol. I guess anything can be used as an embellishment but I wouldn't recommend using squeaks.
Excessive saliva build up on the inside of your reed will defiantly make you squeak. Take your reed out and look at the back side of it. If you see a lot of saliva build up just wipe it clean and in some cases, It's just better to replace your reed with a drier one. Also I have found that if certain notes squeak more than others, just put a little vibrato on that note and it can help a lot.
Suggestion: Tone/texture
How to get a consistent tone/texture when the octave key is pressed.
I have gotten a bit better at playing in the upper register from watching your videos.
One thing I never hear saxophonists talk about is consistent tone/texture.
When I press down the octave key the tone of the note is much smoother and loses the "grit" that my lower notes have. It's very smooth sounding. So it kinda sound like it's not the same instrument.
Like I said earlier it has gotten much better, but it's still not quite there. Some of it has to do the amount of air pushed through the horn, embouchure/tongue placement etc. Is there something that I'm missing or can fine tune to get my higher notes to match the "texture" of my lower notes? Tips techniques.
thanks
The was very useful. I got this problem recently with high D to Eb and it solved now. Thank you very much.
👍👍
Thank you for the lesson; when I had time to go back to my saxophone I learn that my pads were leaking air. They were the pads for D# and on other pad, any time I played my D it would squeak, or when it did play it sounded flat. I also learned from this video that my mouth piece was worn out and was not holding my reed in place. Thank you it really help a lot. Word of advice don't drop you sax my fell during a marching band practice and caused these issues.
Yeah, dropping your sax will cause a lot of problems!!
Thanks Scott for another excellent lesson
Great question, even better answers.
Thanks for another vid, Scott.
I’ve been using many of your tips to get me playing with more confidence, and next Monday I’m having an exam to enter music school, I hope I do well.
Good luck!!!
Very useful advice Thankyou.
✌️
Thank you so much I really really needed that lesson
Hi, my problem playing between C and D is caused by a sticking pad that covers the tiny little hole (at the righ side at the top of the horn). When you play the tone D it has to be opened, but my instrument does it a little bit late. The solution for me is to do cleaning this particular pad before playing.
Yes, I've had that problem before too.
Very helpful, many thanks!!!
Thank you very much for your help. ❤️
Very helpful video. Thank you!
Very well explained , Thank you
this video! i’ve been wondering if there’s a tongue technique for playing low, regular, and high notes for a while and sure enough there is! i’ve been searching the web to no avail. there needs to be a separate video on proper tongue position with the lesson in the title of the video!
THANK YOU, SCOTT!!
edit: found your 2+ year-old video on tongue position! ua-cam.com/video/CZ7_zK2dssY/v-deo.html
There is another video called 3 tongue positions you need to know.
Scott Paddock yessir! i made the edit above and added the link to it so others can watch it, too. keep being awesome!
Thanks Scott I will look into that advice on the squaking. I keep having trouble in this one song I'm playing the B to C with the octive key but not there its after I take my finger off the octive key going to a F# to an A when the squeak happens. Not every time. Other times it will be ok. It's just every so many times it will squeak in that one spot. Feel like I start to run out breath by the time I play the lower notes.
Look good without the hat! Great advice as always....
Thanks!!! I usually wear the hat, because I do the videos before I take a shower and my hair looks crazy. haha
Very good advises, thanks ! Also talking less loud could help a lot, you got a mic
man :)
Altissimo G always gets me, squeak a million times before I get it, but other altissimo notes are pretty much fine
Are you a tenor player? If so, check out my video on altissimo G on the tenor.
I have a slow finger going from D to C. It squeaks. I also think I continue the airflow before all of the fingers are where they are suppose to be. I could be mistaken.
C to D is where squeaks happen most often.
Good practical pointers. One good way to test is to check the sound with the mouthpiece and the neck and reduce the likelihood that the problem could be at this end - although this doesn't rule out the possibility entirely once you attach it to the rest of the horn. Does this makes sense ? BTW I have sticky key issues when changing from F/E/D to G#, seems like the G# key, cleaning the pads helps a bit until there is more moisture after a short use
You should try using key leaves, they really help with sticky G# keys
Thank you
Sometimes I suspect grazing other keys such as palm e-flat or side b-flat .
Love your videos ! I have to ask, what camera are you using? The picture is great !
Scott great video is there an exercise to improve and reduce squeaks?
thanks that was great :)
great video Scott! Quick question. What camera and lens are you using in this video? It looks absolutely amazing
Thanks. It's a Sony 6400 and a Sigma 16mm 1.4
MY TOUNGE HAS TO BE CLEAN TOO!? Well, I thought about it for a bit, I have been playing right after I drank a soda..
Bruhhhh soda right before playing? That reed is gonna deteriorate fast
When I go from b to g, or play c, it squeaky
Ty for saving me and everyone around me lol 🍪
Scott. Thanks a lot for your awesome vlogs. Can a soft reed be another reason squeaks?
Absolutely! The reed can be one of the main culprits. I switched to Legere Signatures a couple years ago, which removed the variable of a bad reed, so I rarely think about reed issues anymore. I probably should have talked a bit more about them in the video.
Really helpfull video Scott Thanks - P Mauriat 67 Influence is my best sax ive got by far -next buy is a tenor - what would you reccomend Scott ?
I have the 66RX which is the P. Mauriat tenor version, and I love it!!
thats the one i have my eye on love P Mauriat cheers
Hi Scott, first of all thank you so much for all the demonstrations and instructions. I am using Alto saxophone and I am a beginner started playing since February this year and carefully fallowing all your instructions. Hence I am not getting that melodious Alto saxophone sound. When I compare with others my saxophone sounds sort of base sound as though I am playing the note D. Please let me know is it something wrong with my Alto saxophone or what else.
Hey, have you used a tuner to make sure you are in tune?
Thanks. That was helpful as I was having a few issues with squeaking at times and I think it was my fingering as I noticed with one reed I was using, I was tightening too much when playing it, but changed strength of reed and stopped doing that. Another issue I found that could cause squeaking is the octave key on the neck octave key not sealing properly on the neck pip and leaving a slight gap. I have had a couple of issues with that before and was able to fix it myself. This works for overslung octave keys, but not sure if it would for underslung ones. I fixed my Yamaha neck key by holding down the top of the octave key on the neck and pulling towards me the back of the key and that bends the key slightly and puts it back into the correct position.
Would you be able to help with an issue I am having? I used to have issues with a gurgle sound from excess moisture build up in the mouthpiece/neck, but I have much less of that now since I changed mouthpieces and found the correct reed strength for me and my embouchure got stronger (It still happens occasionally), but my main issue is when I play I think either a C or A+octave key on my alto saxophone, I often notice I get a weak, wet sound as it seems the body octave vent gets moisture in it and I can only fix it by wiping dry the vent inside the top of the body and often can't cleanly play those notes without the issue happening.
It's the grossest part of the playing the saxophone and why you should always keep you sax clean. We don't have spit valves so we have to suck the spit back in. If you don't do that you will always have a spitty sound.
@@ScottPaddock I suspect that a lot of the "spit" might depend on where you are playing and the climate and the weather. I am in southern Australia and if the weather is cooler, I will get a lot more "spit" compared to playing in summer when it might be more like your 100 fahrenheit, and hot and dry, too. I figure it's because when your body temperature air from the lungs meets the cold metal of the sax, there is condensation on the metal from the moisture in the air. A lot of this liquid is much more like water than like saliva, and absorbs instantly into a cotton cloth, unlike spit.
In the USA, like here, there must be dozens of different climates, and these will affect the problem.
Thank you so much a lot of valuable information here. I play Yamaha 4 c mouthpiece I have been playing over two years and a few months now and I started to notice about months back a buzzing that I could not figure out. I always brought my sax into the shop often for repair to see it loose screw of neck screw but could never figure out still buzzing so I bought a legere 3 strength so still buzzing, I bought a 2.5 legere strength still buzzing. I still have a full box of rico royal 2.5. What mouthpiece would you recommend? I consider myself an advanced intermediate but not professional. Yet and note I say YET. But keeping your fingers working with your breath good to know and practice to not do it and if it does happen know why. This way I learn my sax even more thanks a lot. Pete
It sounds like you have a sympathetic vibration. That is when something on your sax that is suppose to be tightened down with a screw is a little loose. Usually these are in the key guards. A good way to check is play a note that only requires one hand (like a G) use the other hand to hold down parts of the sax, when you hit the right spot the buzz will go away. In other words just touch the key guard, then the other key guard, then a rail. Etc, eventually you'll find where the buzz is.
What about stability problems with G2 to A2. Squeaks and stability on those tones.
Hmmmm, those are generally pretty stable notes. It has to be either be finger/tongue problem, or possibly a leak or something wrong with your sax. Those notes generally come out really well.
What happens is you start on D with all the fingers down and it has a higher pitch sometimes? The E and F are fine when played by themselves. Any suggestions? Thanks
Are you talking about playing a low D and the D with the octave key comes out sometimes? If so, you need to lower your tongue into what I call the "ahhh" position (like you're trying to talk low) and that will make those low notes pop out. Check out my video on low notes. If that's not what you were talking about, describe a little more.
@@ScottPaddock thanks Scott that still excellent advise. I was just getting a harmonic sound when I played the low notes like D and E. I took it to the repair person and the found a leak in the E key
How was your F key blowing open when you have to hold it down to finger a D#/Eb?
The pad had a leak in it (it wasn't seating properly) when I played, the airstream was blowing the leak in the pad open wider. So I wasn't blowing the key open, I was making the leak wider in the seat of the pad with a strong airstream. That's the term you use when your airstream is causing a leak to get worse.
My sax is really old and I have to keep it already assembled instead of taking it apart to put in the case.The middle section will not move so that I can take it apart.Is there anyway I can safely take my sax apart without harming it?
I'd suggest taking it to a repairman.
You are trying to get the neck off and not disassemble the lower part of the horn right? Tech is best but if not. Squirt wd40 slowly along the line where they join. Be sparing,, not sloppy. Lube should not reach pads! Wait for a few minutes. Repeat. Wait overnight. Gently wiggle ad more lube. Last resort heat the body side with a lighter and cool the neck with ice cube while feeding lube. If stuck wait overnight.
Hail mary- Remove the thumbscrew and put a flat blade screwdriver in the slot and ever so gently try to open the body so wd penetrates. Pry,spray,wiggle,wait.
If you are gentle, clean and patient you shouldn't harm it. Good luck.
My friends son has a Paris Selmer he doesn't clean. Green crust with black moldy Reed. It was like watching a beautiful woman getting mugged in the alley.
I just got a new alto sax and im unable to play d# and g, i cant even get them to make a sound only a squeak every time i attempt those two notes other notes are crisp, but these two are not, is there a solution?
I couldn't tell you without playing it. Sounds like you need to take it to a repairman.
my G squeaks and it's kids help with this vid
I'm only.in Squeak city when I hit high D from a lower note. E, F, etc sound fine. It's just that Damm D. Frustrating
Are you calling your high D the one with your octave key or the one with your palm key? If it's your octave key, it is almost 100% one of your pinky fingers going up or down too slow.
@@ScottPaddock Yes my high D the one with your octave key. My bad. Thank you for your quick response. I'll check if that"s the problem.
Wait, your telling me it could be from my fingers not being clean? Was that a tip or a joke? I get pearls can jam, break or get sticky but, huh? huh.. Wow, Thanks! I guess...?
🤔👍🏼
Your theme song is squaky and squeaky in a cool way. Maybe show us how honkin ain't skwakin.
Its cause he plays high into the altissmo register
with me...its goin to G...high or low
Hey Gary! Yeah, that can be a tough one. It's not your fingers, it's your tongue position. You're getting an overtone of the G. If you're getting the overtone above your tongue is to high.
Scott Paddock thanx guuy....been drivin me crazee 🤪
Why are you yelling?? lol