CRAZY Sax Sound Exercise You've Never Heard Of

[@joashsoobramoney6818]

The way you structure your videos, I think are so unorthodox and in a sense "improvised". You're giving us knowledge straight from your brain and not something rehearsed from a book or whatever. I really appreciate this! In the past 2 weeks I've known a world of difference in my sound!!

[@nr3rful]

play the clarinet and now trying to self learn the alto sax. Your channel is one of the best I found for help, teaching and explaining. Thanks for doing this.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+nr3rful Good luck with the sax. So glad you're liking the videos. Means a lot.

[@desertmoon610]

Started with clarinet, but personally Alto sax is easier

[@Ajoura]

Recently switched from a clarinet to an alto sax, felt like the clarinet's sound is too bland for me, does not convey my message enough and dissolves in my arrangements so much that it would be easy to substitute it with anything else and not lose anything. Aside for big range. Also, I personally just don't like when the clarinet tried to sound energetic and punchy. When a sax does it, it kicks up your mood, but when a clarinet does it, for me it starts to sound like a Jew strangling a goose. Also, incredible video, will try it for sure.

[@marcelcarter6751]

@@JeffSchneiderMusic question when Kenny g play do he use palm keys

[@seerskater]

damn your hair is on point

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

haha thanks!

[@maamotteesoot]

Apart from being a great straight forward teacher/tutor, amazing knowledge, you seem like a genuinely nice guy. Just had today that.. I love your passion and excitement that you exude to share your knowledge - you do great honour to your family! Thanks Jeff. Us players, and the would be's could be's and wanna bees, all are very fortunate to have you. Thanks again.

[@SamChaneyProductions]

I never thought of it this way! This is a whole new perspective, and I can't wait to go home and try it out.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Good luck, Sam!

[@trebuchetbeats]

I've played around with overtones, but never focused on them. This as well as some other videos have given me reason to shift focus to them. Thanks again Jeff, I love this video.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks, Josh! Overtones are the best!

[@loveg2356]

Wow this is quite amazing! On behalf of all the videos I've watched before, I think this one stood out.

[@originalmusicworks]

Wow Jeff, a great great video! I knew MOST of what you covered already, but you sure covered it in a great and fast, easy way. Practicing overtones really got me used to hearing what sax should sound like, and I think it helps a boatload with intonation as well... Again, great video!

[@Roensmusic]

cool man thanks for sharing, i dont play the sax but i play the flutes so i can play it.. very interesting video

[@mattwall8869]

I've just come across your videos and I'm learning so much! I'm starting school in the fall with a major in music and these videos have made me even more excited.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Matt Wall that's great to hear! Good luck in school, Matt!

[@theviewer5104]

hi jeff..just stopped bye to write you that your videos are brilliant. there are many on youtube but i found yours are just brilliant - always to the point, always exciting and authentic, straight to the face the way music should be. . so thank you very much. btw. i play tenor and always had problems with playing overtones and now i do this exercise, relatively to tenor of course and its just great. thank you again.

[@davidgray69]

Hi Jeff, Great lessons that are very comprehensive. This is the info i find most helpful, and in small bites which suites. Do you have a complete compilation of your lessons which I can purshase in order to study lessons in order Regards Dave Gray

[@rdaugherty52]

Wow I actually understood you and I am not smoking anything amazing.

[@danielcohen227]

Great teacher

[@johntravel7882]

Thank you Jeff for sharing this excellent exercise.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+John Travel Glad you like, John. Keep sheddin!

[@veliliukas]

Thanks! Really inspiring. I'm a harmonica payer and I'm always after the good TONE! I play saxophone too. I have to practise more my real saxophone not the mississippi one...Merry Christmas from FUNLAND

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+BrotherAndy Liukko Tone is where it's at! Thanks for watching!

[@derycktrahair8108]

A Mississippi Saxophone! Thanks, I've never heard that before. Over here they call the Bagpipes "Glasgow Saxophones". (but it's just a friendly way Brass players give Sax players a hard time. I reckon they're jealous).

[@Leifer-2]

Love.This.Exercise.

[@yokedd3500]

Best teacher ever I find it easier to tounge the bottom of reed then the tip if I do the tip it squeeks

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Whatever works! Thanks for watching :)

[@tomastoonders789]

Very valuable video! Such a clear explanation. You really helped my practice today!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Tomas Toonders Happy to hear it! Thanks for the comment.

[@indicaviamusic]

Thanks for all the great tips Jeff. One question, what mouthpiece and reed (brand and #) do you use? Best regards

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Francisco Benitez Hey Francisco, I play on a Pillinger mouthpiece, and #3 Hemke reeds.

[@ParsevalMusic]

nice teacher indeed

[@liseernie]

thank you, fantastic intstruction

[@angelpotatoe1]

ive been watching because hes cute but im learning the things i know in a different way, im pretty glad i found this channel

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Angel Canal Thanks for watching, whatever the reason may be!

[@espr7564]

Because he is cute?!? 😱 you're in the wrong place bud

[@BloodBrotherenGames]

Hey Jeff! I was wondering if you could do a video on altissimo + fingerings for alto sax?

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+BloodBrotherenGames Already in the works! Stay tuned.

[@audiesteele4709]

I love your videos. I love your play. I'm a beginner who LOVES the sax. like I told you before I finally could afford one. I just want to know do you do classes. I'm a fast learner and I'm dedicated to learning and perfecting this craft. any help that you can give me will be greatly appreciated enjoy the videos but I really need a person to point out what I'm doing wrong at that point in time. I appreciate all your help keep up the good work

[@renib1159]

Thank you

[@luishenriquepaes7801]

Holy shit man!!! my sound is great now! Thank you so much!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Luis Henrique Paes Thank you, Luis! Glad the exercise helped.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

+Jeff Schneider Jeff, as you know and will appreciate the truism of the statement: "Many among the greatest, in every endeavor, are unsung heroes" And so it has been of and with YOU for a time more than long overdue - until this time season. God bless YOU dearly - you have been effectively and efficiently fulfilling the purpose for which YOU have come. Thanks a Zillion!

[@robertzantay5923]

Your Bb to F exercise is actually an excellent way to find out how in tune your horn is with itself, this is called scaling. It determines how it tune the octaves and harmonics will be.

[@DaDarkGuy]

do a tutorial on the bugle call using overtones

[@eugeniocollinassi.1548]

Hi Jeff! I've played clarinet for a while, then 10 months ago switched to the almighty bari sax. Best decision I ever made, but, of course, it came with A LOT of practice to do. I've recently "unlocked", so to speak, the '2nd overtone' (the 5th above the first overtone - is this the correct name for that? - on the low notes (low A up to low D#). I can't seem to get any higher: nor higher overtones, nor higher starting note (i.e. I can't get the E one octave above the standard low E). In your opinion, should I try to reach the first 2 overtones on other notes of the first octave (E-F-F#-G), or focus on getting more overtones from the same low note? I really like your videos! Keep uploading! Cheers, E

[@hasenakkhaya]

amazing channel. one thing i m having hard time is tongueing the low notes, like low g and all the lower tones. im in a small latin band as a brass section alto sax player and there are tons of short and fast low notes. as a self learning musician, i firstly blame my mouth and and lips and throat and embouchure. but my mouthpiece also has a very small crack and i cant stop thinking about that as well but lets forget about this for now. can you please suggest tongueing exercises to improve the low notes sound and tongueing as well?

[@alexovenden8698]

+hasen akkhaya Firstly blame your cracked mouthpiece. If air can escape through the crack, it will not be good for your sound, but it might be repairable. Take it to a repair shop. Alternatively, buy a new mouthpiece. Keep practising for the low tones.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+hasen akkhaya So glad you like the channel! Low notes can be tough, especially with faulty equipment. A cracked mouthpiece or leaky horn could definitely be the culprit. That being said, even faulty equipment can be conquered by great technique i.e. air support, air support, air support! Let me know how it goes.

[@alexovenden8698]

+Jeff Schneider Hi Jeff, since you're there somewhere, may I ask you a question? I have an older sax, basically unbranded ("World") and probably a stencil from what used to be Czechoslovakia, and it sounds great. When I play the low Bb, and change my embouchure, I can get the octave easily enough but I cannot get anything but a very high F. I can't get the same F that you get. Should I just keep on trying - changing my enbouchure - or could it be something to do with my mouthpiece or reed? Or the sax itself? I've been told that the mouthpiece is very good and the reed is a Rico Royale 2. Thanks if you get time to reply. Even without the lower F, this great exercise has improved my tone.

[@SamChaneyProductions]

I'm wondering when practicing this exercise, is matching the pitch as important as matching the tone? For example for the F note, should I have an F drone note playing to make sure my intonation is correct while working on the tone?

[@alfie_coates]

I can manage to get all the way down to the low B flat, however I I basically have the entire mouthpiece in my mouth with my lips only really touching the varnishy bit of the reed. Is this alright or do I need to learn it the way I would with my normal embrochure?

[@themo05e27]

What saxophone do you use and what type of saxophone do you suggest for a starting professional instrument.

[@ilovfob]

C5TheBomb it's in the description.

[@damiaosilva3368]

boa noite moro no brasil suas dicas sao muito boas

[@00DirectorsCut00]

Sorry I'm not sure to have understand all: so the 1st exercise is take the low b (or was b flat?) position and get that note and the all 3 octave upper. The 2nd is get a F with the low b (or b flat?) position than switch to F regular position (continuing blowing). Is this ? Thank you

[@popcio6]

Have you heard of sound exercise - thinking 5th above, and than 4 below the actual note. You can find it in book "sigurd rascher - top tones for saxophone". 5 minutes practising like this and it all sound much better! Please Try it and let me know what do you think :)

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

That's a good one Zygmunt!

[@juliaryden780]

How do you get the low note out so clearly? Whenever I play like a low c, it makes a tah before going low. It doesn’t come out automatically

[@xasma]

What mouthpiece is that? And where should I buy a Mark 6 from that's trustworthy? Don't really feel like taking a chance with eBay

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+xasma I play on a Pillinger. Where do you live? Are you near any major cities? If not, online is the probably best: saxquest.com joesax.com robertoswinds.com to name a few. But the real question is, why do you want to get a Mark VI?

[@xasma]

+Jeff Schneider I guess you could say I'm just kinda hoppin on the bandwagon right? Heard great things about it all around and I like the look so why not? I live in Florida

[@ilovfob]

Gosh my sax has just sat in my living room for three years. I need to play again.

[@flashbang2865]

Hey Jeff I wanted to know have you ever considered doing maybe a Skype lesson? I would be interested.

[@carolsudhalter]

Amazing video, really nice.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Carol Sudhalter Thanks so much, Carol.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Bellissimo!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks so much!

[@tulliomolina4647]

Hi jeff wich sound rutine you do? How long long tones etc a day? Thanks

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGGvZJx_dr1jn7c

[@mayamadeline8509]

Hey Jeff can you please help me? I play saxophone for over one year but I would like to try do some highest tones like the highest G. I don't mean the G with octave key but the G in very high register ( I don't know how to say it in english). What should I do to achieve this sound? :)

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Maja Wojcik Hi Maja, the G to which you're referring is in the altissimo register. There are several different fingering options for these super high notes. I'd Google saxophone altissimo fingerings to find out which ones work best for you and your horn. Also, practicing overtones will help you with this range. Good luck!

[@Imsoflattered0]

I could get the 5th but none of the other overtones for some reason when I do Low C or Bb

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Check out this video, Gregor. It might help you out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/amnMpXx8eaiLnNk

[@Imsoflattered0]

That helped me a lot on some of the overtones, but in the end I just need to practice them consistently until I get them. I feel like practicing overtones and getting good at it would unlock the ability to play better altissimo which is my end goal.

[@athebeast1769]

I’ve been working on overtones for my low Bb but when I try to do the first overtone on it I can’t it and just goes straight to the F, I can easily get the F and the higher Bb above the F but I can’t get the middle Bb. It doesn’t work when I go from the middle Bb fingering to the low Bb either it just goes straight back to F or low Bb

[@kailabrown1446]

I need a bit of help. It's so backwards with me: I'm a tenor player going into 9th grade and I can get very high notes, but I can't get past lower than D. What do I do?

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Sounds like you really need to loosen up your embouchure! Let me know how it goes, Kaila.

[@edthesaxplayer8450]

spend a week or longer just playing the low notes always easier to play down scale to them first

[@DerekBiryani]

Hey Jeff, I'm trying to improve the sound of my high notes, i.e. notes higher than the octave key G. I've managed to establish the correct power and support for the low notes and I can make the low Bb sound really nice but my high register still sounds whiny and annoying. I've tried overblowing them without using the octave key and that helps a little bit. But what would you suggest? Thanks man

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Charlie Pitcher Hey Charlie, the most common culprit for poor tone in the upper register is an overly tight embouchure. Loosen up your lips as much as you can. You may need to push in your mouthpiece to get your intonation in check. Also, the notes may come out wobbly with a looser embouchure. This is normal. Take time practicing long tones to work on a steady controlled sound. Have patience and practice a lot. It will come!!

[@DerekBiryani]

+Jeff Schneider Thanks Jeff, I need to do more long note practice anyway because I've noticed when I check my tuner that the low notes are slightly flat and the highs are sharp, which is no doubt me being too tight. Thanks again for clearing that up!

[@mcvooty]

+Charlie Pitcher That's true for Seelmer tenors (high notes sharp, low flat) on the whole and maybe all horns. No horn is in tune throughout. You have to use your ear, and your embouchure will adjust automatically. Intonation problems often result from hearing a note incorrectly, that is , your play what you think and your ear tells you is the right pitch but in fact the played note is, for example, sharp.

[@BlasJohnny]

Great

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks!

[@vribeirocanto3]

why did you said you were gonna play a Bflat when actually the frequency correponds to a C? i'm sorry, its just that I have no knowledge when it comes to sax and its mechanics. does it comes with a certain kind of nominal key?

[@alanhowell3646]

victor ribeiro canto it's definitely a Bb. Not sure how you're hearing a C. He is playing an alto which is a transposing instrument so his Bb is a concert pitch C#. But definitely not a C.

[@vribeirocanto3]

Alan Howell thanks! you're right about the C#, I misheard. but my doubt was still valid. That meens alto sax has a 1,5 tone distance between the nominal note, and the real pitch? For example, Bb is actually a C#, and E is actually a G? etc. Last doubt: Do all saxofones (alto, tenor, etc) have this kind of tonal distance between the nominal and the real pitch? Thanks for the help!

[@connorwinterspianotutorial9253]

Alto sax sounds a major sixth below its written pitch. So when an alto sax plays its Bb, it's actually producing a C# below it. Tenor is an octave + a whole step below and bari is an octave + a major sixth below.

[@mauricioalonso2157]

+victor ribeiro canto There are some exceptions, sopranino and melodic sax in C, but yes, all the "mainstream" saxes transpose, soprillo, soprano, tenor and bass are in Bb; sopranino, alto, baritone and contrabass are in Eb, saxes in other pitches exist, such as those in C and a few others, but they are either old 1910-1930, or scarcely produced nowadays.

[@jaykay1053]

Do you change tongue position at all, ever?

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Yes, tongue position controls the direction of air, and the direction of air controls tuning and timbre.

[@jaykay1053]

Wow! This is going to take me in a whole new direction. I'll need to mess around with this concept a while but then, I'd like to set up a lesson with you. How would I go about doing that?

[@Dracstar]

What was the lick in the beginning called?

[@phillydilly711]

when I do my overtones I can only do octaves. how do I get notes in between?? It sucks even more since I have to use more air as a bari sax player... oh and do the overtones work in arpeggios? (like if I was playing a Bb, I could get a D and an F)

[@benjaminmarks8765]

They go fundamental to 1 octave to the 5th to 2nd octave and idk the rest

[@gabrielescorzato]

Is a Vandoren ligature?

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Instrument Channel Nope, it's a Francois Louis

[@BlasJohnny]

Cool

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks!

[@RadicaLxIce]

is that a mark 6?

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Ice - cod & more Yes, it is!

[@alssupersadgarden]

where were you 30 years ago?

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Kenneth G In the womb.

[@jaxius2511]

Jeff Schneider In the rifts of time*

[@icebear5823]

Lol.

[@jabulaniharvey]

Kenny Garrett seems to do this in some passages of his music...

[@alfredmadere9030]

can you do a video about how to start your notes when you want to and control them... like make sure they start nicely? that's my biggest problem right now. thanks man!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Alfred Madere For sure. For now, make sure you're not too tight on the mouthpiece. Don't tongue too hard. And practice controlling your breath so you don't exhale all at once.

[@alfredmadere9030]

+Jeff Schneider the thing is i've been playing for about 3 years with the wrong embouchure i think. and i just changed it and now i have a much more open sound, but the down side is it always starts in the upper octave then drops down... idk maybe i do need to loosen up even more. you seem to know your stuff so i will try it

[@m.howell7152]

Is that a Grassi?

[@audiesteele4709]

iv wanted a sax my whole life and finally was able to get one at 33. but I'm having a problem with getting a steady sound

[@UndeadGamingCA]

Audie Steele long tones man. Just try to hold out every single note starting from low bflat for as long as you can and keep the tone as steady as you can

[@audiesteele4709]

thank you sir. how do I get with your Skype lessons

[@TheJulianmc]

Practice practice practice. You gotta build up your embouchure, and that takes a while.

[@DonaldCrowson]

Make sure to check out for the source lowdown on the overtone series.

[@1billiedale]

I started practicing the over tones now all my neighbors are standing in front of my house with flaming torches!

[@coffinman5007]

Sorry, but...... The pitch when played with the low Bb fingering contains lower harmonics that do not readily come out when you use the F, and you are working to bring them out using the higher fingering, making the sound fuller. You are working to control pitches that you might not hear, but that affect the overall sound.

[@aIacrity.]

Sounds good! Now, if I could only get overtones...ughhh

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Alacrity S Thanks! You'll get em eventually! Trail and error...

[@josefviramontes1143]

Can you post something more advanced? Because I am having trouble finding something that is difficult but not so difficult that I cant grow, so yea

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Josef Pickett Hi Josef, you take this same exercise up the entire range of the horn into the palm keys e.g. matching your low Bb fingering to a high D fingering. Have you tried that yet?

[@josefviramontes1143]

As a matter of fact, yes. I used voicing to do this, which I honestly think will be a good idea for a video. Voicing, in my opinion, would be a great way to help the more advanced players who are trying to become better. Which voicing can help get the Altissimo G and higher. So, yea (maybe something about circular breathing? just a thought)

[@robertzantay5923]

Try a bunch of stuff? See what sticks? I’m sorry to have to point this out but you seem to be too young to have discovered the teaching of the master. Most serious students and teachers of the sax that I came up with studied with Joe Allard. This includes Dolphy, Coltrane, Breaker, Sanborn, Liebman Tiffony, and so on. Harmonics are controlled by your Larynx. If you sing ooh, eee, ooh jumping octaves you will feel the movement of your Larynx if you put your hand on your throat. When practicing harmonics, your tongue must be in the position as if you said “your” that is lifted and the edges near your upper teeth, this position frees you to play harmonics with control. It also allows you to play your sax in tune. When you want to play low Bb think low and drop your Larynx, when you want to play the fifth above, the 2nd harmonic, think of the pitch, get an F in your mind, and raise your Larynx as if you are singing through the sax and you are trying to sing a higher pitch. That’s the very beginning of it.

[@rohanbuch2344]

overtone

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Rohan Buch indeed!

[@cl4tt3rf4ct8]

Completely off topic, but do Spanish people use "k" to mean "what" in texting?

[@fabriziolara6413]

Cl4tt3r f4ct cause "what" in Spanish is "que" and it's pronounced similarly as you would pronounce "k"

[@Craig2760]

Never heard of? If you have a sax teacher and they’re not insisting you learn the overtone series, find a better teacher. I’ve been playing overtones as part of a warm up routine for forty years.

[@desertmoon610]

My fingers are too little for this :/ 😭😫

[@lyndseythesaxysaxophonist5753]

Am i the only one who has no neck strap? 😂

[@MrDamojak]

Lyndsey The Saxy Saxophonist ye