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I needed to learn a tune that starts on low Bb, so I switched to a slightly softer reed.
Worked out really well.
Recently I got thinking about reed strength. On tenor, the 3 lowest notes have always been difficult for me. But I can cope. I can hold a soft Bb for a long time. (horn has no leaks)
The big difference for me with a slightly softer reed is not cramping up in the lowest register. I have the tendency to press harder on the keys when those low notes don’t pop out immediately. It’s compulsive, like pressing harder on your TV remote when the batteries are dead. You know pressing harder doesn’t help, but you do.
The harder I press, the less fluid my playing becomes.
Anyone else does this? Even after playing more than 20 years? It’s probably a bad habit that’s difficult to get rid of.
Worked out really well.
Recently I got thinking about reed strength. On tenor, the 3 lowest notes have always been difficult for me. But I can cope. I can hold a soft Bb for a long time. (horn has no leaks)
The big difference for me with a slightly softer reed is not cramping up in the lowest register. I have the tendency to press harder on the keys when those low notes don’t pop out immediately. It’s compulsive, like pressing harder on your TV remote when the batteries are dead. You know pressing harder doesn’t help, but you do.
The harder I press, the less fluid my playing becomes.
Anyone else does this? Even after playing more than 20 years? It’s probably a bad habit that’s difficult to get rid of.