Hand Position For Sax - Is Yours Like THIS?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Find yourself practicing the same old stuff that doesn’t work that well? Try my FREE one hour Saxophone Success Masterclass! www.getyoursaxtogether.com/masterclass

[@julioperez3936]

Excellent video. The best I have seen in body and hand position. Very good explanation Congratulation

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Wow, thank you Julio!

[@CyberBPLive]

Jamie, I like that with the drinks... gonna help a lot))) Dont want to spill off drinks! Thank you

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Sure thing! 😂

[@lolenieloyola8829]

Thanks sir Jamie

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Anytime

[@dariusyeck]

Hello and thanks for this content it's always very helpful, keep doing these nice videos

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Many thanks 🙏🏻

[@craigscott3133]

It always helps to hear this advice. Nothing good happens without fundamentals.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@glenntomassi3442]

Excellent🤗👍🙏

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Glenn!

[@lauragrecodebovemoses5436]

Lol - the drinks analogy hit home with me being a former brass player xx 😆👍

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

😂

[@lennonnuez]

I was taught "beaver hands", always thought on how uncomfortable that is, so I went against one of my previous teachers teachings, glad you mentioned it!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Perfect. 👌🏻

[@brandifrewin8921]

lmao, i like the ways on how to remember the hand shape XD, this video was really helpful, thanks for all the pro tips!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Anytime 😊

[@LarryKatz53]

White lab coat donned: Bend only the carpometacarpal joint of each finger. Thanks, as always Jamie. Your pro tips are always helpful. I'm always amazed watching close up videos of pros and can't figure out what fingers they are moving.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Larry. 🙏🏻

[@stevethomas6533]

re Palm key risers, you can use 'Sugru" a mouldable rubber glue, let it set in general shape on palm keys, then carve or sand to required shape/size. Added bonus (as Jamie loves a bonus!) Sugru is available in loads of funky colours, I use blue to match the paint on my Selmer logo on the crook!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Great tip, thanks! Someone else mentioned that stuff. I’ve never heard of it. 👍🏻

[@trefordavies3670]

Thanks ! I have started to play in front of a huge mirror to keep aware of hand position . Great tips . Cheers

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Good idea that!

[@francistaylor5097]

I really enjoyed this, Jamie, thanks. Always great advice but this genuinely felt like a one-to-one lesson.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Francis. 🙏🏻

[@geoffbeckett9743]

Great as always Jamie thank you.👍

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Geoff. I swear you’ve commented on every video I’ve ever released. So cool.

[@timwillsdon]

I played last night and thought my tone was pretty good. I sent a video to a friend who said I looked really relaxed. Then you do this video. How spooky is that. Spot on as usual 😁👍🎷

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Love that!

[@MrCaonashi]

This is great, I played sax in school years ago. I was not told any of these tips. As far as instrument instruction I was taught embouchure & which keys play which notes.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Awesome. Glad to help!

[@tonioarango5078]

Great advises. Thanks, Jamie. Very helpful and funny. As always.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

My pleasure!

[@MrMktMaster]

Thanks man, great tips and damn, you are so likeable!! LOL

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Aw thanks man 🙏🏻

[@lonnybierman2548]

Great video. I also practice in front of a mirror. What I find funny is when I’m learning something note by note my fingers fly away stupid like. When I get it memorized and to speed my fingers go back to normal operation. It’s definitely a good thing to really practice and make yourself keep good form over playing or learning things faster.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

The mirror can really help. Well done. 👍🏻

[@PedroAntonioEspinosa]

Great tips as always

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks 😊

[@lauragrecodebovemoses5436]

Hey Jamie I don't often comment but really appreciate your videos. I've just bought a bari sax (Conn-Selmer 380V). Unfortunately I'm a wheelchair user due to losing my left leg a year ago so positioning the sax itself is difficult at best because of its size. The best I can do is ensure I'm at the front of my chair as you stated, with my back straight etc. It works for now but hopefully I'll be able to use my prosthetic leg more and stand up to play. My ultimate goal is to go busking on the beach on the Fylde coast. Only time will tell though. xx

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeh that sounds like a challenge but you’ve got it sorted which is great. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching! 👍🏻

[@saxcary2188]

I'm primarily a flute player, but nowadays playing much saxophone, tenor in a wind band, and using "Lester Young position" (without pork pie hat) keeping tenor bell on my right knee, and hands are a little like with flute. Playing standing is of course another thing. My Couesnon alto has two vertical holes for neck trap hook, left one for keeping horn on right side, right for keeping in front of the player.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks for that nice share. Prez was a one off!

[@royharrison9471]

As always, thanks Jamie for posting your wise advice. One thing I have never found discussed is the position of the crook as it rotates in the rest of the sax. I have found that if I hold the sax in the normal way with the mouthpiece just in front of my mouth, and I open all eight fingers, leaving just my thumbs in contact with the sax, the mouthpiece should not swing away from aligning with my mouth. If it does, the crook should be rotated until this doesn't happen. If the crook is mis-aligned, I believe when you are moving your fingers you have a constant battle to keep the mouthpiece aligned which cannot be helpful for a smooth technique.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

For sure. Great comment.

[@1fcuking]

Very helpful Jamie 🎷

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Anytime 👍🏻

[@robstevens9590]

Helpful tips. Since I taught myself how to play sax I developed a few bad habits that his lesson covers.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks Rob.

[@LadyOaksNZ]

I needed to see this..I watched myself play on video and my fingers were splayed like daddy long legs spiders ...chord progression was slow and stilted. I will practice to correct this. Thank you !!! ⚘😊

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You’re welcome! 😊

[@gedduncan2454]

Thanks Jamie. Helpful lesson that's pinpointed a couple of things for me, especially finger shape. Should I worry that it's the drinks from the bar memory aid that I'll find easiest to remember?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

That’s the idea Ged - it’s memorable!

[@aodmucic]

@@GetYourSaxTogether can you do a video on the soul key please thanks

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@aodmucic what’s the soul key?

[@Ugo392]

wow Jamie, finally a video of you with an alto :)

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Oh, you think I never use alto? I’ll try and balance it out this year! All these videos are the same on tenor and alto mind you.

[@Ugo392]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Thanks for reply, by the way i am enjoying your tone mastery course a lot ❤️

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@Ugo392 oh great! Thanks for buying.

[@Ugo392]

@@GetYourSaxTogether also we would love to hear more of Jasmine on Spotify :) any new songs in the future?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@Ugo392 I’m a bit of a bad dad actually. We need to get more of her stuff finished.

[@ronglennproductions5416]

Great review. I’d also highly recommend Sugru. I have tons of DIY modifications and it’s not just hacks like me!-Walter Blanding has clay all over his sax.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Interesting, thanks!

[@tngolfer54]

Hey Jamie. Just found your video early this morning at the gym. When you hit on "the first joint of the finger" I realized that this was one of my great problems when playing the keys. I've been using the first two joints nearest the end of the fingers. Hence my problem ends up being I sound like I'm playing two notes for each note I push or release at times. Are there any exercises or practice tips you can recommend to get this process reversed when I'm playing. Greatly love your teaching method. It's so practical, revealing and to the point. Blessings!!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Hi, the best thing you can do is practice simple stuff like scales in front of a mirror and keep an eye on your fingers. Thanks for watching. 😉

[@tngolfer54]

@@GetYourSaxTogether thanks much!!!!

[@saxfish]

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

😂

[@vikkibrown188]

I would love to practice this but almost chopped the end of my finger off whilst cooking yesterday. The meal was worth it though. 😁

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Oof! 😵

[@andrewchowns3279]

Great video Jamie. Is there any advice you can give about using the bis key to play B flat - I have always played B flat using the side key and I can't get the hang of the bis key yet!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Switch to bis straight away and stay switched! You’re not a clarinetist - don’t finger the sax like one!! 😂

[@adammantheos1335]

I received my new sax. However, the ring strap on the Sax is not in the middle/center but sort of on the left side. So, I got difficulty to hold the sax in the middle in front. How to overcome this problem ? Any device (for example ring adjuster) to help ?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You might have to get the ring moved by a pro.

[@danandyvonneandreasen804]

My pinkie always tends to flare up off the keys, otherwise the rest of my fingers are in place. Any suggestions ?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Mine used to do that a well. I used to practice in front of a mirror and eventually I managed to stop doing it. Don’t know how.

[@Illuminati092]

Is there much difference in how you hold a straight soprano sax (besides it being more horizontal)? Personally I've found neck straps more of a hindrance than a help on soprano.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

It’s pretty much the same. Many people don’t like a strap on sop. I use one though.

[@V081WLBlue]

Cheers, loving your vids. Left thumb position? Do you just 'rock' the tip of your thumb on/off the octave key? Going from C or C# to high D etc? Also pinky movement from low Bb to B.

[@V081WLBlue]

Ah just seen on your free masterclass video about thumb position!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Cool!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeh just rock it. Pinky Low Bb to B - keep the tip of your pinky on the B key and tilt your whole wrist over to play the Bb.

[@V081WLBlue]

@@GetYourSaxTogether OH! interesting, must try it, never had a tune that needed it (only playing a few months) but for chromatic scales etc. I was sliding my wee finger across the keys and it is not a good result. So to play Bb do you press the B pinky key with tip of pinky and tilt wrist as above? Then tilt back to go to B? You should do a video all about how to play the 'pinky' notes and how to go between them! Also those side keys! Basically a video covering what all the 'funny' keys do lol. Cheers

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@V081WLBlue good idea for a video!

[@Robyn19fnq]

Sometimes trying to practise the sax makes me want a pint badly.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Always.

[@sfoster9179]

Oh yes, Sonny Stitt. I saw him live with Miles at the Astoria Finsbury Park in about 1960 but I am afraid he was too far away so I could not watch his fingures. RIP.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Nice story!

[@zacharypaquette5401]

I have a hard time not creating a bit of duck beak with the left hand when hitting that low Bb. I think some duck action is unavoidable when playing the sax.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

😂 maybe! 🦆

[@zacharypaquette5401]

I usually play tenor without trouble. I rest the bow against my body. When I play alto standing I get a pain mid-back. Not sure why...the higher center of gravity maybe?

[@zacharypaquette5401]

sometimes with baritone, I'm like "fu baritone --too heavy for my neck and back!!!!!"

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeh maybe. Make sure your body is upright and straight.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

For sure!

[@zacharypaquette5401]

@@GetYourSaxTogether I analyzed what was going on and I think I need more belly to bring the horn to a more vertical position-was leaning back to get the right angle for the MP. I don't push the horn out with my thumb. Most of my saxes have a thumb hook that feel just too low for me and holding the horn away from the body doesn't help so I rest the saxes on my belly (or leg in bari's case). I tried a large empty water bottle between the bottom of the horn and my belly but thatis no permanent solution! Someday I will create a strap that actually holds the instrument in the right position without pulling down on the neck. Thanks Jaime!!!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@zacharypaquette5401 interesting. Thanks for your comment.

[@ceznaa3228]

Every time i try to hold my saxophone, its rlly heavy and my right thumb gets killed lol how do i fix this?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Tighten up your neckstrap so the mouthpiece is at your lip level. That will take the weight off your thumb.

[@ceznaa3228]

@@GetYourSaxTogether thank you so much, it worked!

[@warpo007]

I thought this was going to be a sex-ed vid. But i misread the title.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Ok!