[jthole]

Recently I switched from alto to bari. Yesterday I practiced together with my teacher on playing LOUD, and that was a bit frustrating experience ...

I use all the air that I have, but I don't seem to get more than mf or a small f out, definitely not a fff. I know that, coming from clarinet and alto sax, I need to adjust my breathing, but I am a bit stuck, even with the advice of my teacher. She basically told me that my airflow is too controlled, and that I hold my breath for a moment between breathing in and breathing out, losing the power that way.

I am happy with my sound (relatively speaking, of course, there is always a lot of room for improvement), but not with my volume. Does anyone here know some good breathing exercises for baritone sax? Most exercises talk about holding in your breath for a moment, but according to my teacher, that is exactly the habit I need to unlearn on the baritone.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ianhart]

Well, if you have never heard of the "Breathing Gym", I invite you to take a look at it. Kind of goofy, but it works wonders. Another thing to do is just keep at it, eventually you will get the noise.

Also, don't be afraid to let loose, blow that thing!

 

[sycc]

I have a tight baritone embouchure. I like the sound I get using hemke 4s. But I havre to breahe more. If I use 3 1/2s sound is slightly less full but my breathing is better. Moral of the story is yuo must push harder w/ harder reeds. PLus becuase of the size of the reed/mthpc I have found I can play harder reeds on baritone vs the rest of sax family.

 

[EZ]

Transpose up an octave.

 

[Jolle]

Volume on a bari is especiall about breath support from the diaphragm and open throat.

Make sure you fill your lungs from bottom to top. On bari, it's very extremely important to also use the lower part of your lungs.

 

[jthole]

Volume on a bari is especiall about breath support from the diaphragm and open throat.

Make sure you fill your lungs from bottom to top. On bari, it's very extremely important to also use the lower part of your lungs.

Yes, I realize that I need to open my throat much more on bari. This afternoon I practiced on loud long low notes only (my neighbours must hate me now :twisted: ), and really opening my throat already makes me much louder.

The "breathing in" part isn't really the problem; I can lift a heavy book from my stomach without any problems. I need to work on breathing out unrestricted, and with a large volume of air. A bari is really something different than a clarinet or an alto sax

 

[jthole]

Taking in more mouthpiece helped a lot ... it is just so much bigger than a clarinet or alto sax

 

[bLu3sU3d3]

Playing is goood because it trains yr breathing and strengthens yr embrochure. Trust me bro, once u get the hang of it go back try yr alto. You'll be surprised at yr tone. =)

Maybe you can try changing yr mouthpiece? Find a slight Then switch down to 3 1/2 it might help.

Im using hemke too. it rocks.