Lower then Bb

[jjtbejazzin]

I have heard people play notes lower then low Bb on tenor. How and what are the fingerings for notes lower then low Bb on tenor sax?

[RS]

No fingerings below Bb. You can lip Bb down to A or lower or you can get a half-way decent A by covering part of the bell with your left leg. Don't try this after you've had a few.

[CountSpatula]

by covering part of the bell with your left leg.
That works...It would be funny to do that in a concert :)

[Martinman]

Are you sure it wasn't a bari?

[Martin Williams]

That works...It would be funny to do that in a concert :)

Im tellin ya, that'll get the chicks everytime if you strategically place one in your solo...;)

[Agent27]

I've read charts where I was supposed to do a "long fall" from a low C. I just go down to Bb then slowly bend it into my left knee. Eventually the entire section was doing it (except bari). Pretty funny to see in concert I guess.

[tbone]

A tenor player I worked with years ago use to sneak up behind the lead singer and use the "extreme upper part" of the back of her "leg" (you figure it out) to get notes below Bb! The first time he did it she smacked him right in the kisser but he did it again the very next night! :shock: 8-)

[Lorentz]

What? covered by left leg? Could you please describe it in detail? and can it be done on Alto?

[TravisB]

What? covered by left leg? Could you please describe it in detail? and can it be done on Alto?

You just kind of turn your body (and horn) down and to the left while slightly raising your left leg. Point the bell toward your elevated left thigh while fingering a low Bb. Distance from the leg will dictate the pitch. I get a lot of strange looks, especially from the rest of the band when I do this. It'd probably be alot easier to do with an alto.

Enjoy!!!

[Joey the Saint]

The Low A:

http://myspace-729.vo.llnwd.net/00267/92/73/267233729_l.jpg

Leather pants optional. :twisted:

[Dave dix]

Cant do that with my leather pants on!!! only with trousers or jeans
Dave

[Jolle]

Cant do that with my leather pants on!!! only with trousers or jeans
Dave
You mean that your leatherpants "shrinked" compared to a couple of years ago? :D

Somebody should point out to dave that there is a significant difference between a stretch and leather pants when aging ;)

[gary]

I saw Ron Jeremy play a low A once - and his feet never left the floor :yikes!:

[Off-kilter]

You should try going for that low ' A ' while wearing a kilt;) :shock: :twisted:

[jzer21]

This reminds me of when I was in wind ensemble in college and played the bari sax. We were playing a minimalist concerto with a marimba soloist. I can't remember the piece, but one of the movements was called Doppler Effect. Anyway, the idiot composer wrote in a low G. So, I pulled out my mouthpiece all the way and had the tenor next to me cover my bell. The only time it came out perfectly was during the performance. It was a thing of beauty.

[Dave dix]

In fact i have lost a few pounds but my leathers are tight fitting and you get hot during the set and the legs stick!!!. My last pair i split the croutch completely climbing on the pa cabs in France gigging with the late Screamin' Lord Sutch
Dave

[Radjammin]

I guess the posts match the question. silly.

If the music really calls for a low A just hold the bell against your left leg. All saxes can do it. Should lower the pitch by a half step.

Low A Bari's or Low A Alto's (Selmer MKVI) can even get a low Ab, who would have thunk it!