[evilfeline007]

Occasionally I get this kind of fog-horny type sound that sounds like a really bad vibrato...

What causes that?

I've tried to ask my teacher, he doesn't seem to understand what I'm talking about

 

[SaxPunter]

It's called the overtone series and it's quite useful. Lots of info on it here

 

[saxxsymbol]

Or if you have a fan on in the room it can cause that sound.

 

[evilfeline007]

I thought overtones were higher? The sound I get is usually lower than the note I'm trying to play...

I've actually had a lot of problems with subconsciously and accidentally changing the octave I'm playing without the octave key... I don't know how or why I do it (only been playing 4 weeks but been gone for 2 of those lol). I just notice that sometimes I 'forget' to use my octave key but I got the melody in my head and I just copy it anyways and sometimes it takes me a while to realise i've forgotten to use the octave key again.

Either way I'll look up overtones and see what I can find.

 

[tjaart]

Does this happen when you play low notes mostly, it could be a warble (or motor boating). There is a lot of info on SOTW about that e.g. http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showth...rgling-quot-lows-in-my-tenor&highlight=warble

 

[evilfeline007]

Thanks tjaart! I think that's exactly the sound... it sounds like a boat motor sort of lol... and yes it happens a lot more in the lower range (especially coming from a much higher note to a lower note) but occasionally it'll happen above middle c and it's a wretched noise... now at least i know what it's called lol

 

[Starsax A2]

I have that problem a lot on the low end of my tenor. It is definitely me, not the horn. When I think about opening my throat and putting more air into the horn, it doesn't happen.

Edit: More info-I had this same problem when I first acquired my curved soprano. It would warble some on low D, and a lot on low C. I had the mouthpiece pushed very far on the neck to get the pitch correct according to my tuner. After reading Paul Coats article on soprano intonation here on SOTW, I eventually had the mouthpiece further out after getting used to the horn through practicing. I'm playing in tune, and the warble on the low end stopped.

Try moving your mouthpiece back and forth on the cork to see if there is a spot which reduces the warble while still being reasonably in tune. Then give some good air support on the notes which warble, and try different tensions on your reed. With practice, that warble will go away.

 

[Kritavi]

Drop a cork or end plug into the bell and see if it goes away.

 

[bandmommy]

Now that you know what 'it' is, you can tell your teacher and they can give you a few more tips on how to fix it.

 

[Starsax A2]

See above

 

[evilfeline007]

thanks guys!