It's most likely your embouchure. It takes time to build up some stength. Try opening your throat on the low notes.

 

I am hoping this is simply due to me being a beginner,

how likely is it that this is due to a poorly set up/built sax, or poor mpc/reeds?

All of the above.

To answer your question you need somebody that is not a rank beginner
to play your sax in order to eliminate that as the problem.

It may be that the octave vent is a bit out of kilter and not quite closing.

There are two vents. One on the neck and one high up on the body
of the sax.

Press the octave key with and without a G fingering and you will see
the vents I am referring to, as the pads open and close.

Once you have identified these. check that they are both fully closed
when the octave key is not pressed.

 

Thanks for the quick replies!
As far as I can tell, the octave keys are fine - as are the other keys I am using.
I guess I'll have to get my teacher to check out the sax once I find one.

Meanwhile, would buying a decent mpc / reed combo be a good move to make things easier for myself?

 

Take the sax to a local music store, see if one of the people there play sax and ask if they'd play through yours real quick to see if they have any problems with it. That will solve that.

Once you get past that, I would get a yamaha 4c mouthpiece for now and some very soft reeds (1.5 strength) until your embouchure builds strength. But you're on the right path by knowing that you need a teacher. Find one asap.

 

I agree with above posts.

In addition, I want to suggest that in case you don't find a teacher immediately, you Can check following things.

On breath support (very important !!!) :
Read : http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-diaphragm.html
do : http://www.petethomas.co.uk/saxophone-breathing.html

For an embouchure :
- put on your reed and tighten the ligature
- place a thin piece of paper between the mouthpiece and the reed until it gets stuck.
- put your upper teeth on the top of the mouthpiece at about that point
- curl your underlip slightly over your teeth and close your mouth. DON'T bite !!!
- pull the corners of your mouth towards the middle, so your lips close around the mouthpiece completely.

!!!! This is not the only correct embouchure, there are more possibilities. In any case, you should get a teacher to make sure you do it the proper way. !!!

Try to form an embouchure with the mouthpiece alone (don't put it on your sax).Try to blow, while concentrating on the breath support. You should be able to produce a steady tone, a concert G (for tenor). When the tone is higher, you're biting too much. Watch yourself in the mirror while doing this.

Now go back to your sax, and start playing long tones. Focus on a good start and end. Focus again on breath support and a try to get a steady tone. Start with C, and work down (B, A, G, ...).

Last thing to do, is go down the scale slowly. Start on A, go to G, F, E, ... and keep each note two counts. Stop when you jump octave, and try to get that note right before you go on. Again, pay attention to your embouchure and your breath support.

And last but not least : don't overdo. As a beginner, your maximum practice time will be about 20 minutes a day. After that, your embouchure will be too tired and you'll start biting. It's better to do this every day for 20 minutes than force yourself once a week.

Good luck with it!

edit : a Yamaha 4C or a Selmer C* would be perfect mouthpieces to start. You can start on a #2 reed, although in the very beginning a #1.5 might be more comfortable.

 

Thanks for all the tips!
After reading those links, thinking about keeping my throat open and focusing on exactly what im doing as i play, ive managed to make some good improvements during my practice session today, and can hit the lower notes much easier! I've also ordered some 1.5 reeds and a 4C to make things a bit easier for myself.

 

Not much I can add. The above is all really great advise. Here's a really great instruction video that I found very useful.

 

Thank you for sharing this. I haven't enjoyed anything that much for a long time. It is wonderful advice. We all seem to have our own individual "duckies" that distract us from playing our best.

John

 

I can't believe this advice.

Take the Flying Goose reeds to the nearest campground and offer them up to the saxophone gods (start a fire). Buy some good reeds. Learn to break them in (use the search function in the Reeds forum). Start over.

Geez, that deal about jumping tones is pure reed. A beginner doesn't know when reeds are bad or are not broken in. You obviously don't have a teacher or experienced friend who plays, or they would have told you this. Get connected, now, with someone with experience.

 

I can't believe this advice.

Take the Flying Goose reeds to the nearest campground and offer them up to the saxophone gods (start a fire). Buy some good reeds. Learn to break them in (use the search function in the Reeds forum). Start over.

Forgot about the reed, indeed.

But when we talk about an absolute starter, the reed is doubtfully the only reason for the mentioned problem. No need to stamp down the efforts of others to provide a bit more guidance on what to do with those better reeds.

 

I'm also an absolute beginner in the search for a teacher right now, same issue. I had someone start me out with a couple of lessons and very good advice. I have a decent horn, mouthpiece and reeds, in my case I believe it to be a pure embouchure problem. Lessons to be recommenced in a couple more weeks, (if there are no more financial emergencies!!!)


thanks for the tips!