Tenor to alto...having trouble

[celes]

Hi everyone to give a little background information I'm originally an oboe player that decided to start playing sax so I got a tenor from my school and I've been playing it for about a year now. Thing is in our marching band we only play altos, so now I'm learning to play that, but I'm having an awful time. The horn works fine, but its really difficult for me to play. I don't have trouble like this on the tenor using Vandoren 3s on a C*, but its really causing trouble on the alto. Its just generally hard to play. I can get out all the notes except the low one are giving me the most problems. I'm using Vandoren 3s on this as well with a C* and its a YAS-23. Any advice?

[Sigmund451]

Are you sure the horn is fine? Leaks make low notes difficult. Alto requires a a stronger embrochure than tenor...maybe the reed could be softer...2.5?

[celes]

Yeah I'm sure the horn is fine, I had someone else play on it that knows what he's doing. I'll try a softer reed. It came with some 3 1/2s that were too hard so I tried 3s and they're a little better, but not much. Is there another brand of reed that is still good but inheirently softer maybe?

[Sigmund451]

If you want to stick with Vandoren Javas are softer on the tip. I play tenor not alto but I assume that Alexander Superials are generally the same design and they are quite soft tipped. Additionally they are cut back far in the vamp making low notes very responsive. I dont know if you can get those local or not, they are worth a try. Great reeds. There is no shame in going to a 2 if necessary.

[zootspiker]

I find that since I've been playing Alto more I have been playing the tenor a little sharp. I can bring it down by really softening up my lips but it feels out of control. (I've had the horns overhauled and set up so I'm sure it's me and not the horns. ) I pull the mouthpiece out as far as I can (on the tenors).

I'm playing long tones into the tuner.

MPC: Alto (YAS 875 & 1935 Conn) Barone hard rubber NY 5
Tenor (Series II Super 80 and 1959 MVI) Barone Hard rubber NY *7

Any thoughts or advice much appreciated (I'm testing against a Korg Chromatic Tuner)