Why does my saxophone sound like a clarinet?

Of course this may be because the player is a doubler or simply because that's what he heard in his mind (and then in his ears). So, you may try changing mouthpiece, reed or even the horn but ultimately you have to try, consciously to produce a different sound.

Why does my saxophone sound different?

What's That Spitty Sound? Every saxophonist deals with the “spitty” sound. This sound comes from excessive moisture in the mouthpiece, and when it attaches itself to the inside of the mp or reed, it can be difficult to remove. It's a sound that you can hear, and your audience can hear as well.

Is a saxophone a clarinet?

The upper and lower joints of the clarinet are where all of the keys and tone holes are located, similar to the saxophone. The biggest difference is that the saxophone's body is all one piece, whereas the clarinet's body is split into two pieces. The bell on a clarinet is similar to the bell on a saxophone.

How do you get rid of airy sax noise?

Try placing your reed higher or lower on the mouthpiece, and see if that makes a difference. Also make sure that the sides of the reed are aligned with the sides of the flat section of the mouthpiece. Failing to do so will cause air to leak out of the mouthpiece.

Why is my saxophone sound raspy?

Well-Known Member. A sizzling sound represents water on the back of the reed. A raspy sound comes from too much reed (mouthpiece) inside the mouth.

Why does my saxophone sound breathy?

If the reed size is too big and the reed is too hard, it can make the sound appear to be “more air” and “less music”. Do you have some size 1.5 or maybe size 2 reeds ? Similar to 1 above, the mouthpiece itself can have the same effect. A large bore mouthpiece can also produce an airy or breathy sound.

What saxophone looks like a clarinet?

The soprano saxophone and the clarinet look similar at first glance, but they are completely different. First, the clarinet is cylindrical. It seems to swell slightly in the middle sometimes, but it is essentially a straight cylinder. The soprano saxophone, on the other hand, is a progressively widening cone.

Can saxophone players play clarinet?

A double is an additional instrument you might want to, or need to play. Standard doubles for a saxophonist might include flute, clarinet, piccolo, bass clarinet or any other instrument in the woodwind family. My first double was the clarinet. When I began high school I found many saxophone players playing clarinet.

Is saxophone easy if you play clarinet?

The clarinet is generally considered harder to learn than the saxophone due to trickier fingerings, more sensitive embouchure, and the need to cover holes vs pressing keys. Clarinet is more delicate and requires more control. Playing saxophone for jazz, however, involves more advanced techniques.

What is a saxophone lung?

Saxophone lung is a rare type of hypersensitivity pneumonia, in which patients develop allergic pulmonary disease when they're exposed to fungi that invade instruments — and are never removed. Basically, the musicians have allergic reactions to the mold that won't let up, Shams said.

How do you growl on a saxophone?

Put your saxophone in your mouth and form an embouchure as if you are about to play a note. Instead, just start blowing enough to get your tongue moving. Then, gradually increase your air until your reed engages and starts to vibrate. You'll have both the reed sound AND your tongue roll or flutter.

What is wrong with my saxophone?

Fortunately, problems with saxophones typically fall into one of the below categories: broken or missing neck cork, air leaks, stuck keys, and dents. Generally, these problems are easily addressed by a qualified repair technician.

Does a soprano saxophone sound like a clarinet?

The soprano saxophone is like this as well: closed at one end and open at the other end, and given the same length as the clarinet, we would expect it to be identical sounding. But that is not the case.

Is it hard to switch from saxophone to clarinet?

Same thing goes for the clarinet: you can switch between clarinet and any saxophone very effectively if you use proper embouchure, voicing, finger technique, etc. for each instrument. It isn't a zero-sum game where playing one instrument better makes another one worse.

Is the fingering for clarinet similar to saxophone?

As far as a clarinet with sax fingerings, well, for the most part clarinet fingerings are very similar to sax fingerings because they both are based on the Boehm system. However, unlike sax, the clarinet notes differ when you press the thumb key (called the register key on clarinet, whereas it is an octave key on sax).

Do you have to learn clarinet before saxophone?

It is a lot easier to add sax after you learn clarinet, but the initial learning curve is much faster on sax. If you are determined to play clarinet, start there. It will take you longer to reach a minimum level of competence, but sax will come quickly to a clarinet player. Don't learn both at the same time.

Is saxophone harder than clarinet?

Saxophone is simply an easier instrument than clarinet overall, and is more commonly used in rock music. It's the natural choice. That being said, oboists often find clarinet easier because the embouchure is a bit firmer, which they're used to.

What sax does Kenny G play?

Kenny G plays the Selmer Mark VI soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. He has created his own line of saxophones called "Kenny G Saxophones".

What is the hardest instrument to play?

The 7 hardest instruments to learn, play, and master

1. Oboe. Even if you don't think you know what an oboe sounds like, you've heard it more than you realize. ...
2. Violin. ...
3. French horn. ...
4. Piano. ...
5. Hammond organ. ...
6. Drums. ...
7. Accordion. ...
8. 3 reasons learning ukulele is hard (or easy) + FAQ.

Why am I squeaking on my saxophone?

The most common reasons for saxophone squeaking include, playing with too much tension in your mouth/embouchure, improper/high tongue position inside your mouth, a broken or unaligned reed, or saxophone disrepair.

How do you break in a saxophone reed?

We suggest that you break the reeds in by first soaking them for about 2-4 minutes in lukewarm to warm water, and making sure that the whole vamp, and not just the tip alone, gets wet (a reed that is too dry or only wet at the very tip might tend to squeak).

How do I make my saxophone sound smoother?

8 Things You Can Do Today to Instantly Pump Up Your Saxophone Sound

1. Overtones. ...
2. Practicing on the Mouthpiece Alone. ...
3. Roll the Lower Lip Out. ...
4. Practice Your Long Tones (duh!) ...
5. Play Using the 'EEE' Sound. ...
6. Avoid Tension While Breathing. ...
7. Practice Proper Articulation. ...
8. Forget About Finding Better Gear.

Why is my saxophone rattling?

If your rollers are loose, some oil can stop the noise. If any key rod or pivot screw is loose, it can cause a rattle (but you checked that). If the keys are worn or otherwise loose fitting (either side-to-side between posts or loose on the key rod / pivot screw), that can cause a rattle that's harder to find.

How do you tell if a saxophone is leaking?

Leaks. A leak happens when something on the saxophone such as pad closing is not an airtight seal. The symptoms are squeaking or notes not sounding properly and generally a feeling of resistance. A good indication of a leaking saxophone is when you suddenly find you can no longer play a low note pianissimo.