[sjakoscave]

Hello.
First of all ; I'm from Norway, so I'm not sure I know the correct English sax words, but I hope you'll still understand what I mean. Ok ; I've just startet to learn to play the sax on my own. Not exactly the easiest thing I've done in my life, hehe... :| I've picked out a couple of not too difficult songs that I thought I'd start with, but there's a small problem. A few times the melodies change very quickly. They switch from one note, up a halfnote & back again in a matter of half a second :shock: I guess I don't have to tell you that's completely impossible for my slow "rookie" fingers ? So I'm hoping there's a way I can cheat a little ? Is there a key/keys which raises and/or (hopefully both) lowers the tone you're playing "half a step" ? You know ; like the way a guitar player bends a string. If so ; where the heck are they ??? I would really appreciate a link to a web page with a picture or drwawing which shows where I can find it/them. I haven't found them on any of the charts I have, but I might've overlooked them, of course. So pleeeease ; is there someone here who can help me ? I'd really appreciate it
Thanks ; Elin

 

[Carl H.]

The sax, unfortunately, doesn't have a whammy bar for bending notes a 1/2 step or more, but there are a number of alternate fingerings available for many notes. Which notes in particular are you needing to access faster than your present technique allows?

(BTW double posting is frowned on around here - it splits up the information)

 

[freeflier]

Find a fingering chart that includes alternate fingerings, not just the standard ones. There are two ways to finger an F sharp, or a C, for example (and a lot of ways to finger a B flat). The reason for those additional fingerings (and extra keys) is to make the fast passages easier to play. Then practice chromatic runs.

 

[sjakoscave]

shoot... I was afraid you'd say that. Ok ; I guess I'll just have to learn it the "hard way", hehe

(Sorry about the double posting. I made some kind of mistake & I couldn't figure out a way to delete 1 of the posts)

 

[Jonathan C.]

I would suggest a Private lesson teacher as well as finding a fingering chart.