How To Clean Your Sax

[@kurtbrouwer7981]

Getting my 1st ever saxophone tomorrow. Already loving your tutorials. Cannot wait to start

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You got this!

[@alanmorris75]

Hi Jamie, having recently discovered you I’m amazed at how much time you’re putting in to helping people - I hope it’s working for you as it’s certainly working for me - thank you Alan

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Hey Alan, welcome! It's been a great pivot in my business since gigs all stopped in lock down - certainly kept me out of trouble!

[@MsDenver2]

Hi I used to play alto sax on stage a lot using backing cds , then after years of playing I had a stroke. I tried to carry on but after moving my new neighbours didn’t like me disturbing them. So eventually I sold everything and went on to guitars , after a few years I now have a car so somewhere to practice and I’ve got a chance to join an orchestra for players going back to instrument or just want to try something different. I still won’t be able to play in my flat every day but at lest I now have options. I loved your playing your tenner sounds beautiful , I used to have a p-muriart 67 . For now I’ve just bought a cheap Armatis but would like a Trevor James alto signature xs . I’ve signed up to your channel so will learn a lot from you thanks 😊🎷

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Awesome. Good luck with it all. 👍🏻

[@vincewise855]

Really like your channel , being a complete beginner and with a play (sort of) in 14 days booklet , i chanced onto your channel , full of great stuff for an absolute beginner like me. The "how to assemble" guide was great , and loads of tips ie :- cleaning guide , out with the Basil Brush thingy! Managed to get through C major pentatonic , just but plagued with squeaks so your tips on that were very helpful.cheers!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Cool thanks. Good luck!

[@seraina115]

Hello, yesterday i got my new and very first saxophone! I am going great, i love it, but i dont have any cleaners or something inside the box for cleaning the sax. What can i do? Should i clean it every day after playing?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Congratulations 🎉 Yeh, you definitely need to clean it after every session like I say in the video.

[@johnauditt]

Hi Jamie - I like the tip for the Electrical contact cleaner for the pads - I bought some to remove chain lube off a motorbike tyre. Glad to find another use for it. I'll update my pull through cleaning swabs too after watching this.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Awesome. Glad to be of some assistance and thanks for watching! J :-)

[@giacomobosso7832]

I enjoyed it very much, its good to be back in school, Master. It takes time to be Fluent at something, the road is long but I intend to follow. you will see more of me or me of you, hahaha Thank you. you got a new follower!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks! 😃 Enjoy the road ... And. don't forget to opt-in for all the great content.

[@keithcampbell6806]

Good afternoon Jamie l love your videos . The fury thing is called a pad saver.When used correctly it is very good. You are supposed to insert into the main body after swabbing. This will absorb any residue it may still have after swabbing. It is supposed to function like an appendix. It is not a replacement for swabbing.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

That’s right, thanks. I think almost every sax tech and pro I’ve ever met would disagree with you though. The device harbours moisture inside the horn and also leaves residue of fibres.

[@keithcampbell6806]

Good afternoon Jamie l am also a repair tech.Let me repeat the pad saver is inserted AFTER SWABBING. Some players actually use it as a swab which is wrong . This is only supposed to be placed in the instrument after you have swabbed it properly. The correct way to swab both main body and neck is bigger to smaller or bell to neck receiver etc.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@keithcampbell6806 ok cool, but you’ve still said it’s supposed to absorb any moisture left after swabbing? That means that moisture is staying inside the ecosystem of the saxophone tube and stopping the tube just air dry as it should. I’m struggling to see the benefit here?

[@ROY-COLLEY]

Hi Jamie , One thing I would like to let you know about is this. I lived in the Philippines for a number of years. I kept my Horn on its stand in the bedroom. I went away for the weekend didn't take the horn with me and just left it on its stand. After 4 days away I come back and went to my bedroom and spotted something moving on the floor by my Horn. It was a line of little Ants. They were on my horn too. After brushing them off ,I inspected the horn and notice very small holes in the pads. Before we left I had been drinking a cold glass of Mountain Dew Soda. The sweetness must have got from my breath on to the pads. Yep them little Barstards had detected it and held a party on my horn and eaten their way into my pad. So good idea not to drink any sweet drinks before or while playing .

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Wow!

[@harunavictor9743]

Very rich content sir.Thanks .

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@Bigtbuilder]

Hi Jamie, as a really new player with no access to a physical teacher (COVID etc) I had a lot of issues with the inconsistency of cane reeds so I have switched to a Legere synthetic Reed which I really get on with. So, how should I clean and store a synthetic Reed? How do I clean the swabs, washing machine I guess? And how about using these new Key Leaves? TIA

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

I've actually only just bought a Legere tbh. I guess just wipe it off and store it like a normal reed. Washing machine is good for the swabs, yes, or maybe hand wash might be safer. Haven't used key leaves, everyone says they're great, but my own repair guy urged caution?

[@Bigtbuilder]

@@GetYourSaxTogether thanks for the rapid reply. I am liking the Legere signature #2 so much more than the Royal the Sax came with. My wife tells me it sounds quite mellow when I “get going” with a tune rather than when I am making noises like a strangled goose. I can’t tell yet as I am the wrong side of the horn. SMH. Only been doing this for a few weeks and find your teaching methods the easiest to follow so far. The Sax came with a fluffy synthetic rod that’s supposed to save the pads when left inside.

[@dcp8nts]

Is it wrong that I rinse my reed with cool water, then pat It dry, before putting in my reed case/ box? (I made my own little plastic box with a small sponge soaked with Listerine. I also don't leave the mp on the neck. Should the mp and neck stay together? I keep my sax on its stand. Thank you!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

There's no wrongs or rights, but strictly speaking it's better not to keep your MP on the neck as the neck cork doesn't get compressed, so you're doing the right thing there. Sounds like you've got a good routine there!

[@dcp8nts]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Thank you Jamie.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

DC Langer 😎

[@MaurenDelgado]

Hi, I love your channel. Can you tell me if I need to avoid any fast evaporating cleaning solvent? I can’t find the one you show on your video, but I am having problems with my G# key and want to buy something similar to yours. Thanks 🙏

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Some kind of fast evaporating electrical contact cleaner is probably your best bet. Also make sure you always clean your Sax after every session and consider buying some key leaves to prop open the G sharp key so that it doesn’t stick shut when you’re not using your sax.

[@racingsnake1801]

Pad savers Jamie, Pad savers! Looks like a brightly coloured Loo brush I use one all the time however I never leave one in the body , a couple of insertions, wipe dry then back in the body after a gig as I always forget the little black plug.as for mp & neck I always wash with warm water, made the mistake once of forgetting & hey presto ( throat infection) . Loving your Vid’s , where do you play? Do you gig much in or around London?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Racingsnake - ok, yeh, pad savers, thanks! Yeh I mainly gig around London I would say. Thanks for the comment. 👍🏻

[@alexmantua]

Hi Jamie, what about a Yamaha tenor, in the body is a pin sticking out, what makes it difficult to clean. What can ik do?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Try some different swabs. You should find one that doesn’t snag.

[@hansbrackhaus8017]

Old comment, but try putting the swab in with the logo (if it has one) facing up correctly. Many of these expanding swabs have a foam core, and then some 'fingers' that splay the swab apart. This means that you have two ways to meet the body pin. Either between one of those fingers, or with one of those fingers. If you hit it with a finger, you have a lot more foam material at that spot and it will very likely snag. But it seems that the logos aling with the inner fingers in a way, that if you pull the swab through with it facing the right way, then the inner body pin will almost always go between the fingers, reducing the snagtitude immensely.

[@davidkerr1507]

Hi Jamie. Do you have secial tips about cleaning a baritone? I just do the mouthpiece and neck and use a pad dryer on the closed pads at the top end but there's no way to get anything into the body of the instrument. It's not that I have had any particular problems and most of the moisture goes out the water key in the bend anyway but maybe there's something I am missing.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

You can swab out the whole thing if you tie two swabs together but it’s a bit of a mission!

[@suereid3799]

played my 1st time today 🙌🏾🙌🏾😃

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Awesome!

[@andregilbert7556]

Hi Jamie, quick question on cleaning your sax: do you leave the mouthpiece attached to the neck at the end of your practice? Won't this damage the cork? Thank you for all you do for us and I'm joining your Improv essentials group. Andre

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

At the end of every playing session disassemble and dry your saxophone. Don't store the mouthpiece on the neck.

[@DolphScreamingSax]

Hello Jamie, did you delete my comment about how you pull through the BG swab from the wrong end?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Dolph - no I don’t think so?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Dolph - pretty sure I didn’t delete your comment. I haven’t deleted any comments on any of my posts deliberately? Anyway, I’m guessing you’re talking about the body swab? I’ve seen some people pull it through from bell to neck, but the reason I do it from neck to bell is that most of the moisture is at the neck end and I want the freshest, driest part of the swab to catch that first. I also find it easier to get the weighted end out that way. Thanks for your comment. Sorry if it got deleted, it was a fault or accident! 😬

[@DolphScreamingSax]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Hello Jamie, don't worry about it. I thought I posted something showing that according to BG the swab is pulled through the neck from the other side ( www.bgfranckbichon.com/en/ecouvillon/823-bocal-bec-microfibre-a31.html ). I am sure that either a dodgy internet connection or Mr Alzheimer played a trick on me. Like you said, the most important thing is that the sax gets swabbed. Looking forward to your next videos :-)

[@dorklymorkly3290]

I'd swab the crook the other way around, that way you pull toward the mouth, where the gunk factor is the highest, and thus the path outside is shorter. Starting at the mouth end pulls the grime through the crook, and since the crook expands, then the grip of the cloth also diminishes. This is not REALLY a problem since well made swabs, like the ones you're using, have enough material to still wipe. But it STILL is also a factor to consider.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

👍

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Now you know how to clean your sax, check out the rest of my series for beginners here... kzbin.info/aero/PLBRGEAheQrplmpl10XO-k5co7HD1n-rkM

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

:-)

[@DanilAstafjev]

How often do I have to clean it? I have this 100 year old saxophone and perhaps there is ancient rat poop in there. Do I have to clean it after every practice or like once a week or something?

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

After every practice session Danil.

[@Randomlise]

How many keys on a saxophone

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Dunno. Google it?

[@1967stp]

I don't use them anymore, what you called a "body brush", you know the fluffy stick; well we used to call it a "shove it". Tomato, tom- aho. Either way, brilliant video!!!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

1967stp - yeh, never know what to call them. lol maybe a feather duster! Glad you’re enjoying the channel, thanks!

[@amygonzalez2086]

The fluffy things are called Pad Savers

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Pad wreckers more like! 😂

[@dennis524]

I've always been told to put the weight of the sax swab in the bell and pull it out from top of horn.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

yup. I think that's probably correct, but I always think it's better to have the driest part of the swab hit the wettest part first. That's just me I guess.

[@dennis524]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Thanks again, Jamie.

[@princealbertz]

I regret ordering a sax 🎷 sure it’s an instrument that makes great music but after that cleaning this wind instrument is a hassle

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Well, you get used to it and it literally takes less than a minute. Maybe you should take up piano or something instead? lol

[@seanwilken6979]

Swab from the large diameter to the small diameter

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeh, that’s what they say. Why?

[@hansbrackhaus8017]

@@GetYourSaxTogether The bell of the sax tends to only have condensation and saliva pooling up. Any old swab will mop that up just fine. The closer you get to the mouth, the closer you get to all the body products like tiny skin shavings, food particles, etc. These also tend to be sticky and will remain in the higher places of the tubing. This has two upsides. One upside is that the dirt is close to an exit, the top one, the other upside is that the tube gets tighter up top, allowing the swab to really 'bite' into the walls. In fact, this is also a downside in saxophones with an inner upper pipe (I don't know what it does exactly lol) that sometimes juts into the tubing quite a bit. A swab can catch on this, especially ones that expand, like the one you are (and I am) using. The risk of that goes down tremendously if you insert the swab with the print facing up the right way, you know, the logo with the lions. But yeah, the fact that the tube gets tight, and the cloth really bunches up, means that the swab will really wipe the grime away. One might even consider that the swab, getting wetted by the much cleaner 'bell liquid' helps take off any real grime up top. But I wonder if that actually is a factor. It might. What definetely is a factor though is that by going from wide to narrow, you pull the grime out toward the hole it enters in the first place, and you're not dragging it down the entire tubing.

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@hansbrackhaus8017 that is the first legit answer I’ve ever had to this question. Thank you! Finally! I think you’ve converted me. Downside? It’s much harder to feed the string from the bell side first. 😏

[@hansbrackhaus8017]

@@GetYourSaxTogether Haha, it is indeed a lot more tricky to get the string out the small end, I often have to rock the sax a bit until it finally decides to drop. That said, technically speaking, if you swab multiple times, you still end up , theoretically, perhapsely, spreading top grime through the body....(it does cling to the cloth after all) But I like to think that if some really nasty particulate were to enter the pipe, one would notice it, like...some food chunk that somehow didn't come loose during pre-sax mouth cleaning. Going the other way around, narrow to big, well you might end up putting that in a keyhole, or something. I think the more cleanly you are, the less any of this matters. I just think that it's (theoretically) more optimal to do it wide to narrow, bell first, out the top end.

[@suereid3799]

thanks Jamie😅

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

🙏

[@johnanderson5978]

Pad saver is what they call it

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Pad wrecker more like! 🤣

[@johnanderson5978]

@@GetYourSaxTogether facts lol haha

[@johnanderson5978]

@@GetYourSaxTogether do they have a body swab out there for soprano sax because I want to be able swab out my horn after I play it every single time but I haven't found one yet

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

@@johnanderson5978 you can use a clarinet one.

[@johnanderson5978]

@@GetYourSaxTogether ok thanks

[@estherbright6347]

I want to blow saxophone easily

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Don’t bite. Use lots of air.

[@VioletWilliams-iv8xr]

it didn't work😡

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

?

[@laurentiuserediuc2593]

Cgrande gg

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Every time you play!