Avoid These Common Saxophone Injuries / especially #4

[@nickmartorano6766]

EXCELLENT tips Scott. Very clear and to the point, as always. Fantastic!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks!

[@dalemccullough5693]

My first experience using a Legere reed for an extended period resulted in the sharp edge of the reed cutting my lip. A cut takes days to heal, especially when you try to keep playing. I used some very fine sandpaper to round over the sharp edge but that artificial reed material isn't as amenable to sanding as cane.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Dale! I hope you're doing well 😁 YES! I had the same experience with switching to Legere. The rails tore my lips up for the first week or two.

[@gkpartington5634]

Best thing to avoid thumb pain - don't hook your thumb under the thumb brace -. press below it. Mine used to really hurt until I saw this advice on YTube. Also, if you suffer neck pain, use a harness . It really helps. Thanks Scott.

[@ScottPaddock]

Yeah, Rulon from KeyLeaves actually just put out a new thumb hook without the hook.

[@robfairbrother3014]

Same thing here. I was getting a lot of thumb pain on the right hand from holding it on the hook and someone on YT showed it differently. Pain went away. My neck was giving me a lot of problems, too so I quickly invested in a shoulder harness and that pain is gone now. Gotta watch those in sax injuries. 😮

[@mandelharvey3429]

I play trombone. Whenever I’m in a situation of reaching for the right harmony or other stress my left thumb will hurt. Like I probably won’t notice until the next day. Weird.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

This is so weird! Years we’ve been making videos, and as far as I know neither of us have talked about sore lips, now tomorrow I’ve got a video on exactly the same thing! We’re so in sync bro 😎

[@ScottPaddock]

I just saw your IG post about it and started laughing. Great minds think alike!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@ScottPaddock 🤣

[@dcp8nts]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Ha! I watched your video yesterday Jamie. Sore Lips... the hot topic for 2023~! =D

[@jeffarcher400]

My left thumb joint has become arthritic and swollen. It's at the base,the heel of the palm. I call it octave thumb. It's twice as thick as the other thumb and hurts enough to make me quit for a day. It might be from not using a strap and holding the sax but it's supported by the chair and I elevate myself a bit with a cushion. Standing with a strap it still hurts and sometimes my neck too. It's likely from years of crashing or even holding my darn cell phone too much. Other players don't seem bothered by it and nobody mentioned it here but it's a real pain. At least guitar doesn't hurt my thumb but that heavy Gibson gave me the sore neck and shoulder. Funny because music was my escape from the damage of action sports.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Jeff, try hoovering your left thumb over the octave key when you play. So, when you want to push it, all you have to do is push down, not move your thumb back and forth. If you are moving your thumb back and forth from the rest to the key, you are going to notice some relief right away when you keep it in the same place, but just push up and down.

[@davidclaro152]

2 was common for me when I played both the clarinet and sax in elementary and high school during holiday parades and marching band. The good old days.

[@robstevens9590]

Lip blowout! A few years ago I had a gig, but hadn't practiced for 3 or 4 days before the gig, so my embouchure was out of shape. When the song with lots of long-tones came, the cameraman, who was filming the event just happened to zoom in on my face. So embarrassing -- close-ups of me sputtering to get the notes out. Ha. But it helped me to be better prepared for future gigs. A couple of other injuries that I experienced: Someone bumping the sax when the mouthpiece is not in your mouth, but close to it -- ouch. I also sometimes have pain in my left thumb from rotating a lot it for the octave key.

[@ScottPaddock]

Yeah, I've definitely had a blowout or two at inopportune times. I should do a short video on the left-hand thumb. I see a lot of players moving their hands a lot more than they should. I just keep my thumb overtop of the octave key at all times and just push it down. I never move it back and forth.

[@skprostudiotips2978]

I always takes regular breaks during practice sessions. This way I can play as long as I like!!!

[@AJ-ls7tn]

Makes alot of sense. I'm going to try this

[@ph2738]

Hey, I was just noticing right forearm pain for the first time last night. I’m a tenor player, but just got a bari in September. I use a Jazz Labs harness. The arm pain is something I’ve had before from skiing or fishing, a little higher than carpal tunnel, lower than tennis elbow. I call it fisherman’s wrist because you can get it from pulling gillnet. Your arms are in cold water and you are repeatedly pinching hard with your thumb. It has been a little cold in my studio, so my solution will be to warm up a little first, do some wrist flex, wrist rotations, and wear long sleeves. I should also check that I maintain a straight forearm hand alignment on the new bari. A problem I’ve had with bari is for the horn to roll away from me and roll more upright when I hit a C#, Potentially putting more weight on my right thumb. To counter this, I sometimes hold on with a right pinky on the D# key, or other right hand fingers. This is something I know because I used to be a flute player.

[@ScottPaddock]

When I used the Jazz Lab for a couple weeks, it would give me some arm pain. I could never get it adjusted right so that it fit correctly. I also tend to move around a lot when I'm playing.

[@wildman166]

I found that the sharp edges on both sides of the read just down from the tip was cutting my lip . So I use a lil fine sand paper to sand those down . Don’t be aggressive use a very light touch . Hope it helps , happy new year

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Tim, I had that probelm when I first switched to synthetic reeds, but it went away with time.

[@pas0003]

I've been playing for around 2.5 years and for the last 8 or so months, both of my thumbs have been quite sore. I make sure to apply as little pressure as possible and don't use the right thumb hook to hold the instrument up. Very sad. I've been playing less and less because of it. I talked to my teacher that I see from time to time, and he mentioned that I'm the first student of his that has ever had pain in the left thumb (my biggest source of pain) :(

[@ScottPaddock]

Send me a pic or video of your left-hand position when you are playing the sax. It could be something as simple as a bent wrist. You can send it through my website or social media.

[@ph2738]

The first time I had a blow out was back in high school. The 60s. I was in the marching band for a small town in eastern Washington, playing alto. The whole band was in the big city of Spokane for the Lilac Parade. We got to the staging area way too early. Where we were holding happened to be under this big overpass, and a couple of my buds and I were getting off on the reverb effect, and were trading off licks and songs we had learned from the radio, rock and roll Beatles mainly. Some bands from some the big city schools were under there with us, so those dudes were getting it to it too. It was kind of a completion, but sometimes we’d find something we all knew. The louder I played under there, the better it sounded. Hours later, it was our turn to get into the parade route. We were playing some stupid march. But my lips were like jello by the time we marched by the judges.

[@ScottPaddock]

Haha! Yeah, that will do it. And playing in a parade can be a lip killer on it's own.

[@cecilegibert2629]

I just noticed the beginning of a pain on the base of my right hand thumb, and there you go ! I have been playing very regularly and pretty much every day which is great but I was wondering where this pain was coming from… thanks for covering this topic 😢 , hopefully I can find and adopt a new better positioning for my right hand / thumb ! If you ever had this pain before, how long does it last ?

[@ScottPaddock]

It should go away pretty quickly as long as you correct the hand position.

[@cecilegibert2629]

@@ScottPaddock I took a painkiller yesterday, and I don't feel the pain today, very strange. And I corrected the thumb rest position, so I will see if that occurs again

[@dcp8nts]

Great video Scott. I removed my right thumb hook. I put 2 clear thick mouthpiece patches on the screw to make it somewhat comfortable.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey! Rulon from KeyLeaves just put out a new thumb hook without the hook, so if you're looking for something that might look a little better, check it out. Also, believe it or not, attaching a mouthpiece patch to your sax will deaden the sound a little bit. So, you might notice a difference in sound if you take those patches off.

[@dcp8nts]

​@@ScottPaddock A mouthpiece patch will deaden the sound? Even being that small? Wow, who knew? I love a big bright sound. I will check out what Rulon has. But still, how to make it cushy on your thumb? Thanks Scott!

[@ph2738]

Now I’m developing tennis elbow on the left side. I wasn’t sure where this tennis elbow was coming for, and I’ve been fighting it off with some PT exercises. I thought maybe it was from moving furniture, or playing the piano, but after a long practice session today, it seems to be the baritone. Using a Jazz Labs now. Got to try a body harness.

[@ScottPaddock]

Don't play the bari for long sessions, it is seriously rough on the body!! There is this practice chair that Jay (Better Sax) recently did a video on that looks like a solid solution to practicing the bari with no neck pain.

[@keithcampbell6806]

Good evening Scott l have had my strap ring raised a little on my tenor sax to ease the pressure on my right thumb.

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@Laura-wg5jk]

Front teeth. One a tad longer than another so feel pain sometimes and I know this is a tendency to bite...very bad habit! Trying to reduce biting, but even after years, still hard to correct it. Tooth cushions help a lot.

[@ScottPaddock]

I have the same thing with a slightly larger front tooth. If you tell your dentist, they can easily (and pain-free) even them out. I've actually had it done twice. Maybe my teeth are still growing? 😁

[@rongibbs390]

I eventually discovered my front teeth were serrated. My dentist smoothed them, and saved my mouthpieces.

[@musicbychuck]

Hello Scott I have a question What is the correct position for playing while sitting , The reason I ask is that I see a lot of sax players playing with there instrument between there legs while sitting (me included ) . Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Chuck, there is no one size fits all. It comes down to personal preference, but I prefer alto in the middle. That position just feels a lot more natural to me. On tenor, unless you are really tall, you have to go on the side when sitting down.

[@HyperNomadDJYu]

Nice points, Scott! One question. What product is your strap?

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey! It's a neck strap that I built myself from a couple different harnesses and straps

[@unclemick-synths]

My injury was unusual - dislocated jaw. It got diagnosed when I went for dental surgery - at the pre-op assessment the surgeon told me my mouth should not be able to open so wide! I stopped playing for a year to do the prescribed exercises and to wait for the muscles to atrophy. Then I figured out I was pushing my jaw forward instead of taking in more of the mouthpiece. Problem solved.

[@ScottPaddock]

I actually popped my jaw out of place about 15 years ago. I was on a gig, and in the middle of a solo I felt it pop, and it hurt for quite sometime afterward. I went to the dentist shortly afterward, and I managed to give myself TMJ.

[@unclemick-synths]

@@ScottPaddock ouch!

[@artlex_]

Fino!!! creí que era el único con esas dolencias, no decía nada xq como no escuchaba a nadie más quejarse, no quería quedar como una neneca!!!

[@davidwood351]

My bari weighs 15 pounds. A couple years ago, I had muscle cramps that traveled from my right shoulder to my neck, to my chest, to my middle back, that lasted about 3 months. Rough times.

[@ScottPaddock]

Yeah, the bari is no joke! And once those aches and pains set in, it takes a while for them to go away.

[@davidwood351]

@@ScottPaddock One more thing, I have the Sax Gourmet ergonomic thumb rest gadget on both my bari and tenor. I really like it.

[@jeffarcher400]

Magnesium and potassium might help. Staying hydrated without washing out the electrolytes is like bailing out a leaky boat.

[@rongibbs390]

Soprano thumb is tricky, because slings don’t really work at the playing angle.

[@ScottPaddock]

Agreed! On soprano, you have to push out more because of the shape and size. My hand always goes a little numb and gets sore if I start practicing soprano again after a little break.

[@dieke00]

Great tips as usual, thanks a thousand Scott! And by the way, Happy New Year! 🥳

[@PaulvanOsss]

I read 'great lips'....

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks! Happy New Year to you too

[@charlesbenoit5252]

Wrist pain - age adds a bit to the issue. Just got steroid shots (first time) to reduce the inflammation. The “injury” probably wasn’t sax related but it didn’t help. I’m trying the new Key Leaves product (I’m a gadget sucker) and - so far - it’s working

[@ScottPaddock]

Yeah, I just saw that Rulon launched that. I'm sure it's going to help a lot of people out.

[@tigorhutabarat5957]

Bro, my left pingky got injured coz low b flat fingering. Any suggestion to cure or to fix it?

[@ScottPaddock]

Hmm, haven't heard of many low Bb fingering injuries, but it probably has to do with how hard you are pushing down. Try easing up a bit. That is one of the harder notes to get out, so most people have a tendency to squeeze a little harder. Try loosening your grip a little bit.

[@tigorhutabarat5957]

@@ScottPaddock yeah it's hard to get there man, should we custom the b flat button a bit up so it will fit our grip? Haha

[@deeflofont7689]

Is it advisable to use a hand brace if u r a beginner to develop proper hand posture?

[@ScottPaddock]

No, I wouldn't recommend that. Practicing in front of a mirror for a couple minutes a day can go a long way to make sure everything is in the proper position.

[@taralouise2194]

Why is my neck worse in my adult years. As a teen, I had 0 problems

[@BeachBoi1000]

Is there dental guard to prevent lip pain?

[@ScottPaddock]

I'm not a fan of those, but yes you can use a dental guard to help out a bit.

[@BeachBoi1000]

@@ScottPaddock Thanks for the advice. I ask my teacher, he said my embochure still not strong enough yet, I will used lips to push which will in turn hurt my lips.

[@midaxsax]

A little bit of orthodontic wax over the front lower teeth can help.

[@brendacastro4147]

I've had all of the above!! Lol I'd like to add #5 though! 😭 Tooth injuries!!! I've, thank God, never hit myself too hard, but i does happen... Lol

[@ScottPaddock]

OUCH!!!!! Yes, that has happened to us all, and it hurts!

[@Greebstreebling]

I poke myself in the eye with my mouthpiece failry regularly. It doesn't hurt so much if the cap is on. What I really need is a new brain which learns from previous occurrences.

[@ScottPaddock]

🤣😂🤣😂 I've never hit my eye, but I've definitely whacked my lip and front teeth more than a few times.

[@andrewwanless2247]

I get tennis elbow when I play!

[@ScottPaddock]

I've heard of a few people having that problem. I'd try practicing in front of a mirror and seeing exactly what is going on with your hand/arm position when you are playing. Maybe it's something that can be fixed with a posture adjustment.

[@robhurst2338]

When I play my tenor for long periods of time, my voice gets strained and sometimes goes hoarse. Does anyone else have this problem?

[@saxcowboy]

Just wondering of you could be overusing the growling rough sound? Using that a lot could give you that problem. Just a thought. Take care and keep on playin'.

[@ScottPaddock]

I get a little scratchy throat if I'm playing on a hard reed or my sax needs to go to the repair shop. Try experimenting with the next reed strength down and see if that helps. Also, practicing a lot of growling, altissimo or overtones could cause that effect as well.

[@robhurst2338]

@@ScottPaddock thank you for the advice. I will try that. I currently use a Boston Sax reed #3 I will try a 2.5. Thanks again!

[@Marcosls2015]

Hydration or a warm tea before and during, my suggestion…some comfort to relax your throat region

[@ScottPaddock]

@@Marcosls2015 Be careful drinking tea, sodas, or anything like that before or during playing the sax. There is nothing worse than sticky pads caused by drinks.

[@nelsongonzalez450]

Thanks for the advises!!! But harness looks so nerd!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@1.nf674]

Not nerdish if a bari is hanging around your neck for hours.

[@nelsongonzalez450]

@@1.nf674 Bari is another story

[@ScottPaddock]

I'm not a fan of the way a harness looks either, but my neck definitely prefers it! I'll sometimes use a regular strap if I'm shooting a video or photo, but 95% of the time I use a harness. I wish I had started earlier.

[@vinjustincosgapa1012]

My lips right now are painful hahaha because of practice it's looks bigger hahaha

[@bluedragontoybash2463]

No hemorrhoid ?

[@ScottPaddock]

You'd be surprised by the injuries you can have if your setup is too resistant and you keep blowing hard anyway 🤣

[@bluedragontoybash2463]

@@ScottPaddock or when you ready to blow really hard and the valve is failing to open

[@chefpaul650]

🍷🍷🎷🤙

[@ScottPaddock]

🤟🎷😁

[@MeehanSax]

A really long session of an hour an a half? 😂 why am I here?

[@MarkALong64]

My most common injury is smacking myself in the mouth with the mouthpiece. It usually destroys the reed too.

[@ScottPaddock]

Yeah, I've killed more than a couple reeds that way myself.

[@justinkirkwood9637]

I’ve done that a few times 😂

[@notisgarcia6086]

00:57 min.: ...................................................AND EVENTUALLY FALL OFF , TIMMY