Hammertime said:
I have the same problem on my tenor (I'm using a guitar tuner at 440mhz, comes out the same) I can get a few notes in tune but the rest is also out. I've noticed that there are more ways of changing the pitch is that right? One is loosening your embouchure, so it drops. But how do I raise it? It's something with your diaphragm or throat, but I don't know how to adjust this. Can you guys explain this to me with something daily that involves the same action?
Just a couple of ideas (sorry I'm off to a rehearsal):
First of all, there's no such thing as 'perfect' intonation.
That being said, you want to establish a confidence interval (plus of minus a number of cents that you will define as being 'in tune'). As you practice intonation over the months, the goal is to shrink the confidence interval, until you are pretty much spot on in pitch.
I don't recommend trying to tune with your embouchure---you end up adjusting for each pitch, and accuracy becomes less.
The throat and airstream are the best way. Try this: play a b2, and start a bit flat. Without changing anything else, try bringing it up to pitch by increasing the speed of air from your diaphragm. Amazingly enough, with a bit of practice this way, the pitch will raise. When you get this stable, try D3. It will probably be sharp, but with the airstream you can make the pitch go down.
I'm sure others will have bits to add here. That's why I love this forum.