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22 Posts
First, I want to say how much I'm enjoying the new horn, and this forum. I've found lots of great information here in a really short time.
I just got a new Yamaha YTS-62 II. I'm having trouble with a few notes, and I'm not sure how to diagnose it. Middle D and up, until I hit the A above it, are really stuffy or dead sounding and seem to create too much resistance on the reed (if that makes sense). In other words, everything else below and above that range comes out nicely, with a richer, fuller sound. I know that middle D can sound dead on many horns, and I've experimented with opening the palm key to liven it up.
I'm using the 4C mouthpiece that came with the horn, which I understand to be a pretty standard size. I've tried Rico Royal 2.5, Vandoren 2, and La Voz Soft reeds, several of each. The results are very similar in each case. (I found the La Voz's were actually not any easier to play, and the Rico sound was much better. The Vandorens sound great, but may be a bit hard for my experience level. I've been favoring the Ricos.) I've been reading the forum here as well as the Teal book, trying my best to make sure my embouchure is good....right amount of mouthpiece in mouth, good steady airstream, sealing the reed with enough pressure from the corners of the mouth, without biting down on the bottom lip. Not sure that I'm doing all of this, but I am conscious of trying to. I've practiced the "a to octave key a" exercise and that's going pretty smoothly. There's a little hesitation, but the tone shifts cleanly back and forth.
Otherwise, I have a couple of other observations:
1- Octave key G is the single toughest note on the horn. I can play down or up to it, legato or tongued, and it will sound. But if I try to sound that note by itself, it will often result in a shrill, odd tone. The G below it is fine, actually a joy to play.
2- Low D up to the F# above it sound fine, but will occasionally want to waver and break up, more so when changing from one note to another within this range.
I am going to have lessons soon, but it may be a while before I can go. Even though the horn is new, I wouldn't mind having a tech or experienced player look it over. (If anyone knows a good instructor or tech in the Nashville area, I'd love to meet them.) I put cigarette papers under the pads and did a resistance test, which seemed to show no leaks. The octave pads are working fine, as best as I can tell, clearing the octave vents nicely when engaged, and staying put when at rest. I've looked the horn over, and everything seems to be working fine. Of course, at my level there are many things I could be missing.
Many thanks for reading, and thanks for the forum!
I just got a new Yamaha YTS-62 II. I'm having trouble with a few notes, and I'm not sure how to diagnose it. Middle D and up, until I hit the A above it, are really stuffy or dead sounding and seem to create too much resistance on the reed (if that makes sense). In other words, everything else below and above that range comes out nicely, with a richer, fuller sound. I know that middle D can sound dead on many horns, and I've experimented with opening the palm key to liven it up.
I'm using the 4C mouthpiece that came with the horn, which I understand to be a pretty standard size. I've tried Rico Royal 2.5, Vandoren 2, and La Voz Soft reeds, several of each. The results are very similar in each case. (I found the La Voz's were actually not any easier to play, and the Rico sound was much better. The Vandorens sound great, but may be a bit hard for my experience level. I've been favoring the Ricos.) I've been reading the forum here as well as the Teal book, trying my best to make sure my embouchure is good....right amount of mouthpiece in mouth, good steady airstream, sealing the reed with enough pressure from the corners of the mouth, without biting down on the bottom lip. Not sure that I'm doing all of this, but I am conscious of trying to. I've practiced the "a to octave key a" exercise and that's going pretty smoothly. There's a little hesitation, but the tone shifts cleanly back and forth.
Otherwise, I have a couple of other observations:
1- Octave key G is the single toughest note on the horn. I can play down or up to it, legato or tongued, and it will sound. But if I try to sound that note by itself, it will often result in a shrill, odd tone. The G below it is fine, actually a joy to play.
2- Low D up to the F# above it sound fine, but will occasionally want to waver and break up, more so when changing from one note to another within this range.
I am going to have lessons soon, but it may be a while before I can go. Even though the horn is new, I wouldn't mind having a tech or experienced player look it over. (If anyone knows a good instructor or tech in the Nashville area, I'd love to meet them.) I put cigarette papers under the pads and did a resistance test, which seemed to show no leaks. The octave pads are working fine, as best as I can tell, clearing the octave vents nicely when engaged, and staying put when at rest. I've looked the horn over, and everything seems to be working fine. Of course, at my level there are many things I could be missing.
Many thanks for reading, and thanks for the forum!
