[dogster]

Ok I am a woodwind player , clarinet ,flute ,dig, recorders,etc Picked up sax two months ago and I am doing real well . Have good tone able to play all my songs . The disturbing part is when i play the alto sax my throat puffs out !! I am ready to give up the sax as I am freaked out . I do circular breathing but I have not had this issue with any of my other woodwinds.

Ty
Doug

 

[saxxsymbol]

It okay, watch David Sanborn and a host of other really good players. That is a sign you are opening the throat and voicing notes.

 

[daviderato]

I agree. Towards the latter part of my studies in college, the prof taught us the throat should be in a "stifled yawn." It was easiest to first feel on clarinet, but not difficult to do on sax. I've heard other college profs say the open throat is a bad thing, that it affects the tone negatively, so I guess there's 2 sides to the coin.

 

[Woosax]

There are a couple of other threads on this. Check out Ornette Coleman at about 0:30 in this video. Now THAT is some serious neck puff!

 

[tinpalaceroach]

puffing of the neck is eventually normal in various degrees but not discomfort.

 

[stormott77]

If you like your sound and your are not in discomfort I wouldn't worry about it. I know a lot of sax players that this happens to including me.