Hook the strap under a bit looser snap tie and save yourself 20-25 cents.

But if you insist on the ring, spring another nickel for a brass one as a guard against electrolysis.

 

The big thumb pain reliever for me was switching away from a stretchy neckstrap. Once I didn't have to lift and stabilize the horn so much, my thumbs were barely doing any of the work and my hands could focus on operating the keys, which is pretty low strain.

I can definitely see how getting the horn to hang in a more natural position would help as well.

 

The big thumb pain reliever for me was switching away from a stretchy neckstrap. Once I didn't have to lift and stabilize the horn so much, my thumbs were barely doing any of the work and my hands could focus on operating the keys, which is pretty low strain.

I can definitely see how getting the horn to hang in a more natural position would help as well.

That's a super great suggestion. I've been using stretchy Neotech neck strap because I thought it be better on my neck, but I never imagined it might be also be contributing to thumb pain. Do you use a harness, or is there a brand of neck strap that you've found that you'd recommend? Thank you very much.

 

Excellent point. That would also save a person from getting poked by the screw point. Thanks.

 

the thumb should never hold the saxophone, only ever direct it away from the body, It is only a fulcrum, the lever is the strap

 

That's an important point that I wish I had known a few months ago. It wasn't a problem when I was was playing sporadically, but it's now shown up big time with my Martin. The way I was holding it might have been further compounded by it's about angle. Thanks.

 

Raise the horn on the strap so the mouthpiece enters your mouth without having to duck your head or lift the horn with your hands; then swivel the neck in the horn and the mouthpiece on the neck so you don't have to do anything with yoru two thumbs other than gently steering the mouthpiece to you.

Cost $0.00

 

Great advice. I've been guilty of both, but mainly lifting the horn (partly because my newly-retired neck strap would gradually allow the horn to slip). Yours is an easy fix, and in combination with a new neck ring, a new strap, and better posture, I think this will nail it. Thanks very much.

 

cheers, maybe also important to discover what happens when you don’t use the neck but the shoulders to support the weight , to that purpose I’d recommend the saxholder, it has changed my life, if you otherwise like the straps more, than I’d go for a Just Joe. I own both.

 

cheers, maybe also important to discover what happens when you don't use the neck but the shoulders to support the weight , to that purpose I'd recommend the saxholder, it has changed my life, if you otherwise like the straps more, than I'd go for a Just Joe. I own both.

Thanks so much for the ringing endorsements. After reading your post, I too bought both. I plan on using Saxholder for practicing at home, and JustJoes for playing out. Two thumbs up!

 

Unless you're playing a straight soprano, your thumbs should bear exactly NONE of the weight of the horn. Period.

Your right thumb gently pushes a bit on the hook to raise the horn to near vertical, and it works with your left thumb to steer the horn to your mouth. That's it. The strap does the rest.

 

Thanks for this great advice. I leaned to play on my own as a 30-year old adult, and I can see now that I picked up some bad habits. I'll focus more on (not) using the thumbs as you mentioned. You gave a great description how to make this work.

 

It might be worth trying the Jazzlab saxholder. For me, it feels like the sax is weightless and floating, freeing up tension in my hands and wrists, and making fingering faster.

 

That's a great suggestion. I just ordered one 3 minutes ago, and it should arrive in a week. That will be great if it miraculously makes my fingers faster, but I'm happy to settle for less thumb pain in the meantime. The fast fingers might take practice. Thanks so much.

 

What turf3 and Milandro described regarding holding the sax is spot on; the thumbs should be doing nothing more than keeping the instrument in the right position while your strap/ harness does the heavy lifting. I’ll add that the better your posture is, the better chance you’ll be successful in achieving this. Use a mirror or video yourself playing to visually observe your torso, neck, and head position and make corrections...you’d be amazed how big an instant difference straightening up, opening your chest, and picking up your head can make for your sound and decreasing fatigue.

 

What turf3 and Milandro described regarding holding the sax is spot on; the thumbs should be doing nothing more than keeping the instrument in the right position while your strap/ harness does the heavy lifting. I'll add that the better your posture is, the better chance you'll be successful in achieving this. Use a mirror or video yourself playing to visually observe your torso, neck, and head position and make corrections...you'd be amazed how big an instant difference straightening up, opening your chest, and picking up your head can make for your sound and decreasing fatigue.

That's great advice about aiming at better posture to begin with. It's easy to slouch when you're focusing. I love your "whole package" approach. I'm implementing it today! Thanks again.

 

I started having a similar problem a year or two ago with increased practice time. In addition to the pain I developed a lump on my knuckle. X-ray said it is a fluid sac which I sort of new because early on, sometimes I would squeeze it real hard and feel it squish. It grew and after a while I couldn’t fit my thumb in the thumb hole of my bowling ball.
After looking at things I figured out I was lifting up with my thumb and that probably wasn’t good. To stop I used the extreme solution of removing the thumb hook completely.
After 2 months there is still a small lump but I can bowl normal again. I was getting decent at the 2 finger technique though.

 

I started having a similar problem a year or two ago with increased practice time. In addition to the pain I developed a lump on my knuckle. X-ray said it is a fluid sac which I sort of new because early on, sometimes I would squeeze it real hard and feel it squish. It grew and after a while I couldn't fit my thumb in the thumb hole of my bowling ball.
After looking at things I figured out I was lifting up with my thumb and that probably wasn't good. To stop I used the extreme solution of removing the thumb hook completely.
After 2 months there is still a small lump but I can bowl normal again. I was getting decent at the 2 finger technique though.

That's good news that things are getting back to normal. Having no thumb hook is the a great way of reminding yourself not to use one. I also bought both of the straps mentioned in this string (Saxholder and Just Joe) and they both work well also.

 

I wear a thumb brace now. Tendinitis of the thumb is common in old (I guess I’m there) adults. Sax certainly added to the problem. I look like I’m a bowler instead of a sax player but no more thumb pain. I have one in each case as well as one in my practice and exercise area.

 

I used to wear a thumb brace but not any longer. Two things helped, one commonly recommended, and one most people on here avoid. One was getting a Jazzlab Saxholder. The other was adding a strap ring higher on my sax so the sax hangs more perpendicular. This makes it so less thumb pressure (almost none) is needed to push the sax into position. Yes, it's easier for the sax to attack my face, but being careful about that is second nature now.

 

I received my Tenor a couple of days ago, but due to osteoarthritis, it is absolute agony to have the pressure from the neck strap on my neck, and it quickly hurts my back, and makes my hands cramp due to trying to take the weight with my hands, in particular, my right thumb. I can't handle it for even five minutes, and no way can I relax into the lowest octave while in that much pain. My wife however, practiced for about an hour and a half with no problems, even though the sax is almost as big as her!
It sounds like you too are trying to take the weight with your thumbs, so I thought I'd ask here.
Have people tried both a harness/backpack style holder, and a Jazzlab Saxholder style holder, and be able to give a recommendation or review? My concern is that the Jazzlab style looks like it still might touch/poke vertebrae.
Sorry to hijack then thread, but I think it's relevant to the post and of use to the Discussion Starter.

 

Have people tried both a harness/backpack style holder...

Vandoren Saxophone Support System Harness, Saxophone Gift Guide: Pro Winds

The universal saxophone harness The Vandoren universal harness makes even heavy instruments feel weightless, giving you the freedom to shine. That's because, with help from musicians and physiotherapists, it was designed with key features that help you feel better and play better. Features...

www.prowinds.com

helps me out. I have back trouble, and I use it for all my horns.

 

I get thumb pain with my right thumb on my 10M. I feel I have to stretch too low for the thumb hook. I think it's not possible to move it without impinging on keys though.

 

The Deluxe WAW Modified Thumb Rest for Saxophone by pastorsax on Shapeways

Check out The Deluxe WAW Modified Thumb Rest for Saxophone by pastorsax on Shapeways and discover more 3D printed products in Music.

www.shapeways.com

This exists. I haven't used it and know nothing about it.

 

"
Vandoren Saxophone Support System Harness, Saxophone Gift Guide: Pro Winds
The universal saxophone harness The Vandoren universal harness makes even heavy instruments feel weightless, giving you the freedom to shine. That's because, with help from musicians and physiotherapists, it was designed with key features that help you feel better and play better. Features...
www.prowinds.com
helps me out. I have back trouble, and I use it for all my horns. "

Thanks! The featured one is well out of my price range, but I thought that might be the case, so it's the styles that I'm looking at, I need one asap, so it'll be a cheap version of the same thing initially. So disappointing to finally have a sax and not be able to play it. Today I'll try sitting, but I have my doubts, and doesn't help with learning correct posture.

Edit - I can't seem to insert a quote no matter which way I try. :/

 

We are all a bit different when it comes to posture, but all my problems actually disappeared when I stopped playing "cool" and just brought the sax at a higher position. Not like a Clarinet or even like some classical players, but definitely at the right position for me. Just like my picture now. I even do the same on soprano. The mouthpiece enters my mouth so the reed is placed related to my tongue position, the same way it does on tenor. I do use a neck strap , but I push it away from me. I don't lift it.

 

One quick fix for this (and to test whether neck strap positioning was the problem) was to use a heavy-duty zip tie to attach a ring screw...

thank you. That is a very good method of positioning a strap ring. We did something similar years ago with Velcro. but I like your method better.

 

Here's my cheap and not very wonderful solution for the uncomfortable thumb rest I have. It has no screw, so can't just be removed. Anyway, I have put a cushion you find in the packing from the top of a pack of CD-Roms around the sax hook. At least it provides a little variety and softness. Not ideal, however.

 

Great idea. Thanks for sending the pdf of the picture because it made it easier to imagine what you were referring to. I've made a jpg here of your original photo so it can be of use to others.

 

Some great ideas here. Here's a summary of some that I'm implemented.

[] Don't try lifting the saxophone, let the neck strap do the work
[] Move the neck hook so the sax hangs better (especially on old horns) or add an extra hook
[] Get a non-springy neck strap, like Saxholder or Just Joe
[] Use a spongy thumb cushion for the right-thumb hook
[] Remove the thumbhole to develop the habit of not relying on it

Thanks for the great insights. Here they are in action: Tossed the springy neckstrap, replaced it with a Saxholder and JustJoe neckstrap (JustJoe pictured here), bypassed the high neck strap ring by soldering a three-ring piece 19mm lower (the one in the photo is from SaxGourmet), and added a spongy thumb cushion.

Now if I could only sound better . . .

 

that cord can withstand several hundred KG and is not at all under stress even if you dropped violently your saxophone, you get a spare cord if you want to lengthen the cord or have second thought s after shortening it.

from the FAQ the braking load is 250Kg.

( Incidentally, most people trust straps which materials have never undergone such controls as the materials used by Jazz lab)

FAQs

"...How secure is the hook? The common available plastic hooks are assembled from multiple parts, this connection can solve or break. Most of the available cast metal hooks are inherently brittle and can break. Hooks made from bare metal have the disadvantage that they have a lot of friction in the attachment of the instrument, which wear out over the time. Hook from SAXHOLDER-PRO is made of stainless steel, with high performance plastic coating. This is the safest and most effective combination. The cord is made of highly durable, scrub resistant Dyneema cord, breaking load is 250 kg (!)..."

extremtextil

extremtextil

www.extremtextil.de

 

that is a feature to bring the sax at some distance from the body without any effort...

a bit like the houses in the NL have a hook outside on a bar to stay away from scraping the façade when pulling up large pieces of furniture

 

⬆⬆⬆ Not a bot but a real poster. He’s my friend and needs some help finding a solution. Talented well trained player too. Any suggestions are well welcomed.