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kicks

3.4K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  JL  
#1 ·
Yeah I don't know how to spell it in english. if it's spelled like: kickses or sqecks os something. but u know the very sharp tones that comes sometimes when you blow to hard o something's wrong with our emb. those tones.

I get them alot when playing alto. and sometimes when playing tenor. the thing is they should be there at all. What is the major problem to it and how to make it go away. it's especially aroudn jumps from c to d. or any major jump wich leads you to many fiungers from very few fingers on the keys.

it would be great if someone could help me understand why these squecks, kicks or whatever there called, are there
 
#2 ·
No idea what the proper name for them is, but their annoying.

I find that they mostly occur because my throat and mouth shape are wrong for that octave and I'm getting overtones popping out. So if you're tightening slightly on the way up to C, it'll happen on the D as you transition.

There's also the case that doing a change like C down to G or F# down to D can get a little of the wrong note in if your coordination of fingers 1 and 3 is note precise enough. Here, there's a chance of sqeaking out an A or and E on the way to the right note.

An exercise I find helps me to check my embouchure and throat are not overcompensating and making one octave sound more than another is to finger a note like G and, while continuing to blow, press the octave key and then, after a few "beats", release the octave key. You should get a clean jump up and down the octave. I find the note doesn't drop as soon as the octave key is released, but should make a smooth transition very soon afterwards.

I hope some of this helps.
 
#5 ·
Common causes for more inexperienced players assuming the horn is adjusted properly are poor embouchure and clumsy fingers. When you go from an A to the D above you need to close the tone holes at the same time. If one finger hits wrong then you have problems.
 
#8 ·
These squeaks can occur for a number of reasons. Sometimes they can be reed related. You can know for sure by placing several reeds on a rotation. If you get the squeaks with consistency using a number of different reeds, then you've likely ruled reeds out as the cause.

Another big cause of these squeaks is jaw movement when articulating. If you bite when you tongue, you close the reed up often resulting in a chirp type squeak. The cure to this can be focused work on your embouchure, incorporating articulation with long-tone studies.

You may also wish to try several different mouthpieces and a slightly harder reed strength. Use a scientific approach, however, only changing one variable at a time.

One final reed related tip; be certain to wet the entire reed before placing it on the mouthpiece. One common mistake is to wet only the tip of the reed. By wetting the entire reed, you get a better seal against the mouthpiece.

Randy
www.randyhunterjazz.com
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