5 Awesome Sound Hacks for Saxophone

[@degubois888]

Old-Tom Holland

[@destroyer7907]

Lol 😂

[@destroyer7907]

Not wrong 🤣

[@sova3821]

😂

[@Splarff]

Another nice thing about taking less lip is that it also allows you to have an easier time using virbatos, using embouchure to adjust pitch, and hitting altisimo notes as well. And probably much more that I can't think of off the top of my head.

[@chemicalcompound7839]

"think about yawning" me: starts yawning heh

[@alexanne]

Hey I'm yawning now bc of your comment😂

[@georgenoname]

@@alexanne me too...

[@kensword73]

You made a curse

[@heatherknutson6947]

I yawned while reading your comment

[@samuelgroves2611]

me: reads your comment starts yawning

[@leonardorodriguez-fw9vu]

bro if i didnt have an open throat i would be dead by now

[@itsgeegra]

You can never be too sure!

[@itscareagan]

I have to do an audition to play sax, and one of the things you have to do is play a few notes with great sounds. Thanks so much! I hope I get it!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Good luck!

[@rinangel2411]

Thank you! Just putting my lip out more reduced the vibration echoes through my sax and I sound better! Thank you!

[@VanDutch10]

Been having a problem hitting low notes and this lip tip cured it... Thanks man 👍

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Brilliant to hear that!

[@mprenn1547]

I like playing simple songs that the player knows well by ear. The easiest choice? Christmas songs, followed by television theme songs! It sounds silly, but this gets it all; musicality, long tones, intonation, and the feedback to the player of a pretty clear reward. Theme from Gunsmoke, for example....that first beautiful octave...

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

I agree- those are a brilliant starting point.

[@WMendoza2023]

Wow I never would have thought about all of this back when I was playin sax in high school

[@richardstubley1860]

That's a great succinct summary, thanks Nigel. Worth revisiting this video from time to time for a reality check.

[@ggauche3465]

Great video. I am discovering more and more that it's about becoming conscious of fundamental things that I, we all, overlook in the drive to do the fancier things! Thanks Nigel. (ocker mate!)

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+Graeme Gerrard No problem Graeme. Glad you liked the video - hope it helps!

[@ajgor64]

Great lesson. I love it. I would add one more exercise here. Practicing low notes with octave key.

[@dreamlover122769]

tremendous tutorial thanks so much for this master reeds man indeed Nigel

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+dreamlover122769 Thanks! Hope it was helpful.

[@jackdaniels5071]

I've been playing alto since 6th grade and i started playing bari in early freshman year and these tips are gonna help me a lot. Thanks dude!

[@jamestaia]

Awesome video bro. Keep up the great work I love what you do. I always know it is worth the time that it takes to watch your videos because they always help 🎷😊

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

+James Taia Great to hear that James. Thanks!

[@thomasnguyen1914]

My sax sounds like a horse dying and when ever a play a “D” it sounds like a vibration on an iphone

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

That doesn’t sound good!

[@eeka_gymenez4053]

Thomas Nguyen yeah same how do I fix this

[@clasp7788]

Play louder on higher notes

[@maxwellsmith5745]

I've had the same problem with the d key. Try checking for loose parts on the saxophone, and tighten them back on, that might help! ☺

[@camille_buhari]

Thomas Nguyen it honestly depends how tight your biting on your reed how tight your embrochure if your saxophone is broken if your mouthpiece isn’t functional if your reed is working so a lot of factors can affect especially because a concert f is hard to hit because it’s the first note that is considered “over the brake”

[@dummy7036]

BRO NO CAP THIS HELPED SO MUCH THANKS

[@paulfairchild3461]

Truely impressive . Going to work on these techniques tomorrow , what a difference a day makes , to improve your tone , 👍

[@shaunske2568]

Thanks. Man I can rlly feel the tips improving my sound slowly

[@briangraham367]

Nice take on moon river! lol

[@Baboon4215]

Good stuff Nigel, putting in a lot of enthusiasm into your videos :) I think sometimes 1 of those 5 things can be all that a person needs to improve their sound on the Sax v.s. worrying about having to buy a different MP. Sometimes we need to experiment with MPs, but the solution to a bigger sound may simply be what we as players are doing. I don't think a high-caliber MP is going to help much if we're lacking in tone, embouchure, etc..I think it ultimately boils down to the player behind the Sax, that makes all the difference in the world.

[@andrewcasillas1765]

thanks for the video, these are some solid tips! I'm in love with that black saxofono!!!! super cool brother!

[@Shaveydonn]

This is really helpful. Thanks Bro!!!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cool.

[@gerrysmith9794]

impressive stuff Nigel, as always giving clear and simple advice on how to improve, although its sometimes hard work for many of us at least we know if we stick at it it will improve our technique and sound.

[@rc505mk2]

Im in a concert band in highschool, would these tips help? I play tenor sax

[@joethomas7841]

Yes. He is more teaching from a jazz perspective but this is actually all really good advice. If you have any questions message me on insta @tosephjhomas

[@rangesavila5577]

Joe Thomas I will xoxo uwu

[@raseshgandhi6702]

Thank you so much

[@VideoNash]

thanks

[@gamlemann53]

Try to sing with your voice in the sax to make a scurry rocksound in the sax. (It take practis)

[@silviocesarfarias7462]

Another great lesson. Congratulations!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Thanks Silvio!

[@aerillvr]

This helped so much my sacxaphone use to sound so raspy it works, thank yoh

[@hatranhuy]

Thank you for sharing excellent tips Nigel!

[@rafagxjunglezz]

Ty so much man! :)

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

You’re welcome!

[@TomaszWena]

WOW! Thank You for so great and helpful video! Now my saxophone practice gets a new level. Regards :-)

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Awesome. Great to hear that Tomasz!

[@wutinthebritishbasement716]

This should help! I’m going to try everything to help my play louder! I’m tired of people saying that they can’t hear me in the band so I’ll do this so I don’t get bullied

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great. Hope it helps you.

[@yologuy7771]

Man I was just about to click off the video and all I hear is "HEY, HEY, HEY, DONT GO ANYWHERE!" 7:46

[@craigscott3133]

Good stuff. Thanks, Nigel!

[@anaya1956]

My band director gave me a old saxophone, and my notes don’t sound right compared to my other band mates who have saxophones, i played one of my band mates instruments and it sounded good but when I played mine I didn’t get the same result

[@helgeschneider5423]

Sounds like it needs to see the sax doctor. Over time it gets some airholes which need to be fixed to get the pitch right again. I practised with a broken sax for years and it is also very bad for the technique as one learns to adapt to a wrong tuned sax

[@VintageTrailerMagazine]

If it’s a really, really old sax it may be in a different key to modern saxes. I’ve got a very old tenor Conn like that and it sucks because I have to transpose every tune...

[@just.jhss.entertainment6401]

Love it

[@gaminha73]

Obrigado pelas dicas

[@samueloslorasmussen6239]

Just started a month ago, but i got to a point where i didnt know how to impove. But this helped me a Lot🌟🤩😍

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Glad it helped Samuel!

[@jamaldelaney9844]

Thank you

[@dashakats5162]

you posted this like 3 years ago but i have an audition soon and my high G's are just not it I know it's one of the hardest notes in the sax but any tips?

[@jackhope45]

good advice thanks

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Glad it was helpful!

[@haiquoc2013]

how do you play vibrato on these low notes on Saxophone?!

[@DrDrift-rl6cc]

any tips on how to hit those overtones? I know tongue position is key but I just can't hit the second octave above the fifth no matter what.

[@eshaylord3950]

i hear delta city blues by mike!!

[@agentxavier1752]

Dude great video, I got out of playing since Im in aprenticeship so I kinda lost my good sound... and what can I say... after watching this video I feel Im close to it again :D

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Awesome!

[@cjsamtab7]

Q: how does one deal with saliva build up?

[@nathaliegalfrekrogh3652]

Thank you sooo much - great video

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Thanks for watching Nathalie!

[@smudar47]

Awesome as always!!

[@Hulkamazing]

Funny how an ad about this guy pops up randomly

[@belladiaz1718]

This is pretty awsome ❤️

[@Dryfield3]

you are the best, thx

[@haz1788]

I wanna know how to add that weird it at the end and also his saxophone is out of tune. I’m not a beginner I just want to know how to add that wavy bit at the end

[@hielcowestra1412]

I think you mean vibrato

[@stellamariss3335]

I’ve always wondered why they tell young students (at least in my school) to pull the bottom lip over their teeth. Ecspecially when they have a thin lip and all the cushion just disappears I don’t even remember how I positioned my lips when I first tried I was in fifth grade so... but I realized after watching younger saxes coming up do the lip thing and I remember being told that and realizing that I don’t actually pull my lip back completely like they say to 🤔 I think it’s kinda misleading for younger student especially because they take it quite literally Lately tho I’ve been really self aware of my lip position and I feel like I’m doing it all wrong or something I’ve been playing for since fifth grade and I’m a junior now and I all of sudden feel the need to relearn how to do this as I’m questioning my ways of playing all these pst years does anyone else relate? A good way to put it is I’ve been playing for almost 7 years yet I feel like I still haven’t properly learned how to play

[@harmonyauld-winn5548]

dude you know what your talking about !

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cheers!

[@dannyboylan2342]

What kind of horn is that black tenor you are playing? Thanks for the video!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi Danny, my black tenor is a Dave Guardala Goldbrass sax. I don’t think they are made any more - I bought mine new back in 1993.

[@dannyboylan2342]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Yes!!!! I thought it might be! I own 3 of the standard German made guardalas... Not the goldbrass ones.

[@patientnextdoor6375]

Nice

[@petew260]

I would like to practice more but what is an augmented 5th and the other 7th or 9th for 5 minutes a day. Please explain to me.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi Pete. Al of these are just “intervals” or a distance from the first note to the second. The idea in this exercise is to choose an interval (or distance) and practice playing it between lots of different notes in your range. This helps to develop your embouchure and tone. So the interval you use is up to you. I suggest starting with octaves (say low G to high G etc for example), but you can move on to an interval of an number of whole or half steps (tones or semitones). You can find more help with this inside the Sax School members area at www.mcgillmusic.com. Hope that helps you.

[@FerdinandFabros]

Monalisa twins beatless cover

[@gerardkirkpatricksanchez2121]

How to manage the saliva? 😢😢

[@bubble2d914]

Aurum Set omg same feels lol

[@gerardkirkpatricksanchez2121]

@@bubble2d914 i just got it alittle, dont too much drop your jaw. 😁👍

[@bubble2d914]

Aurum Set ok thx!

[@jf2181]

When he talks about intervals he mentioned doing 5th, 7th or augmented 5th, I'm not really sure what that means, can someone elaborate?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi JF. I’m talking about jumping up 5 steps on the scale - so count up a major scale from the first note to the 5th note (or the 7th). An Augmented 5th is just a half step or semi-tone above the 5th note in the scale. Hope that helps.

[@jf2181]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Thank you for replying sir. So for example, if I play a G, jumping up 5 steps would be C, correct?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Actually from G you would go to D: G-A-B-C-D (G is 1, D is 5). UP a 5th from C would be G: C-D-E-F-G. Make sense?

[@jf2181]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Yes it does, thank you!!

[@defaultythe1013]

I don't know why but when i play low E It sounds nothing like it

[@molester2300]

Can anyone help me with my 'a' above the staff, it sounds absolutely terrible and all of my other high range notes are beautiful, no idea whats going on but it's really restricting my playing

[@avikaarmaney7874]

The high A is naturally out of tune on most horns. Try adding a note on the right hand to tune it better. I also have issues with A.

[@Craig2760]

Here’s the missing, and most important “hack”; listen, listen listen. Find a sax player whose sound you like and listen. Everything else is a waste of time if you haven’t mentally absorbed the sound of the saxophone. It should be as clear as knowing your own mother’s voice.

[@glizzysz2400]

Do you offer private lessons ?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi Kimberly, sorry not any more, but I do teach via my online Sax School here: www.mcgillmusic.com.

[@RanggaLuksatrio]

Can someone please tell me what the opening tune is?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hey Rangga, it’s just something I wrote for the video. Glad you like it.

[@RanggaLuksatrio]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Oh no way! It sounds really funky! I totally dig it!

[@papik1965]

What are intervals??

[@FrantzesElzaurdia]

keith plunkett google

[@Chronic.Pivoter]

Wouldn't forcing an open throat be dangerous for beginners, especially if it's imitating singing? Someone might actually inadvertently sing into the horn, producing harmonics (especially on G and F). Which brings me onto another point... You keep saying "start on an easy note, like G", when G is probably the most difficult note for a beginner to play (high E-F and low C-Bb aside). At least when I was starting out, I produced harmonics on G 4/5 of the time, and my teacher told me it was a very common problem for beginners. Wouldn't it be more practical to start practising overtones around the middle of the range (middle C-B-A)?

[@Matthew-ll3fp]

Victor Pechorin no

[@xynox343]

no

[@karlwhalls2915]

No

[@jett8901]

No

[@corpliner1506]

No

[@hansenedahl9939]

Whats a sound hack?

[@williambeldamlkke8054]

Am I doing something wrong, if my cheeks blow up, when i use the saxophone.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Some people play this way William but I find it’s best to keep your cheeks flat.

[@williambeldamlkke8054]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool okay thanks for the advice

[@perioax6506]

What’s the point of you having a bari sax but never playing it

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Ha. I do play it but not often in the videos. Check out my multi sax videos - I’m playing it on those.

[@zhairethomas7491]

Show off

[@jackdaniels5071]

Bru