Can somebody help me!!!!!

[saxman7000]

Alright I have had this problem for awhile now. When I play I get this crackling noise. I have tried to suck up my spit and it works for a short amount of time and it doesnt even help with some of the notes I have played. I am also having a heck of a time trying to play low C and lower and then high D and above. Can somebody help me out here!

[BlueNote]

Try using a cleaning kit. :)

[Gandalfe]

Um... a few particulars would be nice. How long have you been playing? What sax are you playing; model, age, make, type? Did you recently change your mouthpiece or reed? How old is your reed? Have you ever changed it?

With a little more info, we might be able to help. Otherwise, you could ask your music teacher.

[saxman7000]

I have been playing for about 4-5 years now. The insturment in question is a Cannonball and I am not quite sure of its age but I think it might be about 5 years old. I usually switch out my reeds and I am using the mouthpiece that came with it but with a rovner ligature. I hope this can help you help me.

[Razzy]

Stock mouthpiece and rovner ligature are asking for trouble in terms of "crackling"(or spittiness as I like to call it). Get yourself a Selmer or Meyer hard rubber piece and a stock two-screw metal ligature and I'm pretty sure some of your problems will go away. If not, get the horn checked out for leaks or screwy pads.

[saxman7000]

Hey thanks for the information. Hey can you help with the high and low note problems. I am still having those problems.

[Gandalfe]

It's probably your mouthpiece but could also be pad leak problems. When is the last time you had your sax in for maintenance? These kind of problems, if left to fester, will certainly slow down your progress. Don't wait around to get them fixed.

[MS]

1) get your horn checked for leaks
2) Increase the amount and speed of air.
3) Check out Paul Coats articles on the main page Beginners Corner. Even if you're and experienced player, the mouthpiece alone exercise (A=880 for alto) will keep your embouchure with the proper grip and your air moving and the reed vibrating at max efficiency. I do five minutes of this exercise a day, then I do overtone exercise for ten to twenty minutes - then on to scales and other things. Good luck and have fun. :D

[MS]

One other thing, if y ou're going to stay with the stock mps that came with your horn, you may need to experiment with reed sizes and brands. YOu'll be able to find a couple varieties that work pretty well.

If you're adult sized (as opposed to a 6th grader) you might want to start in the size 3 to 2 1/2 range. Find a reed that allows you to be agressive with air - some blowing resistance - but not enough to casue you to bite on the reed to close it up before it will play.

The spit thing will go away if you are using enough air and air speed. It will turn into color if you're making enough core sound volume.

[saxman7000]

I really appreciate the help.

[dpwadw]

The Vandoren Optimum Lig greatly improves hard rubber mouthpieces. One binding screw like a rovner, but its all metal and does not give. Even includes plates that (really) change the tonal character.

Not cheap....40 bucks. But, it improved a hated mouthpiece so much that I actually use it in performances now :shock:, depending on the genre of course. I was ready to toss it out.