Why I NEVER Practice Long Tones…

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Instantly have a breakthrough with this free masterclass 🎷 www.getyoursaxtogether.com/masterclass

[@vicval001]

As a two year player, I'm relieved to have confirmed my 'secret' belief. I've always thought that listening to and adjusting tone whilst playing and learning and enjoying. Your lessons are invaluable. Thank you.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You're very welcome!

[@bryandickerson5365]

That was exceptional Jamie! Basically, you just summarized my concept after 42 years of teaching saxophone! For a long time I’ve believed that practicing long tones too early in a student’s development just ingrains bad habits. Thanks for presenting it so well! BTW - Another great Mobley solo full of melodic gems is his solo on ‘The Theme” (rhythm changes) from Art Blakey’s ‘Live From the Jazz Corner’.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks so much. You're welcome!

[@fluteluc1]

I never did long tones until I saw a Scott Padock video that explained the why and the how of it. Thanks for clearly explaining your methodology. It's mighty appreciated.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Very welcome

[@saxodio2147]

Yeah!! As I never had saxophone lessons, I didn´t know about long tones ... fortunately ;-) I have a real big sound on every horn I play, so probably I just was lucky, but "unintentionally" I did the things Jamie talks about. It works, absolutely. And my own stutents now nearly all also have a bright singing sound. Thanks, this was really cool, and helped me a lot to stand my ground against others

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks for sharing!

[@michaelvilleneuve1470]

I just forced myself to play with a very relaxed embouchure for an hour and just let the air do everything just like when you do overtones. My tone improved more in an hour than in 3 months of long tones haha. Thank you so much, you're the best teacher out here 🤗

[@davidm.wilmington5325]

So you just used more air to keep the tone centered and in tune while the embouchure was super relaxed? Or were you just letting the tone do whatever b/c you wanted to practice playing w the relaxed emb to drill that habit? Because it seems like it would be nearly impossible to go an hour w that relaxation *and* keeping a centered tone (much less see a great improvement in tone) . . .at least until you'd done this for months. Just curious.

[@michaelvilleneuve1470]

@@davidm.wilmington5325 I pushed the mouthpiece closer to the tube to compensate and focused more or using the air and my throat to modulate the sound however I want it, rather than doing it with my embouchure

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Fantastic! Thanks so much 🙏

[@michaelvilleneuve1470]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Update after one day : it’s still hard for me to maintain that level of consciousness and throat effort for a long period of time. My high notes tend to fail after an hour or two of practice if I don’t compensate with my lip. I imagine I need to keep forcing myself to relax my lip until I get accustomed to it

[@Marcosls2015]

Yes! Love the iconoclastic videos Jamie! Ivan Meyer, Brazilian saxophonist also teaches that, and the question of what one specifically wants to get with the practice of the long tones- steadiness of tone? Crescendo? Etc…

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

See my above reply. 50+ year player here. Long tones rock!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Interesting!

[@douglange6863]

You have fantastic alternatives to developing a great tone! I rarely play long tones except when switching to a different mouthpiece or horn I haven’t played for a while. Since I mostly play tenor and soprano, I use long tones and overtones as a way to clear the cobwebs for my alto chops and get my breathing and voicing back in shape.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Cool 😎

[@thewarhenk]

I...don't...know... I love you Jamie, and I'll keep an open mind, but... initially, I can't agree, for two reasons. First, I don't practice long tones much at all. Secondly, despite being a gigging musician for most of fifty years with a big sound and a good embouchure, sometimes my chops are just weak. Yes, I can play about anything I need to for as long as it's needed, but if I move the mouthpiece position even slightly in or out when practicing, or hold long tones after not having practiced for a couple of days, I am a hemidemisemiquavering mess! I feel that while we do need a relaxed, 'goldfish embouchure,' there's a necessary strength behind that. All this said, I do detest doing long tones, and I'll certainly keep this under advisement!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks for commenting!

[@vitaliyserdyuk2195]

Дякую за урок! Будемо працювати! Цікаво слухати поради справжніх виконавців, які на власному досвіді доводять свої теорії.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏🏻

[@zabellesax]

You are right as always Jamie, love your playing, totally sound like Tim Copolla and Clarens Clemens, love your energy.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks co much!

[@pavelpatsenkov]

Thank you so much, Mr Anderson. It is interesting lesson.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You're very welcome!

[@cedamoon4049]

I've been warming up with your overtones exercise for a few months now, and it's revolutionized the way I produce saxophone tone - it feels almost as though I'm literally singing thru the horn, rather than the focus being on the reed/air/embouchre. I would highly recommend it to all players. Still, it takes concerted repetition to break bad habits. Many Thanks !!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Awesome!

[@ubustudio]

Thanks again for yet another great video on a fundamental practice technique. I’d also encourage folks to check out the video where you demonstrate practicing overtones on just the mouthpiece and neck. I found that to be more difficult, but at the same time more fundamental since it eliminates variables of intonation of the body of the sax.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You're welcome. Thanks

[@helengordon-saxophone]

Love the loosy goosey, free the reed mantra! Nice one Jamie. 🎷🎶

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks!

[@Dr.RolyndDellaSylvan]

@GetYourSaxTogether Another video of insights that are immediately useful and true! I’ve been on the road with many upper echelon horn players for decades and most of them do *not spend time on long tones but DO spend time on overtones (and they recommend the same for their students). Also, yes(!) to your main 3 points of what/how to practice to achieve a fuller, more mature sound. I hope to be back in your Inner Circle again soon ! hug 🫂 from the road, Dr D a late-life sax beginner but longtime professional touring musician.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Great!

[@GrahamFawcett]

I can really relate to this video, I am fully aware that my sound isn't very good and I've been doing the long tone method as advised by other sites so I will be trying this way, I still don't understand the overtones bit though

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Go for it!

[@wernernobach2168]

I Like Your advice to corespond between listening to models, performing and hearing

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Great!

[@barryyoung8291]

Thanks for your continuing wise words. Your advice and insight into loose lips and voicing greatly opened up the tone I had been stuck with for several years.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Brilliant, thank you!

[@josemarano1304]

Thanks a lot!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You are welcome!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

My pleasure!

[@Bigfoot0510]

Hi Jamie. Massively off topic, but, what earplugs if any would you recommend for sax players? I play in big bands and loud shows and want to protect my ears but a lot of earplugs make the sax sound very loud in your head. In fact, if I want to check my tuning whilst playing in a band I will put one finger in my ear so I can hear my sax in my head and see if I am in tune, but that’s another matter. Do you have any recommendations for earplugs or could you potentially do a video covering the subject? Thanks

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I’ve got custom mould ear plugs. They all make the sax weird in your ears though. Better than blowing your hearing.

[@raygelato3254]

I’ve gotten more out listening hard to my favourite players and trying to emulate their sounds than I ever did with long tones . Sure I used to practice long notes but it’s so important to have a clear idea of what you want to sound like . Once that sound is in your head , it comes out of your horn . Also practicing ballads is very beneficial to developing a good sound .

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏🏻

[@lisalowell2545]

Very interesting Jamie- I just started up with a new instructor and he is teaching me long tones. To a point I understand how it will help but after see this video I know not to push it too too far. You lesson of going in and out of notes is also very beneficial of hearing myself going in and out of notes. I’m Looking into what link you shared. Thank you!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks. You're welcome

[@stevekeiretsu]

I added your overtone 'mothership' to my beginner practice routine and it definitely delivered more progress in a few days of doing that than a few weeks of normal long tones. I think there's one other big benefit you don't spell out in this video, which is that it trains you to adjust by ear (referencing vs the tuning and fatness of the overtone) instead of by eye (referencing your tuner). my tone's got a fair bit richer I think, although, when it comes to the 'try and match the sound of a top player' part, I tried playing along to king curtis and oh dear, it's like he's playing a completely different instrument :( i mean....in fairness to myself he WAS playing a different instrument (tenor vs alto) but even notwithstanding that.... I picked a tune with no altissimo at all cos I havent got there yet and whoops when I actually transcribe it does have loads of altissimo it's just he sounds so fat and warm I hadn't pegged it as such! oh well, he's not the king for no reason

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Defo can’t deny king Curtis!

[@lotrekdesign8677]

I have never practiced long notes, I'm semi-self taught and when I started lessons, my teacher said: Wow, you sound like a pro! Thanks for confirming I was not wrong!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Fantastic

[@arnoldstang]

I would add reed selection to the list for improving tone. Reeds are in constant flux. The day of the gig I spend or waste time comparing my best reeds. At the moment I have 5 reed holders with 4 reeds each. I test the reeds after soaking them and making sure there is no wave with reed tips. I resort them putting my favourites in the first holder/case. Within reed case #1 I have the compartments numbered 1-4. As I go through testing the reeds and resorting them by preference I will compare 2 reeds to get a bit more accuracy in ordering. I limit my reed selection to 40 minutes. Reed placement on the mouthpiece alters results so try to develop consistency with this by having a repeatable method. The object of picking a reed is not just finding a beautiful tone as one varies the tone for a given situation. I sound like Paul Desmond on a bad day but when necessary I play much coarser and agressive. I find that testing my reeds on the day is good. When get to the gig that reed is ready to go. Many times it is difficult to test reeds at the gig. I

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

40 minutes to find a reed for every gig? Not me. Shoot me down but I use one reed, then when it’s shot I spend about 5 minutes working up a new one then I’m off again! 🤣

[@oskiontourphotography]

thank you for your work

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

My pleasure!

[@Invisible_Hermit]

"Pracrice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes PERMANENT. So, practice perfectly." - Justin Sandercoe, of "Justin Guitar." Practicing the wrong things can definitely be an exercise in futility. It's interesting to see the topic of this video and that you're using a BetterSax tenor to demonstrate the point. Jay is definitely an advocate of long tones. A little friendly rivalry, perhaps?? 🤔 I'm 61 and have only been playing the sax for about a year and a half. I'm enrolled in a few of Jay's courses, but I, too, have been around the Sun enough times to know that in life, for each subject, there are many teachers, and we can often learn valuable lessons from each of them, even if they don't all say the same thing. In fact, this can give us a fuller picture. When I practice long tones, I'm listening to Jay play the same note, and I use my ears to try to match him as I play along. My wife was recently commenting about how cool it sounds when both saxes are resonating. I have found this exercise helpful in trying to obtain a good tone and not just slaving away at the TE smiley face. I'm also visually impaired; I've been that way my whole life. So, even though I've learned how to read music, I depend greatly on my ears. (Reading another comment about the BetterSax tenor confirmed my suspicion that that's what you were playing, as it looked like my BetterSax tenor....I also have the alto!). The hoops I jump through to read music are beyond the scope of this already long comment!!! Anyway, thank you Jamie for all the great info you provide! I know it takes a lot of work to put these videos together. The one you posted some time ago of you and your family playing various saxophones together was just fantastic!!! 😊 I recently finished a year of Nigel's "Sax School," which was really great. Right now, I'm trying to work on the courses I have with Jay and actually learn some songs using TomPlay. I watched your Masterclass some time ago, which is just packed with great stuff!! At some point, I'll have to enroll in some of your courses, as I'm sure they are treasure troves of tasty saxophone wisdom and knowledge!!! All the best, and stay well.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks for that awesome comment! PS zero rivalry!

[@michaeldonofrio1921]

Do you make large adjustments to your embochure and voicing between alto and tenor? My alto embouchure is somewhat more focused and disciplined (but not tighter), while using a "sloppy chops" approach to tenor seems to make my tenor sound come to life. This has been my experience, but I would appreciate your thoughts.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Alto is unavoidably tighter - but I don’t THINK about it being tighter. All the adjustments are subconscious I think but they are there.

[@sidneiramalho]

I play a bit sharp no matter how relaxed a play and how far back my mouthpiece is. Interesting enough, I played with a different mouthpiece (low baffle) and I'm more in tune. Any suggestion? Thank you.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Use the low baffle MP I guess. But there’s obviously a more fundamental issue I suspect.

[@larry4589]

Great video thank you

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks. You are welcome

[@manuelabiel8788]

So happy what you said about long tones😅. I don't like to practice it, I prefer overtones as you also said. Even Leo P said in a online workshop he hates it and practices long tones only 5 min. He combines it with extreme dynamics... By the way at 13 min 20 sec in your video it is a part of Improvisation Mastery 🤔🙊.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Ha! People love to be told they don’t need long tones!

[@rico_cavalierie]

I'd be happy to get a tone. Right now I can hold my own in a conversation with some Canada Geese. Although it's kinda cool in a way, I'm going for a different result.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

😂 👍

[@jeroenneve5807]

Completely agree with you here. For me, I just don't have the time to practise long tones. ( I have 1 hour of sax. time per day allotted, and there are more things to practise.) I also find them *boring* - I play the sax for fun. ( Yeah, no pain, no gain and all that, but a sledgehammer to the head has never improved anyone.) For what it's worth: To improve tone, I usually play slow songs or exercises ( Lacour 30, for example - you can find examples on KZbin), and try to adjust my tone during the "long tones" within the song. It excersises timbre, intonation, phrasing, dynamics all in one go, and is (in my view at least) more efficienct / effective than the isolated long tone. And it's more fun.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Great. Thanks for commenting. 🙏🏻

[@samuellejonclou4263]

Great video! From one topic to another, I'm curious about your setup. What type of mouthpiece, ligature and reed are you currently playing on tenor?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

My setup is here www.getyoursaxtogether.com/gearlist

[@robstevens9590]

Good stuff. It's also good you added the P.S. at the end, because long tones can be a help in the proper context. By the way, was that a "Better Sax" tenor you had today?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks. Yeh it is!

[@jameswilson2967]

been strugging with my tone, This will be a great help, i suppose long tones done right are good, but i always thought that my tone would improve on its own, if i did long tones. hours and hours lost due to bad practice of long tones.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Now you know. Glad it helps!

[@Star-ec7lf]

Hi I have been really been struggling on holding notes for too long ive watched all your videos and the circular breathing one too and I cant do it. Any tips?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Breathing I guess - I’ve got a vid on that.

[@vladimirpevzner6037]

every word - true!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks

[@HahnJames]

You've been playing saxophone for 37 years? That's how long I've been doing judo. Age 5 is kind of young to start playing the saxophone, though, isn't it? I've found that doing long tones eats up a lot of valuable time. I like doing drone training. Yes, it is kind of meditative, too. I found this video to be full of loads of helpful information. Thanks for posting it.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Ha! You're welcome 🙏🏻

[@philcollis100]

Not the main point of this video, but of all the many mistakes I've made playing the saxophone one was avoiding Transcription, or "Transcribe". I thought it literally meant sit with your music-stave paper and write something down. So I never did it. Eventually, playing in a band that played songs from the 50's-60's, after a while I thought to listen to what the original sax-player played and learn that, and it was a lesson each time. But I didn't write anything down, I'm not a good reader, I just learned it. I recommend that, because even if you don't reproduce it verbatim those guys were good and you learn something! I'm also practicing overtones...

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Great comment!

[@rayantilles]

Jamie just noticed: new tenor? Which one s that? What happened to the mk6?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Still got VI. Checking out this BetterSax tenor.

[@rayantilles]

@@GetYourSaxTogether well with good studio monitors you do hear it, but I needed to check. Your sound using this sax is also really fat!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@rayantilles ta!

[@frankversteeg6843]

longtones helps you to play a long steady pitch, that's it, do the things with your embouchure, and have an amazing sound with the right pitch

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@shipsahoy1793]

Long tones aren't necessary to build endurance. I never bothered with long tones, but... I started taking tenor lessons from someone who's playing I considered a considerable step up from mine, and thought I could learn from him. He started out expecting me to do long tones ad naseum, but was surprised to find out I could do much longer perfect tones than him. Hence, I went back to learning on my own. 😂

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

Some people say they practice only long tones. Everyone has a tip on how they practice🙄🎶🎵🎷 Do what you feel☮️

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Sure. Do what you feel. 👍🏻

[@DolphScreamingSax]

Very good video brought in an inspiring way. Well done Sir.🙂

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@DrinkCola]

That is the main problem that every sax player lay in

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍🏻

[@saxfish]

< My diaphgram feels left out¡ We know it is sacriligious but....Why why wHy

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@tedtedsen269]

why do I practice long tones i'm using circular breating a lot then you need long tone exercises another reason for long tones is to train the lungs and a third is with long tones I can hear mistakes and weaknesses in my tone but I don't ONLY practice long tones

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@Leese42]

If anyone's rolling their bottom lip over THAT much on a clarinet embouchure, they're doing clarinet embouchure wrong 😂

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeah I don’t teach clarinet!

[@geofixated]

How does he know I stare at Tonal's smiley face???

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Ha!

[@davidbenhaiem7784]

What I really like actually, is to do long tone... of overtone :D

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@stellasteele2397]

Yes!!!!! I have a mk vii and I have to fight it to play in tune. Its previous owner had it serviced WEEKLY trying to win the battle (and gave up and bought a yani.) I now have both of them (sentimental) and I keep battling the Selmer. This is the true definition of insanity 😂

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

😮

[@Babadookstan]

no vsauce music at the start is actually criminal

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

😊

[@haroldlloyd8621]

Is it a “Better sax”?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

It is indeed

[@ivanjezek]

I practice long overtones just with mouthpiece and the neck.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@vincelahorra]

i disagree. Long tones are important for the following reasons: 1. to warm up the embouchure, 2. to break in a reed, 3. to aid in ear training, and most importantly, 4. to achieve and reinforce correct breathing, tonguing, and embouchure. Once you've discovered the correct embouchure habits, daily long tones is the way to reinforce it and cement it into your playing. Of course, long tones should be just a means to an end, the end being a good tone. Long tone practice should not be more than 5 minutes. Practicing long tones is not bad by itself. You're implying that long tones are the cause of bad tone. It's not. By the way, in your "Coda", you just ended up contradicting your clickbait title.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Well, I respect that everyone has their opinions.

[@vladimirpevzner6037]

first of ALL trainings we MUST to be sure oud instrument is in FINE, not only good, but FINE! condition. otherwise all our efforts will not give us any good mode and any well-feeling results.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Good point

[@Dave-ik4lj]

Ummmm you said "bollocks" . 😅

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🤣

[@tkannen]

Weird to see you hugging something other than your MK IV.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Ha! Well spotted

[@shirleyfrancis4515]

I've never played long tones for practice. Complete waste of my time.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Fair enough 👍