[nicocarrre]

It is my first post here! I have a question. I am a beginner pretty much since i haven not been playing so long but please help me. I have a Yamaha 62 series that i have had for about a year and i play it with my Selmer C*. whenever i begin playing and even after playing i notice my horn is very flat especially C-sharp. I also dont understand to clearly the different types of holes and sizes of mouthpieces could someone also help me out their? -i would appreciate my help and hope to lean more from this website.

i also am looking into mouthpieces and need to know more....

 

[bandmommy]

C# is an ugly note in itself. As for being flat, have you tried pushing in your mouthpiece to bring the pitch up?

 

[nicocarrre]

Yes alllllllll the way in sometimes over the limit. Could it be the instrument?

 

[bandmommy]

Probably not the instrument. If you've been playing only a short time you have a lot to learn about tone production.
Are you using an electronic tuner?
What strength reed are you using?
What mouthpiece are hyou using right now?
Do you need to firm up your embouchure?
Are you using good breath support?
Do you have a teacher!?!?
If not, get one. They can do more for you in one lesson than we can in a week. It helps to be able to see and hear what's going on. Swapping mouthpieces isn't going to do anything for you until you have the basics down. Practice, practice, practice using your ear is the only way right now for you to bring that pitch up.

 

[nicocarrre]

Yes i am in my schools band. I have a director and i know how to set my embouchure pretty good. I use an electronic tuner. I also use a 3 reed(java). Lately after having some lessons by a professional*, after warming up for a significant amount of time it would become in tune. but barely. It just really takes time for it to become better. My tone production isnt one of my biggest concerns because it is improving. I also noticed trying to play loud is pretty hard. Its like my instrument is stopping me. Is it the mouthpiece, are different mouthpieces made for different uses?

-Sorry for the noobness but im only in 8th grade.

 

[Jonathan C.]

I assume you are playing classical music since you are in a school band.
I don't think it would be the mouthpeice. If however you are playing classical perhaps some of the problem could come from the reed you have chosen. A vandoren Java 3 is a Jazz reed, and playing on a "classical" mouthpiece could have some problems. My suggustion, is have you PT play your exact set up (use a different reed though). If he has problems with it, I would see what he suggest. If he doesn't then it could be the player.

I would have to disagree one of the most important things is tone. IF you sound bad it doesn't matter how good you play, but no one will want to lesson to you.

My .02
~Carbs

 

[nicocarrre]

Thanks for the help. I also play in my school jazz band and the county jazz band so i was recommended those reeds. Ill read on different reeds.

 

[Clarinetdude108]

my brother plays alto with a C* and the java 3.5 reeds and WOW is he loud, and with a good sound too.

 

[nicocarrre]

Pictures

I have another question. After using my mouthpiece i noticed the the cork looks weird. Does it look normal. My selmer mpc is harder to put on than the yamaha 4C and it compresses it.

 

[jthole]

I have another question. After using my mouthpiece i noticed the the cork looks weird. Does it look normal. My selmer mpc is harder to put on than the yamaha 4C and it compresses it.

You're not the first owner of that sax, I think? The picture suggests that the previous owner(s) had the mouthpiece in a "normal" position on the cork. I think it's another indication that the sax is not the source of your intonation problems.

Have the instrument checked out by an experienced player, and work on tone production and embouchure with a good teacher.

 

[zxcvbnm]

As for the mouthpiece, I personally don't like the C* and its weird square chamber for beginners. You might want to try the Vandoren AL3. Or, if you don't want to be mainstream, try the R. Caravans. These are REALLY great pieces, but they're nothing like what you play now.

 

[kavala]

I also noticed trying to play loud is pretty hard. Its like my instrument is stopping me. Is it the mouthpiece

It sounds to me like you may need a mouthpiece that is more open.

I get the impression here that the reed is closing up on the mouthpiece.

BTW, if you hit the 'enter key' in a few places when posting, you will avoid
the long lines that requires me, and probably others, to scroll across the
page in order to read the sentences.

 

[gary]

BTW, if you hit the 'enter key' in a few places when posting, you will avoid the long lines that requires me, and probably others, to scroll across the page in order to read the sentences.

I think it might be the photos that are doing it, kavala. Nico, please re-size your photos, and then we can probably read without having to scroll across. Thanks.

Regarding the "wierd, square chamber" on a S80 mouthpiece, what's so wierd about it? Selmer mouthpiece division is being run by a bunch of rummies who don't know what they're doing? Thousands, probably tens of thousands, of sax players have been playing Selmer S80 C* mouthpieces with good results.

Also, Caravan is a good mpc but you should know that the suggestion to get one does not apply to the big band playing; you'll get buried using that in big band.

You should be able to get a big sound on your C*. Continue to use the Java #3 reeds on it. A lot of what some people think is "loud" is actually "projection". As I mentioned in another thread, if you play with proper projection (talk to your teacher) you can sound "louder" than someone sitting next to you blowing their brains out but doing it wrong.

Your question about intonation - have you taken your horn to an instrument repair person and asked them to look into that? If not, do it.

 

[zxcvbnm]

Yeah, you should use the Javas for jazz, but get some vandoren blue box's for everything else.

 

[kavala]

I think it might be the photos that are doing it, kavala. Nico, please re-size your photos, and then we can probably read without having to scroll across. Thanks.

Yes, you are correct Gary. What else would I expect from you.

I checked out some other threads and the problem does not exist there.
I see the wide photos are indeed causing problem.

 

[gary]

I checked out some other threads and the problem does not exist there. I see the wide photos are indeed causing problem.

Nicco - this is what is called a "foot stomper". That means something to pay attention to. Please resize your photos! Thank you.