Do I really have to to use a harness?

[HC]

I'm more comfortable using my padded neckstrap that I've used for my Alto Sax on the Bari than the body harness. Keep in mind I'm marching on it. Will I develop any long term problems later on if I don't use my harness?

[Hurling Frootmig]

A harness might be nice. If you feel comfortable marching without one then fine. When I was in school they didn't have a harness for the bari player and those guys survived.

[TWINE]

I'd recommend using the harness for marching band, only because I would think that evenly distributed weight on one's shoulders would be more comfortable than that weight solely on one's neck (I'm talking about for sustained periods of marching). Sure, it looks kind of geeky, but it's an easy trade for more comfort.

Another good option would be an 'across the shoulder' strap, like the Walt Johnson or a guitar strap.

[HC]

TWINE, my sax strap (don't know who made it) has really thick padding on it, and for some reason, it feels more comfortable than the body harness. The "across the shoulder" harness and stuff wouldn't work because they make you hold it straight like all other saxophones if I'm not mistaken. (no one was stupid enough to march on bari before I came along. :lol:

[captorquewrench]

wear whatever works for you. I used a heavy padded strap when I marched in HS. However, I am now a not-so-young adult and have MANY back, neck, and shoulder pains. I'm not saying it's all related to bari with no harness, since there are some other underlying health issues, but I am reasonably sure it would have been good preventative measure to have acquired a harness then and perhaps I wouldn't have some of the problems I do now had I tried something more supportive, like a harness.

The harness doesn't make you hold out front, the good ones will have swiveling hooks and allow some room for positioning the sax comfortably for you.

[vick]

You can make a shoulder strap out of a guitar strap and a hook and still be able to hold the horn in front of you for the most part. They can't really expect the bari to be perfectly vertical in front of you, and the strap will really help your stamina while not looking too dorky. It got me through highschool.

[HC]

Haven't actually starting "marching" with the bari yet, mostly just getting to know the music. When actually marching, is the bari suppose to be held straight in front like all other saxes when marching, or could it be held slanted on the side? (like bari people typically do sitting down)

[singlereed]

I use a nice wide leather yoke strap made by BG - this gives more freedom of movement than a harness. Still, if you are carrying it for a long time, I'd still recommend the harness and also try and make sure that you are standing/walking as straight as you can with mininum tension. I did a few rehearsals and concerts on bari a while back and got a very painful shoulder and neck. Only afterwards when I saw the photos did I realise what a twisted shape I (and all the section) had adopted! see this...

http://www.cmcband.co.uk/CMCB.RA%20Band.jpg

OK, we are sitting down rather than marching, but the same principle applies. Incidentally, if I play bari sitting down, I now use a stand.

[vick]

It can be held slanting to the side. I also recommend picking up a wrist brace for you right hand, as a lot of stress will be put on it marching and supporting the sax.

[SaxPlayer1004]

i played bari slanted to the side, but then again so did all of the other sax's in the band. i tried convincing everyone to keep it in front, and i could do it on the bari (played a neotech harness, and im a big guy, im 6' 2"+ so i had no problem with my legs hitting it while marching) but its much more confortable on the side. i concur with vick, that for anyone smaller than me, which is probably the majority of you bari players out there, or who have small/weak hands and wrists to use a brace and keep the horn on the side. remember, a thumb rest is designed to keep the sax in a position, not for support of the weight, thats what the sax is for. i have seen many sax players who dump their thumb rests all together if they dont use them.

[Morry]

When I marched with a bari for a year in HS (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth), I used the same padded strap that I used when marching alto. If I had known of a better, more comfortable alternative, I would have used it.

[Joe Jazz]

Eh Morry, you may want to mention that your bari was made of stone and therefore heavier than today's baritones...... :lol:

[singlereed]

I agree the instrument will probably be held slanted, but you want to avoid twisting the spine and shoulders and tilting your head, that's what I was getting at, really.

[HC]

My saxophone teacher literally swore, especially with my size (slightly talle than 6 foot), if I dnn't use a body harness, I will get mad back problems later in life. Helped me adjust my strap, and it is much more comfortable and easier to work with. I asked the band director (obviously since it is his band) and said I could go either way. I think I'm sticking with sideways because otherwise holding it upright puts too much strain on my right thumb.

[barisaxplayer]

man you go with what feels right. Marching I'd definitely use a harness( I do already ) but sitting I just use the back of the chair and a neck strap.

[SaxPlayer1004]

what happens when a band director throws u on those posture chairs and sitting back on the seat is either damn near impossible or wicked uncomfortable, or the band director refuses to let you back there with the tubists. atleast the tubas have the excuse of : the lead pipe is to tall and i need to rest it between my legs on the chair. we dont quite have that luxury except on alto without a strap. but oh well. all of us bari players have survived until now when all the comfy stuff is gettin invented and produced. just be glad ur not someone like gerry mulligan trying to play bari on an unpadded neckstrap. been there done that

[rebellion117]

I've been playing the bari since 7th grade (I'm a high school senior now) and have used a harnes only 2 or 3 times in my life. I've marched bari all four years, with the horn held vertical in front of me, the standard sax position in our band. I got a Neotech padded strap last year, and it's a really good strap.

I'd recommend getting the Neotech harness, though. It's really comfortable, or so I've heard, and it won't screw your neck up like it did mine. My neck is pushed forward from 4 years of the bari resting on my neck while marching.

[rebellion117]

And yeah, I've played on an upadded strap before, too. Not a comfortable experience.

[tapdancesavy]

If you look on earlier threads there was a big discussion about what kind of strap is best. I play with a harness because I play a lot and don't want to get neck arthritis. At first the harness bugged me but I got used to it. Experiment. Oh, and the new yoke neck straps that go on your shoulders are comfortable but also good for your back.

[dunderheed]

I recomend a harness any day if you intend to be able to play for a large part of your life. You've got to look after your body because it can really affect you later in life- i know a few physiotherapists who used to be musicians but can't do it anymore becuse of poor care of their bodies- Wagner Operas seems to really mess people up!!

What i've invested in recently is a playing stand for practicing and sitting down gigs- made by "Adams". It's great- very stable and secure and you don't have any of the weight of the sax on your body.

[Merlin]

I use a strap with my bari, but if I was going to march, (& it'll be a cold day in H-E-double hockey sticks before I do!) I'd use a harness.

[Razzy]

The bari player in my high school marching band was a girl of about 5'4 and a hundred pounds. She used a neotech neckstrap, and marched with that for three years. It can be done :) ...she had a HUGE sound, too.

[Brendan Muse]

No, you don't need to march with a strap. You also don't need to be able to hold your head straight up in twenty years.

This last year, my third marching bari, I used a harness for practices and had a padded strap for performances, but only because it wasn't until late October that I found a harness I could wear under my uniform. I also tried a sling, which worked out in a general sort of way, except for the fact that it kept sliding around.

I also played straight up and down, not slouched over and to the side like some pansy. :D

[Thomas Hay]

The bari player in my high school marching band was a girl of about 5'4 and a hundred pounds. She used a neotech neckstrap, and marched with that for three years. It can be done :) ...she had a HUGE sound, too.
Exactly. Neotech, Neotech, Neotech... Repeat that in your head a few times. I've used the same Neotech neckstrap for 3 years; I've used it for soprano, alto, and bari. I was drafted into playing bari one year in school band (since nobody else would, but that's beside the point), and I got by fine with my Neotech strap. It took me a few days to get used to the weight difference between alto and bari, but I didn't experience any kind of back or neck problems.

Like Razzy said, you don't need a harness - you just need a really comfortable neckstrap.

Neotech, Neotech, Neotech...

[kcp]

I use a different harness (BG & Oleg) for tenor and bari - I feel confortable playing either sax regardless of the harness but usually I prefer the Oleg harness for bari because I find it keeps the sax further away from the body which allows more freedom in movement than the BG harness does.

If you can, borrow some harness from either your school or local music store so you can try different harness/straps/shoulder-straps and see which you prefer.

[Brendan Muse]

No, not Neotech! They stretch and tear after a while. If you're going to make the mistake of using a neckstrap, at least use one that is a continuous band of material.

In other words, don't get one that looks like this:

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Get one that looks like this:

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