[sandster]

1. Gabriel"s Oboe. Got this idea after listening to Milandro's post. I took it down to Ab, 'cause my sound is pretty thin on the upper register. https://soundcloud.com/colin-spence-1%2Fsandster-soprano-0114-mp3 2. Noodlin'. https://soundcloud.com/colin-spence-1%2Fsandster-soprano-0115-mp3 Comments appreciated.

 

[milandro]

very nice playing, that should be said first and foremost.


I wouldn’t call it “ thin" but I would call it chisel-like playing , a defined trait sound, a sound with an edge.


Mind you this may be a characteristic of your playing, the “ Christmas song “ which starts straight away after the noodling is VERY nice, but I find the same edginess there too ( really beautiful rendition by the way) which is the mark of an modern and aggressive sound rather than a more old fashioned one.

If you seek a sound that I would call “ spread” ( although in the beginning I called “ hollow”, again not in a derogatory way, like Paul Desmond on alto) then I would try to visualize Dexter Gordon and add some subtones to your core sound.


In other words, your sound now is what I would call in terms of pencils a hard pencil with a good defined edge and a deep marking line, modern, but maybe you seek a more “ soft” pencil approach? One that gives a fuzzier edge and a thicker line, but less defined, in the middle?

I don’t think that it is a matter of mouthpiece, although a different reed may help, but it is more a matter of hearing it inside and make it yours if that’s what you want.

 

[1saxman]

Pretty good! Don't listen to anybody's advice on tone - you sound fine. Your sound is not 'offensive' in any way. What you need, however is CONTROL. This is achieved by training and strengthening the embouchure. The fastest way to do this this is by playing LONG TONES. As you get better with this your tone will mellow to some extent but now is not the time to be concerned about changing things.

 

[sandster]

Thanks, milandro. Interesting interpretation, the pencil comment, and understandable by me. Re. "The Christmas Song": a bonus for me! I didn't realize it was on the attachment. I did this about 2 years ago. My buddy, the piano player, entered the 'tracks'.
Thanks again for your ideas.

 

[sandster]

Thank you, 1saxman. I do understand your CONTROL comment. I heard this too when listening. I always begin a practice session with 10 minutes of long tones. Now, it's gonna be MORE LONG TONES. The control element is so obvious on the slow, beautiful tune, "Gabriel's Oboe".
Thanks!

 

[Grumps]

Pretty good! Don't listen to anybody's advice on tone - you sound fine.

Yeah man. Sounds like a soprano to me.

 

[saxoclese]

You may be interested in using this backing track I made using Finale. I also took the key down a step to C concert to avoid some of the intonation problems on soprano in the original key of D concert. That key seems to fit the soprano sax and keeps the feel of the original oboe recording. If you want one in Ab, that would be easy to do. I have also provided the soprano sax part in this key as well.

Gabriel's Oboe String Accompaniment In C

 

[lostcircuits]

You may be interested in using this backing track I made using Finale. I also took the key down a step to C concert to avoid some of the intonation problems on soprano in the original key of D concert. That key seems to fit the soprano sax and keeps the feel of the original oboe recording. If you want one in Ab, that would be easy to do. I have also provided the soprano sax part in this key as well.

Gabriel's Oboe String Accompaniment In C

That's very cool, thank you for sharing!

 

[lostcircuits]

1. Gabriel"s Oboe. Got this idea after listening to Milandro's post. I took it down to Ab, 'cause my sound is pretty thin on the upper register. https://soundcloud.com/colin-spence-1%2Fsandster-soprano-0114-mp3 2. Noodlin'. https://soundcloud.com/colin-spence-1%2Fsandster-soprano-0115-mp3 Comments appreciated.

Sounds good to me!

 

[sandster]

Yeah man. Sounds like a soprano to me.

Thanks, Grumps. Nevertheless, I put in 20 minutes of long tones before my usual exercise this AM and will continue this discipline, as I've listened to myself on other recordings and can hear the lack of control, especially on slow sections. My new qoal.

Thanks again!

 

[sandster]

You may be interested in using this backing track I made using Finale. I also took the key down a step to C concert to avoid some of the intonation problems on soprano in the original key of D concert. That key seems to fit the soprano sax and keeps the feel of the original oboe recording. If you want one in Ab, that would be easy to do. I have also provided the soprano sax part in this key as well.

Gabriel's Oboe String Accompaniment In C

Wow! More work for the night, (morning)! I look forward to making another recording of this beautiful tune, using your backing track.
Thank you muchly!

 

[milandro]

Don’t be hard on yourself, you are only adjusting to soprano. You are a very good player.

Since you are a very good player progressing to this new horn won’t be difficult.

May as well play ballads rather than blow long tones. Will get you there and you will have more fun.