[Neil Sharpe]

John Laughter's invaluable "Sound Effects for Saxophone" continue with his articles on "Subtone" and "Alternate Fingering".

"The term subtone refers to the technique of playing with soft tone on slow songs and is a technique used mainly in the lower register."

"Alternate fingering can be used to obtain a 'double tone' (trumpet like sound effect with the mute on and off the bell) effect that is popular in a lot of solos."

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Roll/RockSax22.html

John's earlier articles discussed "The Flutter Tongue" and "The Growl".
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Roll/FlutterTongue.html

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Roll/Growl.html

These articles are part of SOTW's "Blues, R&B, and Rock n' Roll Teaching Resource".
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Rock_n_Roll/

 

[John Laughter]

Thanks Neil. Hopefully it will be of some help. I also have a 13 page document that covers all of the effects with links to more web sites which offer some different and additional views of the techniques. I will be glad to email the document to anyone who wants more detail. [email protected]

 

[Bernards20040]

John.
I would love to get a copy of the document
you can e-mail me at
bernie at rdpumps dot com dot au

I have been enjoying your articles on R&R saxophone it makes such a nice change from all that jazz

 

[BigHunk]

John,,

I would like to have a copy as well,,,

Thanks,,

asmc_ringo at yahoo dot com

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

I've sticky-posted this so that all are made aware of this very helpful article.

 

[John Laughter]

Thanks Mike and sorry for the confusion. I should have given a better explanation.

The basic explanations of the effects now appear on SOTW. In addition to what appears on SOTW, I have added some links and other info which can be emailed. So, for those who want a more detailed document please send an email directly to me rather than posting a request because I do not normally visit this page every day. When you send an email simply request a copy of the "Sound Effects for Saxophone." Thanks again and sorry for the confusion.

 

[BigHunk]

Great article john,,,

Thanks alot...

 

[Yazzman]

Pete Thomas says use less mouthpiece for subtone, John Laughter says more mouthpiece. im confused?

 

[John Laughter]

Yazzman, sorry for the confusion. Whatever works best for your oral cavity size, teeth size, lip width, air pressure and m/p. So much depends on how we were taught and our individual styles of playing. There will usually be more than one approach to all effects just as there are many variations in embouchure formations for various styles of music.

Experiment and find what works best for you. In this case it may be a little more, or a little less m/p for your subtone.

Pete is a super player! If less works for him and many other players that is all that matters. It is the end result.

 

[Yazzman]

thanks for the clarification john. I'm gonna find what works best for me.