[Pasogent]

Is it jumping to a higher harmonic or is it wanting to play the lower octave g and sound like a motorboat?

It's just hard to start it off right and has a tendency to let out a shrill high pitched squak sound.

 

[Pasogent]

It’s one of the more difficult notes to voice correctly. But to rule out a mechanical problem, can you confirm that the neck octave key remains fully closed and the body octave key opens when you play G?

Personally, I call that note high G, not middle. The next higher G is altissimo.

I will have another look at the mechanical aspect of it. But i think it's just a hard note to voice. I can do middle F, middle E, middle D no problem. But when I have to jump from silence into a middle G like 30-40% of the time the note starts off wrong and it sounds like a dieing goose or something. A god awful sound.

 

[Pasogent]

What @buddy lee said. Also what @lydian said.

Yes it’s harder to voice. You need strong belly support, maybe take a bit more mouthpiece in your mouth. Try adjusting the shape of your mouth internally (aka tongue position). But rule out the mechanical issues first.

Also, look at the neck ovtave key, finger low G, push the octave key and see if the neck key jumps. This could indicate a sticky body octave key.

On tenor especially this is the most unstable note on the saxophone, except maybe for the altissimo G3.

When you say 'the most unstable note on the saxophone' are meaning it's one of the most difficult to voice?

 

[Pasogent]

I was playing some more last night and it just is a difficult note to voice. If my embouchure isn't a particular way and I don't use my stomach muscles to "jump" right into the note hard and fast it will easily let out a horrible shrill sounding pitch. I'm at work for the next couple of days but maybe I will post a video in this thread so you guys can hear what I am talking about.

 

[Pasogent]

Middle G (G2) is a easily squeaky note on tenor for newbie. Another squeaky note is Middle D (D2). Do you have a teacher or you are self-taught? Seems like you just bought your tenor, did you get it checked/tuned up by a tech? Like others said above, you will need to rule out the possibility that the horn has leaks.

I'm using a rented YTS 200ADII and have a teacher (weekly lessons) I've discussed it with my teacher and he says it's just a hard note for tenor beginners. I'm going to be renting a YTS-23 soon so it will be interesting if this difficulty I am having persists.

 

[Pasogent]

Viking war horn sound

Thats a really good way of describing it!

 

[Pasogent]

Did you have your teacher try playing that note on your horn? That might be helpful, one way or the other.

Good idea!

 

[Pasogent]

Here's a video describing what I've been getting from time to time. You can really hear it between 56 seconds and 1:15.

I had trouble recreating it this morning and thing maybe it's just my embouchure needing work.

 

[Pasogent]

I would check if your short tube C# is not leaking. This can be caused by the compression of the cork adjustment material on the C# bar (actuated be the B key and or the A key) or due to the post supporting the upper stack hinge rod near the A key needing some peening. The other potential issue is as many mentioned voicing. Your embouchure and larynx position has to aim for the fundamental of the note and not its upper partial/harmonics. A good practice trick here is to stick a pencil under your neck peephole key to keep it open while you use your throat/larynx to voice notes in the first octave of the horn. Once you learn how to voice the first octave, voicing the octave with or without using the octave key should come naturally. Hope this helps.

MG

Interesting about that pencil trick. Thanks!

 

[Pasogent]

I have to hear the note in my mind otherwise it will not speak properly.

Thank you for this!