[JazzItUp]

Just got a soprano, and after 8 months of playing the alto, i realized it's nothing like a soprano! It's squeaky and weird!!!

why????????

 

[vito]

...it's nothing like a soprano!

I think you right.

 

[bobisk]

try mp exercise first using your sop mp.
goodluck

 

[bluesaxgirl]

It's squeaky and weird!!!

why????????

Because my good friend it's a soprano.

Just kidding, you have to play with a different embouchure. It might some getting used to.

 

[bruce bailey]

Don't tilt the mouthpiece down like a clarinet. It needs to exit at an angle like an alto.

 

[Tom Goodrick]

Your statement is ambiguous. Which is squeaky and weird - the alto? Most have assummed it is the sop that is squeaky and weird. In that case work on the alto for a few more years. Try the sop later. To play the sop, you must have already developed a good sense of intonation in band situations because your ear is a vital part of the instrument. You must have developed some sense of living with a reed and of using your mouth to produce a good tone. You can do all this on an alto. Stay with the alto.

 

[timobrien]

"A good carpenter knows that its not always his hammer that's at fault..."

;-))

 

[johnnysax]

Your statement is ambiguous. Which is squeaky and weird - the alto? Most have assummed it is the sop that is squeaky and weird. In that case work on the alto for a few more years. Try the sop later. To play the sop, you must have already developed a good sense of intonation in band situations because your ear is a vital part of the instrument. You must have developed some sense of living with a reed and of using your mouth to produce a good tone. You can do all this on an alto. Stay with the alto.

Actually it's not ambiguous. It says that the alto is squeaky and weird. However, nobody believes that's what he means.

 

[A Greene]

Yes, altos are squeaky and weird. that's why I play soprano.

Just Kidding - Soprano is demanding and may take many years to develop even after playing alto or tenor for years. It's important to listen to as many soprano players as possible and develop a tonal concept BEFORE you attempt to tackle the soprano. Good Luck

 

[JazzItUp]

Hey sorry guys, I should of been more clear on that statement. I was just too excited I wanted to test out my Soprano saxophone. What I meant was that I tried playing with the same emboucher I play on with the alto sax, but some notes came off squeaky. I want to know the correct way of playing it..

 

[Enviroguy]

Well....

The best way to play the soprano is too sit in front of a wicker basket with a snake inside.

With it assumed that there is a 99% chance that all the squeaking is just you, please tell us what kind of snake charmer (I mean soprano sax) and mouthpiece/reed setup you have.

From my personal experience, the best way to learn soprano is to start out with a simple mouthpiece and #2 reeds, just like you never played sax before. Then work out note production and intonation. Once you can play the whole range of the horn comfortably in tune, you will be ready to work on tone. And mouthpiece choice will make a huge difference in tone. But just like before, there will be a 99% chance that any problem with tone will just be you. And that problem takes a whole lot of practice and an extra set of lip muscles you don't know that you don't have yet.

Good luck. I really find the soprano a fun instrument to play. I hope you do too.

 

[JazzItUp]

Thanks enviroguy!

Haha that's pretty funny, I hate snakes! I'm not sure what soprano sax this is, but I have a metal mouthpiece and a rubber one for it. The rubber is basic. At this point, no sound is coming out of it as I blow! Now I am mad! This is hard!

 

[CountSpatula]

That narrowed it down so precisely I can't even believe it!!

 

[csax]

I know it's an alien concept to most of us (because, let's face it - we know everything...) but when starting a new instrument it's possibly a good idea to get some help. Need not be a formal teacher, maybe just someone who's a good player of that particular instrument and is prepared to impart some knowledge.

As a sax/clari player, I taught myself flute (or so I thought...) then had to go 'back to basics' and relearn about flute embouchure all over again. I think the same might have happened with soprano, had I not had years of clarinet experience - some of which was helpful, some definitely not !

So JazzItUp, if you can, seek out a wise man who plays soprano the way you'd like to play it...... It may save you hours/days/weeks of frustration. He/she (sorry, I should have said "wise person"..) will also be able to play your setup, and show you what it can potentially do - just in case you have an unsuitable combination.

 

[silvin]

Buy a Selmer S90-190 and Vandoren Classic Reeds 3.
Blow thinking of a wonderful sound and it shouldn't be that bad!

 

[Lorenzo Muan]

Let me chime in on this, but with a related question ;-)

I've been playing tenor for nearly 4 yrs and have recently purchased an entry-level rampone soprano.

My tone production is not bad both with an open (morgan vintage) and a closed (rampone) mouthpiece, but I seem to constantly fail hitting the right note when I shift from high back to low register.

I somehow seem to hover around the higher register, still. This is especially true with low G and F (much more so than with lower notes).

Is this likely to be me or may the sop need to be overhauled?

thanks, and I hope this isn't considered a thread hi-jacking!

Laurence

 

[sycc]

It will take trime to sound good on sop. It took me 2 months to sound good on my s-80 series 2 selmer sop. Once you master it, you will remember what you do w/ embouchure to sound good. I can leave my sop sit awhile but when I eventually play it again I automatically adjust to it!!!Selmer super session mthpcs are reputed to be great for sops.

 

[JazzItUp]

It will take trime to sound good on sop. It took me 2 months to sound good on my s-80 series 2 selmer sop. Once you master it, you will remember what you do w/ embouchure to sound good. I can leave my sop sit awhile but when I eventually play it again I automatically adjust to it!!!Selmer super session mthpcs are reputed to be great for sops.

thank you, that helped. I just need to know the correcet embucher now

 

[3 Olives]

Thanks enviroguy!

Haha that's pretty funny, I hate snakes! I'm not sure what soprano sax this is, but I have a metal mouthpiece and a rubber one for it. The rubber is basic. At this point, no sound is coming out of it as I blow! Now I am mad! This is hard!

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say the squeaking and other problems might be the mouthpiece. I just received my Belcrest soprano today from Bruce Bailey and he threw in some old reeds and substituted a Rousseau 4 for the stock mouthpiece.
Like you, my son, Max, has been playing Alto saxophone for less than a year. Max took the Belcrest out of the case and was playing it in minutes. He just played his 9th. song and he loves it! There wasn't one squeak and the horn sounds very good. I don't know your age, but kids tend to make what they have work for them.
Buy a good mouthpiece and your troubles may go away.

 

[father amos]

but when starting a new instrument it's possibly a good idea to get some help. Need not be a formal teacher, maybe just someone who's a good player of that particular instrument and is prepared to impart some knowledge.

...... It may save you hours/days/weeks of frustration. He/she (sorry, I should have said "wise person"..) will also be able to play your setup, and show you what it can potentially do - just in case you have an unsuitable combination.[/QUOTE]
This is so true. When I started soprano I thought i had a junky sax which could never be played until this homeless crack addled guy grabbed my sax and played ( I asked him to and requested )"My one and only love" with clarity and beauty. I went home envious but determined and i retripled my efforts and didn't stop till i conquered that horn! father amos