[Johnvw]

Hi to All,
Soprano octave key in particular.
Is there a better position for your left thumb on the thumb rest. I position mine right in the middle of the rest but find that the octave key needs to be pressed lower than the thumb rest before the octave top hole will start to opened. I have 0.040 inch ( 1 mm ) clearance between the octave key and the ( ’thing’, musical technical term ) that it strikes. Is this clearance too great ?
I have started to ( try ) move between octaves and finding that there is more concentration on applying the octave key than following the notes.
Thank you I advance for your replies.
Regards
john

 

[1saxman]

This system should be set up for you by someone who knows what they are doing. The key touch can be raised and slanted(bent) and the contact point on the octave rocker can be adjusted (bent) - but you don't want 'zero' clearance there which would tend to not let the octave pad stay shut. Its the bending that is tricky - its easy to do it wrong and cause damage.

 

[Oric Muso]

You know there are two octave pads operated by the one key? The side key opens for most of the upper register and then the one on the top open from the A. So if you're pressing so hard the top octave opens before A, you're pressing so hard you're crushing the cork - or it may nee adjusting. It shouldn't be opening from D to G.
If the key is opening whenever you press the octave key, there's something wrong. It could be the key's bent or it could be cork thicknesses.

 

[datsaxman]

John, .040" clearance is fine.

Experiment with thumb position and you will arrive at a comfy position for you.
Meaning ergonomically sound for the motion required. It may require some adaptation.
And some time.

 

[blaine hoopes]

I'm an old guy with arthritis in my thumb joint and pressing the octave key hurts -- so I set mine up to require the minimum movement of my thumb to activate the octave. I glue on a little wedge of cork (I cut a cork from a wine bottle and use contact cement) so that when my thumb is on the thumb pad and relaxed, the cork is just brushing the tip of my thumb and the slightest pressure is enough to open the octave vent.

 

[sopsax]

Sugru is good -- a room-temperature moldable rubber that hardens in 24 - 48 hours. I have thumb-joint issues, compounded by my saxes' non-ergonomic key configurations. Sax techs have modded octave keytouches at my request, but I'll need to fine-tune the customization myself with Sugru, & so can you. Consider altering not only the shape but also the relative elevation of thumb rest & octave key.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

MkVI style 8ve keys as you'd find on the majority of modern saxes (hinged on the left and with the touchpiece on the right) SHOULD be set up with the touch ABOVE the level of the LH thumb button, then should sit LEVEL with it when it's pressed.

If the touch is level with the thumb button while at rest, then you're going to have to move your left hand inwards to operate it and push it below the level of the thumb button which isn't comfortable as you're resting your thumb on the edge of the button. That may be fine for older style 8ve keys that are hinged on the right where you'd rock your thumb up to them.

Most 8ve keys can be bent to put them in the correct position and the suitable thickness stopper can be used to set the travel and venting - on some the stopper is on the underside of the touchpiece itself in the form of a simple cork pad glued on or a metal stub with the silencing material glued to it. On others the stopper is on the forked end of the 8ve key and that allows more freedom to position the touchpiece without any change to the venting or action of the 8ve mechanism.

Here's a MkVI 8ve key touchpiece when its at rest and sitting above the thumb button which is the best way to set them up as that requires minimum movement of the left thumb to nudge it:

 

[sopsax]

For some folks, an up-&-over motion can cause pain to the thumb joint, & a downward-ish motion may be preferable.

 

[saxoclese]

I teach students that the LH thumb should use a "rocking motion" to activate the octave touch. I agree with Chris that it should be set a bit higher than the pad. Come to think of it, someone ought to invent a LH thumb pad that screws on and can be adjusted up or down to suit the player's hand position and technique.

 

[Johnvw]

Thank you to All,

Chris Peryagh, my Soprano Ammonnsax looks just like ypur photo ( is that octave key really called an 8ve key ?
It is just above the level of the thumb rest but requires, not modest but definite pressing to overcome the 0.040 inch clearance before the (top) octave key opens. I could have bent something as a lot of cork had to be removed to fit and tune the mouth piece.

Oric Muso, I did not realise there where two key opening when pressing the octave key. I found and thought I had a problem when the top octave pad did NOT open until after G.
I have not noticed the ‘side’ octave key, are you indicating that this key pad should be open from A low register all the way up to altissimo.

Thank you again for the replies even addressing these small concerns.
Regards
John

 

[datsaxman]

8ve is the same as octave if you speak the languages.

 

[lydian]

The 1mm gap is necessary and normal. You are overthinking it, as we say in English. You just need more practice.

 

[mbishop752]

I've always used a rolling motion but I've never played on a "modern" design.

I have a pretty good idea of where my thumb touches the key

 

[Oric Muso]

I have not noticed the 'side' octave key, are you indicating that this key pad should be open from A low register all the way up to altissimo.

No, the side key opens for the lower notes - from D up to G#. Then the mechanism automatically switched to the neck/ crook key for A and above.