THE 5 MOST COMMON HAND POSITION MISTAKES ON TH SAX

[@davidcox8961]

Thanks to you Scott I found out how to get rid of the pain in my thumbs. I took your advice about using the tips of my fingers instead of the flat way. When I did the same with my thumbs I was no longer hyper extending the thumb joint. I did not realize that I was doing so. I have large hands. So the flat finger thing resulted. Also, my right thumb now goes on top of the thumb hook. Much better ergonomics now!!

[@gkpartington5634]

Excellent tutorial, Scott.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thank you!

[@XB29SP]

Good ideas for all players. Body English provides changes in not only tendons but also airflow. I used to raise my shoulders, then my teacher walked around behind me and pushed down on my shoulders telling me to relax. What a difference. Got to see Phil Woods live from about 10 feet away and could not believe his fingers never left the keys as his solos flew out to the audience. Keeping your horn pads seating well helps you not have to squeeze the keys to make the horn speak. Practice in front of a mirror and you will be surprised at how bad habits can creep into your playing, even if you've been at it a while. 👍🎷

[@ScottPaddock]

All very, very true! Practicing in front of a mirror is something I do on a regular basis, and have all of my students do as well. I'm planning to do my first KZbin Short - and this tip might be my first one!

[@geoffcsax]

Thanks for that Scott, I've noticed on my videos I'm a bit of a flapper, didn't realize it was a bad thing. Will keep an eye on it now.

[@ScottPaddock]

Some movement is ok, but you don't want to take off in flight 😂🤣 Think about relaxing your shoulders. That will definitely help

[@sandrojavierpaniagua7619]

Hola amigo que boquilla usas? Terrible sonido 👏👏👏

[@jobless2852]

I thought BSS made a youtube channel because of your logo LOL, great advice for beginners!!

[@ScottPaddock]

They are a little similar. I'm pretty sure that I had it first 😁

[@pavelpatsenkov]

Thanks Mr Paddock. I have one question about right hand...honestly about thumb of a right hand. I'm study on a tenor saxophone, and after few hours of playing i feel pain in thumb of a right hand. Maybe i do something wrong. In what place of my right thumb i need to put sax? Sorry for my bad English. Im stupid.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Pavel, if you look in the comments, a few other people have mentioned the same problem. You want to make sure that you are using your right thumb to just balance the sax so it doesn't move around. You don't want to push out with it or you will definitely have some hand pain.

[@pavelpatsenkov]

​@@ScottPaddock Thank you so mach, Mr Paddock. I understood, what i do wrong.

[@blacksax7035]

Hi pls how can I contact you

[@carolinethomas254]

Since playing through the COVID lockdowns I have been playing sitting down. Now when I stand up playing I get very breathless and I start to feel a bit faint. Do you know what I am doing wrong ? Is it anything to do with my positioning? My breathing is the same standing up and when I sit down and I am really comfortable then. Thank you.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hi Caroline, there shouldn't be much of a difference. I can't think of anything that would make a big difference in being out of breath. There are some different posture things that change. Sorry, I don't have any advice for you on that one.

[@spalding1968]

I have the exact same problem

[@hazzahazza8589]

I play with flat fingers but I don't have any trouble playing very fast and clean

[@ScottPaddock]

Try getting a little curve in them, it might speed you up even more.

[@abdelrahmanelgohary8461]

why am getting thumb pain in my right hand when I play for a long time like 1 or 2 hours? I don't know if it's normal due to these long periods of playing or am doing something wrong

[@PathodDayshade]

I'm a beginner and I also get thumb pain, but way less when I'm standing up and playing. I guess we push the sax too much, the thumb rest should be used for balance only

[@ScottPaddock]

#6 don't push the sax out with your right hand thumb. The neckstrap or harness should hold all of the weight. The thumb hook is just there for balance.

[@zerocool15677]

if you flex your hands really hard and make a C its hard to move your hands really fast me, a bassist/cellist who doubles on sax: .....wait....

[@ScottPaddock]

You cellist like to squeeze, right? 😂🤣 Not on the sax, nice and relaxed 🎷🤟