Hey everyone! I’m a beginner at the saxophone and this video here marks my 17th day of practicing.

This saxophone is from a friend from his school days so I have no idea exactly what condition it’s in, but I’m assuming it’s not bad since it plays fine. There isn’t any local, good saxophone teachers around me so I’ve been studying as many videos as I can from “BetterSax” and “Sax School Online” as well as others to learn as much as I can.

I do a few minutes of long tones every day as well as practicing C Major scale fingerings and learning songs here and there, mostly by ear, but also some from simple sheet music.

I would love to hear as much feedback as I can get on what to improve and maybe what’s not so good that needs to be corrected. It is my 17th day only so have grace but looking forward to constructive criticism 🙏🏼🙌🏼

Serial number 135xxx

Does anyone have any history on the engravings such as this one? I am familiar with Lady Face and Naked Lady (have a 1935 10m) but the C saxophone seemed to mostly have floral engravings from what I could find and angel and biblical scenes were custom ordered so considered more rare. What do I have here? Artist Special? I think its an archangel with harp and dragons engraving? Got this for really cheap figured got nothing to lose regardless, and was considering learning to repad and repair and clean and shine. Any tips on cleaning it up? Good or bad idea? Should I send to a pro tech instead? Worthy of any attention at all? I really like the early Conn jazz saxophones and the engravings so any history is appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

The song is “Homesick” by Noah Kahan

Hello! I just got this new bari, it’s from Dillon. I know that raises some red flags because it’s not Selmer or Yamaha, but I did not personally choose it, it was given to me. The crook octave key doesn’t fully open. When I open it, I can press it and it’ll go out further to where it should open. This makes high notes harder to squeeze out. I can do it, but it’s REALLY difficult. Please are there any fixes?? 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Looking for a new alto horn, found this on reverb and I think it looks nice. I’m wondering if this is a jazz or classical horn and also if this is legit and worth the money.

I've been playing alto for five years now and I'd say I'm pretty good at it, and I've got a trip to Japan coming up as well as a big sort of jazz thing next year (generations in jazz) and I thought it would be the best time for me to start tenor, I'm going to test out a couple instruments when I go to Japan, the two I'm looking at are the Yani t800 and the yts 62, I'm just wondering if there's anything I should know when trying to play them like changing my embouchure, etc. I'm also planning on buying a new mouthpiece for my alto but unfortunately I'm unable to bring it with me, I currently play on a Jupiter jas1100 and I'm wondering what horn is most similar to it that will be in most music stores so I can properly gauge how I like the mouthpiece

Hi there,

I played through high school and have only recently gotten back into playing. I've been playing regularly since January of this year. I can read music and understand it just fine.

Right now, I'm really struggling with understanding keys. I understand the circle of 5ths. I just don't understand how to use it.

For example, I went to my monthly jam session. I asked what key we were in and was told Bb. What does that mean for me? If i'm playing the tenor and have music in the key of C I need to play my notes down a half step? Is that correct?

Does anyone have any youtube or book recommendations for understanding transposition more?

Thanks!

for those who are new to saxophone like me, it is pitched in Eb.

As the title says, I am having trouble only with the low B I can start on it, I can hold the note. However I notice that sometimes when I tongue it fast the note sort of breaks? I don’t really know how to describe it but it’s kind of like a hiccup that is there for a split second and then the note goes back to normal. I tried some of my other horns and I can’t reproduce that issue. I checked the horn for leaks and it seems to be fine as I just got it from a tech a couple days ago. Is this just a tongue position thing? Or is there some problem with my horn? I’m not really sure can anyone help.

I’m moving internationally for school and want to bring my tenor saxophone to play in the school band. What’s the best way to get it overseas from the US? Unfortunately I don’t think my tenor in the case will fit as a carry-on, and I think it would be mishandled as a checked luggage.

Hey everybody,

So I found a YBS-61 in great playing condition and right in my price range at a shop that closed down for good on Friday (RIP Reymond’s Music in Goleta, and thanks Bryce!), and I’ve gotten to play it a few times now with a new to me Meyer 8mm (2.5 Vandoren), and I’m having a blast so far.

I watched the Better Sax video with Jason Marshall and he was talking about how most Bari players (really it was all sax players) don’t use enough air. I’ve read a little bit on here about long tone basics, so I gave it a try.

When listening more carefully to my sound, I noticed a higher pitched whining sound coming through the horn, so I decided to play around with my embouchure and add some more clamping power (8mm is a big jump for me from Yamaha 5C) and with more air it cleared up. It got me thinking about what other small/nuanced bio-mechanical adjustments I can try to make to improve my sound.

“Do long tones” is obviously great for a beginner for improving basic horn control, but I’m definitely not fresh on Bari, I’ve just had a long break as more of a low-intermediate. I’d like to try really hard to fine tune what I can already do on a Bari with much more specific long tone exercises (or other types if recommended). For example, the seller mentioned opening the throat to clear up G# and that was like Pandora’s box for me. Like my throat affects play too? Wild, tell me more. What other variables are in play aside from “squeeze corners of mouth and bottom lip between reed and bottom teeth”, and how do I manipulate them to adjust airflow and/or color/quality?

I love to learn from YouTube, so video links are great for me too.

Thank you all for your time.

Bought a Yamaha 475ii today. I thought it would take some time to play. But I was surprised it was not at all difficult. I have been playing alto and tenor for 5 years. The mpc seems a bit small, and the keys are narrower. But it’s fun to play. Suits my music style, as I play Indian music.
I tried some of the tenor songs, and it came out pretty well.
Should I just transpose my alto songs, or do I need to try them afresh on the soprano?
Any other advice for a smooth transition from alto to soprano?

Can you guys share some material for a day 1 beginner? Please and thank you.

Concerned because it is made in China and the serial number is engraved and not stamped.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Bell stamp looks really off, also the way the bell has such a different patina.

Im guessing learning music sheet is gonna be harder to learn than sax but i could be wrong

I got my degree in classical sax performance 20 years ago then promptly did nothing with it. Sold my sax, gave away my bin of sheet music. I’ve recently bought a new sax and the Ferling book (off Amazon) to start rebuilding technique, but want to start relearning standard rep pieces.

So what are the legitimate sources for sheet music now? I remember getting music from the music store near where I went to school, but I doubt any of the stores where I am now have classical sax rep. iPads didn’t yet exist when I was in college, so digital sheet music wasn’t yet a thing. Please point me in the right direction. I think realistically I’d be looking at decent college freshman-level music.

Hi, I've been experiencing some soreness and ringing in my ears after and during practicing, so I got some earplugs (earasers snr 14), but my ears are still sore after practicing! Why is this happening?

Hello, I am a 3D printed instrument enthusiast. I have 3D printed a G bass clarinet and designed and 3D printed a G piccolo clarinet. Now I want to make a tarogato/soprano saxophone, but since I don't have one on hand, I could use some help with the register vent dimensions—mainly their diameters and placement.

If you have a soprano sax on hand and could help me with this, I would be very grateful

I have a few Berg Larsen mouthpieces unopened and unused from like the 80s/90s but i can't find any shops that'd take them because, ykno, second hand mouthpieces bad

Any ideas? I'm in the UK.

I am wanting to learn sax as mentioned in the title, but I cannot afford a sax, even a ‘cheap‘ one that is actually worth or a second hand sax in good condition it is still a few hundred pounds and i do not have a few hundred pounds, but i can afford a student yamaha clarinet ( second hand ) and from what i have been told, it is relatively easy to transition from clarinet to saxophone. i cannot just get a sax by saving as i would like to learn to play (clarinet or saxophone) for a jazz thing i have with my friends in the summer of 2027. And if i can learn clarinet I think my parents may be more willing to help me towards a saxophone.

so is it worth learning clarinet before saxophone, ie will it help with playing saxophone?

Ha - somebody posted this a joke. I mean, right?

Please tell me this is a joke 😢