Sax on the Web Forum

charlton
User ID: 0526904 Nov 16th 4:11 PM
I seem to have problems slurring up to a mid register D (for example from c#). I often end up hitting a harmonic overtone of A. My sax (jk alto sx90r) has been checked several times and no one finds anything wrong with it. I don't have this problem when I play my yamaha yas62... but I also notice I have to use more air to play the jk. (this due to the bore size?) any suggestions?

Mitch A
User ID: 2226594 Nov 17th 9:59 AM
A is a natural harmonic of Mid D. If you are just a wee bit late dropping your G finger, A sounds. I had this problem for a while on my JK tenor and '48 Martin tenor. Never had it happen on my Martin alto or Y62 bari.... yet.

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Nov 17th 10:43 AM
It can happen on just about any horn, and as Mitch A said, it's a timing issue. It's analogous to driving a car with a clutch. No two, not even consecutive serial numbers off the assembly line, are exactly alike, and it takes a bit of practice to get used to a new one.

The more you practice the troublesome intervals, the more natural they will become--your brain will begin compensating and ordering minute adjustments to finger speed and embouchure--and the problem will gradually disappear.

The two (or now sometimes three) octave pips' timing as they switch with the G-key should be simlultaneous, but that isn't really possible. The tiny delay or overlap is a bit different on every sax. This of course applies to a number of other little things as well. The adjustments a player has to make become an even bigger issue going from alto to tenor or sop or vice versa.
If you have to make a quick switch during a gig, the first few seconds with the new horn are the most hazardous for exactly this reason.

The good news is that the longer one plays, the faster and more automatically the brain adjusts to a given horn and to the switches among different ones. At some point, the problem pretty much disappears, and shouldn't come back as long as you keep playing, switching, etc.

Subtone Sam
User ID: 1432154 Nov 17th 5:39 PM
MAG is right,with little practice this problem will go away.I had the same problem with bari for a while (new instrument for me) but happens very rarely anymore.

charlton
User ID: 0526904 Nov 18th 6:56 PM
thanks guys- I appreciate the explaination

charlton
User ID: 0526904 Nov 18th 6:57 PM
thanks guys- I appreciate the explaination

charlton User ID: 0526904	Nov 16th 4:11 PM I seem to have problems slurring up to a mid register D (for example from c#). I often end up hitting a harmonic overtone of A. My sax (jk alto sx90r) has been checked several times and no one finds anything wrong with it. I don't have this problem when I play my yamaha yas62... but I also notice I have to use more air to play the jk. (this due to the bore size?) any suggestions?
Mitch A User ID: 2226594	Nov 17th 9:59 AM A is a natural harmonic of Mid D. If you are just a wee bit late dropping your G finger, A sounds. I had this problem for a while on my JK tenor and '48 Martin tenor. Never had it happen on my Martin alto or Y62 bari.... yet.
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Nov 17th 10:43 AM It can happen on just about any horn, and as Mitch A said, it's a timing issue. It's analogous to driving a car with a clutch. No two, not even consecutive serial numbers off the assembly line, are exactly alike, and it takes a bit of practice to get used to a new one. The more you practice the troublesome intervals, the more natural they will become--your brain will begin compensating and ordering minute adjustments to finger speed and embouchure--and the problem will gradually disappear. The two (or now sometimes three) octave pips' timing as they switch with the G-key should be simlultaneous, but that isn't really possible. The tiny delay or overlap is a bit different on every sax. This of course applies to a number of other little things as well. The adjustments a player has to make become an even bigger issue going from alto to tenor or sop or vice versa. If you have to make a quick switch during a gig, the first few seconds with the new horn are the most hazardous for exactly this reason. The good news is that the longer one plays, the faster and more automatically the brain adjusts to a given horn and to the switches among different ones. At some point, the problem pretty much disappears, and shouldn't come back as long as you keep playing, switching, etc.
Subtone Sam User ID: 1432154	Nov 17th 5:39 PM MAG is right,with little practice this problem will go away.I had the same problem with bari for a while (new instrument for me) but happens very rarely anymore.
charlton User ID: 0526904	Nov 18th 6:56 PM thanks guys- I appreciate the explaination
charlton User ID: 0526904	Nov 18th 6:57 PM thanks guys- I appreciate the explaination