[pkirk222]

Hello everyone!

I'm a 7 year alto player in highschool, and my director is having me learn soprano sax for solos in Lincolnshire Posy. This is my third week working at it, and it's been awfully tough, as it seems the transition is for everyone, but I'm having a few issues that I haven't heard anyone talk about.

I'm having a lot of trouble on some of the low notes. low E, Eb, and D all don't really want to speak well. It feels like I really have build up a lot of pressure and force air through the instrument to make them play at all.

middle G is also extremely sharp, which I found quite odd!

The school is lending me a 1978 Yanagisawa soprano (not sure of the model), as well as an Otto Link Hard rubber 5* mouthpiece and what appears to be a stock ligature with that. I'm also playing on 3 1/2 Hemkes right now.
Obviously the set-up is very...odd...until I buy new equipment, but could that affect any of the issues I'm having?

I'm completely new to this world of things, just thought I'd check if the trouble is all me or if the horn isn't helping things much!

Thanks!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Obviously the set-up is very...odd...until I buy new equipment, but could that affect any of the issues I'm having?

Not all odd, though I would try softer reeds.

 

[yingski]

Don't think it has to do with your set-up. If i try to play and i have a cold or something which takes away from my fitness, the first thing that doesn't work are those lower D - F notes. It takes a certain combination of force (air support) and relaxation (jaw) to get them out so it's not strange that you might have a hard time.

 

[FredCDobbs]

Could be a leak at the upper end.

Also, because the embouchure on soprano is much firmer than on alto, especially at the middle and high end, as was suggested you might not be loosening your jaw enough on the low notes. Try relaxing a bit at the low end, and if that doesn't help, have the horn checked for leaks.

 

[pkirk222]

Thanks very much!, I did try loosening up on the bottom and that did help a lot. I suppose it was just a matter of learning!