How do I improve my sax sound? Use this weird tip.

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
  • If it's good enough for Sonny Rollins then it's good enough for me.
    Gear (but does it really matter?):
    Reeds - amzn.to/2byJByQ
    Ligature - amzn.to/2b1uYll
    Mouthpiece - bit.ly/2acqB6Z
    Saxophone - Selmer Mark VI SN: 111XXX - bit.ly/29W1Srz
    EWI - amzn.to/2b1EKXj
    Midi Controller - amzn.to/2bdjNtd
    Hair (the most important gear of all): Bb Texture by Bumble and Bumble - amzn.to/2byJROm
    To book Skype lessons, please email me at JeffSchneiderMusic@gmail.com.
    Instagram: @JeffSchneiderMusic
    Snapchat/Facebook/Twiiter: @JSchneidsMusic
    www.JeffSchneiderMusic.com

Komentáře • 300

  • @benedictnothing
    @benedictnothing Před 8 lety +513

    Nice! I'll try this when it's not 3 o'clock in the morning.

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety +23

      +Benedict Nothing haha for real!

    • @Oz521
      @Oz521 Před 5 lety +2

      I swear it's 3:37am where I live and I've never been so shook. Hope your Sax playing has gotten better as I've just started. Lol

    • @windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823
      @windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Před 5 lety +1

      I'm a drummer. We dgaf, lol
      jk

    • @coolboyclick7486
      @coolboyclick7486 Před 5 lety +1

      It’s so ironic I’m watching this video at 3:48 am lol 🙏🏿😂😂😂

    • @TheMasterpieceArtist
      @TheMasterpieceArtist Před 4 lety +1

      @@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 dude how the fuck does anyone practice drums and saxophones that shit is way too loud to play for a long a time. when i started playing guitar i couldnt even play acoustic so i had to buy an electric

  • @christopherpreciado7578
    @christopherpreciado7578 Před 8 lety +546

    "Mine has happy faces on it. It's not necessary. But, it never hurts."

  • @user-ty8me4hm1w
    @user-ty8me4hm1w Před 8 lety +787

    Music teachers hate him! Find out how to improve your sound with this one simple trick!

  • @davidolahmusic
    @davidolahmusic Před 8 lety +112

    You really changed my saxophone life with this exercise :)
    First i started to practise it with the pen - kind of rumbling your system, ha? O:) :D But later I started to use the octave key. I saw this exercise on youtube sometime ago but there was not that pencil. They just said to play the lower octave note with the octave key pressed so I wanted to play it but I just can not. So therefore I am so thankful to you of that pencil trick.
    It is really psychological and muscle memory thing - when we hold the octave key we are prehearing that high note so it is hard to play it without the octave key at first time.
    This is so benefical for embouchure, breathing and overall sound. I just love it the most. I think this and mouthpiece buzzying are the best sound exercises for saxophone. These two things really open the sound so well. I can not stresse enough how you helped me with it and how great it is.
    I also recommend to pracitse it daily for 5 minutes and you will hear a huge sound progress :)

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety +11

      Thanks for your comment, David. I'm so glad to hear this exercise was helpful to you! Best of luck with your music!

    • @Jorvaskrr
      @Jorvaskrr Před 6 lety +6

      I think this exercise really helps you find the answer to how much mouthpiece you should take in.After doing this for about a week,I had to push my mouthpiece in more because I was too flat.Now,there's only about 5-10% visible of the cork on the neck.I feel like it gave me a big sound and helped me control everything a little bit better.

  • @BryanAsael
    @BryanAsael Před 7 lety +266

    name one of your videos "How to improve your sax life"

  • @marselmusic
    @marselmusic Před 6 lety +49

    _"If you feel you are going to pass out, then_ *s i t d o w n*_"_

  • @andrejbingas9103
    @andrejbingas9103 Před 4 lety +26

    I recommend holding the octave key as well, because when you get to lower tones different hole opens for the 2nd octave after G and it is harder to get the lower tone with octave key than with just a pencil. Awesome tip anyways in 2019 still works :D.

  • @SamChaneyProductions
    @SamChaneyProductions Před 6 lety +15

    This is so cool, I've practiced getting high notes with the octave key closed but never getting low notes with it open, seems like it will greatly improve my breath support and tone!

  • @EliasB528
    @EliasB528 Před 5 lety +16

    This trick works. I can hear it actively changing my sound when I practice.
    If you want to try this trick in expert mode, try doing a 3rds or 4ths scale pattern with the pencil.

  • @justinward3687
    @justinward3687 Před 9 lety +14

    Thanks Jeff, that's a practical, useful and simply understood tip that really helps. Well done.

  • @cerimccoy
    @cerimccoy Před 6 lety +3

    An oldie but a Goldie!

  • @Waldvogel45
    @Waldvogel45 Před 7 lety +42

    I haven't tried it ..but could you say what this does for the sound , i.e it opens the player's resonant cavity , or it reduces pressure on the reed , or allows more reed to vibrate , frees up the sub tones etc etc. I've been a would- be saxophonist for 5 decades and thanks to guys like you it's beginning to make sense. That's makes me a "late life crisis" fan of yours.

    • @hansbrackhaus8017
      @hansbrackhaus8017 Před rokem +5

      It's for Throat/Larynx voicing training.
      The low notes and the high notes are the hardest on the sax, mostly because of the throat, which cannot be easily moved 'consciously' so many teachers don't even want you thinking about your throat, but your tongue instead, but the throat is the first step in the sound making process on the sax.
      This exercise 'forces' you to work as hard as possible to get those low notes, it's probably the hardest exercise you can do for low tones, especially if you also keep the octave key pushed down.
      If you do that, then it will be unlikely that you reliably go down past G.
      But that's not the point anyway, the point is to play the saxophone normally, without such 'challenge modes', and even if you cannot go past some note on this exercise, it's usually still enough to hit the low notes normally after doing this exercise regularily.

  • @HenrySaxVeras
    @HenrySaxVeras Před 8 lety +10

    This exercise is helping me day by day thanks a lot

  • @JeffSchneiderMusic
    @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 10 lety +52

    Abnel, it's a real exercise. According to Ralph Lalama, Sonny Rollins did indeed practice this.

    • @serseriherif9530
      @serseriherif9530 Před 6 lety +1

      Jeff Schneider i've been practising this for a couple of months (i've gotten down to the low d!) and I'm getting increasingly cleaner notes with the pencil and afterwards all of the practised notes are super easy to play + sound fantastic. This excercice has been a game changer for me so thanks alot :)

    • @FriaGram
      @FriaGram Před 6 lety

      Interesting, is this more effective than practicing overtones?

    • @ianthebubbian6182
      @ianthebubbian6182 Před 6 lety

      Thought you said "Ralph the Llama"

    • @marselmusic
      @marselmusic Před 6 lety

      Lol 😂😆👍🏾👍🏽👍🏾👍🏽👍🏾

  • @StreangestdreaM
    @StreangestdreaM Před 8 lety +5

    You have a great sense of humor and your videos are amazingly simple and useful. Thanks a lot!!!

  • @robertdevries1049
    @robertdevries1049 Před 8 lety +4

    This technique helps a lot when my tone gets too closed. Can't believe I didn't hear about this method earlier...thx

  • @onesyphorus
    @onesyphorus Před 7 měsíci

    i remember watching this video when i was 13 and just starting, and it still cracks me up - it helped me so much haha

  • @alexej737
    @alexej737 Před 9 lety +3

    Thank you Jeff. Amazing !!!! It changed my sound at the first time. One step above ! Keep posting. Clear and understandable, even for frenchmen

  • @madyak
    @madyak Před 6 lety +1

    Spectacular exercise! It made a significant change in my beginnings of playing. Big thanks! I would recommend it to my mother if she would play sax.

  • @jlstudios7385
    @jlstudios7385 Před 4 lety +3

    At first glance I thought he was Brendon Urie also this video took my tone from suck to actually half decent so the improvement is massive

  • @benjijosh2018
    @benjijosh2018 Před rokem

    Thank you sir for this, tried it yesterday and the effect is showing already 🙏🙏.. came back here to thank you 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙏

  • @gabrielnekrutman7680
    @gabrielnekrutman7680 Před 10 lety +1

    Great tip. Yeah my teacher Jeff Lange was gonna get me to get lessons from Ralph because he plays with both Lalama's, Dave and Ralph. But since I'm going to college now, I'll have to wait to take lessons from the great Llama!

  • @annabelle6964
    @annabelle6964 Před 8 lety +2

    This tip works, and on top of that you're hilarious. 😂👏🏼

  • @anikaribanani
    @anikaribanani Před 9 lety +73

    ...Then sit down..

  • @sam3730
    @sam3730 Před 8 lety +1

    Thanks so much! Notice the difference already

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety

      +Samuel Rechner So happy to hear that, Samuel. Thanks for watching!

  • @WillHsuMusic
    @WillHsuMusic Před 5 lety +6

    Interesting. I’ll try this out! I’m trying to develop sax skills but primarily am a contrabass flutist so hopefully that’s developed enough lung capacity to not pass out! 😂

  • @jayq196
    @jayq196 Před 9 lety +13

    holy crap it worked so fast i sound great

  • @Kaoov
    @Kaoov Před 5 lety

    dude, that actually works! thanks!

  • @zubeirshaikhsaxophoneplaye3383

    Vary helpful.... And fantastic exercise...... Thanks sir

  • @joeldowell5059
    @joeldowell5059 Před 8 lety +2

    That is a cool trick.

  • @truthfullytiggy5860
    @truthfullytiggy5860 Před 6 lety

    You make it look so easy

  • @streetgeezer
    @streetgeezer Před 8 lety +1

    Thank you so much for all your videos! You're great!

  • @CarlyWaarly
    @CarlyWaarly Před 9 lety +2

    Thanks for sharing Jeff!

  • @bllonc
    @bllonc Před 6 lety +3

    1:17 to the end at 0.2 speed of the video is the most funny and terrifying thing I have ever watched while high

  • @davidheim2897
    @davidheim2897 Před 8 lety +8

    Hey Jeff, looks like a pretty fun and innovative way to work on your sound, question: does this work for tenor as well? Any experience on that?

  • @GRDwashere
    @GRDwashere Před 6 lety +19

    "The one secret trick to improving your sound that professional teachers don't want you to know. Quick! watch and share before they have this video taken down!"

  • @jeromejagroop5516
    @jeromejagroop5516 Před 4 lety

    Thank you for this! It helped me with some low notes!

  • @eatyourvegetables5930
    @eatyourvegetables5930 Před 5 lety +2

    I cant do this with the pencil method but i play low notes perfectly when i manually hold the octave key

  • @marselmusic
    @marselmusic Před 6 lety

    if you guys are wondering, _'Hey!? Can't I just play the same thing with my left thumb pressing the octave key?'_ bu its a smoother transition even after the g when u use a pencil because the other octave key opens up

  • @renzosax
    @renzosax Před 8 lety +5

    also it is good the other way, playing the low A and trying to sound the high A

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety +2

      +renzo pividori Hi Renzo, yes, that is a useful exercise, as well. It is similar to practicing overtones. See if you play all the way up the horn without using the octave key.

  • @samhoward1632
    @samhoward1632 Před 7 lety

    I like your vibe, nice vid!

  • @PabloVestory
    @PabloVestory Před 5 lety

    The easiest trick is that one one never thinks by himself, like this pencil, thank you very much for the insight!

  • @isaiahd9947
    @isaiahd9947 Před 4 lety +1

    Lol when I first got my cheap alto the octave pin had a layer of rubber/plastic that made the octave key go up like in this video so I was so confused like I thought I was just that bad at alto. Took about a month to figure out.

  • @comprendoo
    @comprendoo Před 4 lety

    Thank you❤️🎷

  • @Craig2760
    @Craig2760 Před 4 lety

    Play long tones, master the overtones from low Bb to F then listen to Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and Stanley Turrentine on tenor. Cannonball Adderley and Phil Woods on alto.

  • @TheUSvTrump
    @TheUSvTrump Před 6 lety +2

    I'm really not sure that this will work without the smiley faces on the pencil.

  • @claragary
    @claragary Před 4 lety

    Thanks man!!!

  • @Hello-et5mg
    @Hello-et5mg Před 8 lety +1

    Hey thanks alot! this really helped 👍

  • @alireza.habibi
    @alireza.habibi Před 8 lety +1

    very useful
    Thank you

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety

      +Alireza Habibi Glad it's helpful, Alireza. Thanks for the comment!

  • @etheriusmoon1809
    @etheriusmoon1809 Před 7 lety +1

    WUT
    WUT
    WUTTTTTTT OMG THIS works like magic!!!!! Like omg this improved my sound a lot!!!!!!!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😄 tysm!!!!!!

  • @archungus
    @archungus Před 4 lety

    I've tried this glich and I thought it was pached with the 1.14 update but fortunately the problem was I wasn't using the happy face pencil if your going to use this glich use a happy face pencil and quickly save and quit and load back again!

  • @phong123456ful
    @phong123456ful Před 8 lety

    thanks a lot for your tip!!! it's great....

  • @kosejumpscare
    @kosejumpscare Před 3 lety

    amazing

  • @bridgeensemble2024
    @bridgeensemble2024 Před 2 lety

    Than you a lot

  • @hellqvisten
    @hellqvisten Před 8 lety +4

    When I do this on my tenor, it's really easy to make that A sound "good". Could that be an indication to get a harder reed?

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety

      Not necessarily. If you like the way you sound and the amount of resistance allowed by your current setup, I say stick with what's working. Thanks for you comment, Erik!

    • @etsu
      @etsu Před 5 lety

      I use 2 1/2 hardness reeds

    • @hansbrackhaus8017
      @hansbrackhaus8017 Před rokem

      No, it's an indication that you're doing things right, not that you're at some sort of limit.

  • @jasperjames8803
    @jasperjames8803 Před 6 lety

    Pretty cool way of going about it but this exercise is just overtone stuff. If you want to get a better and more powerful sound find out about overtones and practice them

  • @lil_snug8032
    @lil_snug8032 Před 8 lety +1

    cool tjx

  • @Keegalz
    @Keegalz Před 6 lety

    Lol I’ve been doing this without realizing it was something to actually practice XD

  • @FranciscoAnes
    @FranciscoAnes Před 7 lety

    i tried it and it works... What i dont understand is exactly how does it translate to everyday playing.

  • @mcaprisun
    @mcaprisun Před 5 lety +4

    Anyone help?
    I play tenor sax and I have been playing since last year, I was never able to play below E but then whenever I moved up a reed size last year I still can’t go below Middle G, unless I slur but it still squeaks a little. Is the problem me or the instrument, How do I fix this?

    • @dudedudingson338
      @dudedudingson338 Před 5 lety

      what mouthpeice do you have on your sax?

    • @mcaprisun
      @mcaprisun Před 5 lety

      Dude Dudingson i’m not sure. My saxophone is a Mendini Cecilio Tenor Sax and it came with the mouthpiece :’)

    • @dudedudingson338
      @dudedudingson338 Před 5 lety

      the mouthpeice that came with the ceceilios are really inconsistent. what size reed do you play on?

    • @mcaprisun
      @mcaprisun Před 5 lety

      Dude Dudingson i play on size 3 vandoren reeds- i got my saxophone checked by a mechanic and he said it’s one of the cheapest worst ones you can get 😅😅

    • @dudedudingson338
      @dudedudingson338 Před 5 lety

      yeah its not the best horn but you can still get a good sound on it. I suggest getting a good mouthpeice based on what you play sax for. are you in a middle or high school ensemble?

  • @00DirectorsCut00
    @00DirectorsCut00 Před 7 lety +4

    I will take around 20 yrs to do the few seconds videos intro of this guy 😞

  • @Eli-gn3km
    @Eli-gn3km Před 6 lety

    Bizarre, but intriguing

  • @survivnisha4874
    @survivnisha4874 Před rokem

    nice mark 6

  • @leviweeks2452
    @leviweeks2452 Před 7 lety

    playing bari for a year helped the same way

  • @Savinfaith
    @Savinfaith Před 8 lety +1

    cool trick

  • @Logan-qi4nx
    @Logan-qi4nx Před 7 lety

    this is great. Really helps me remember where my teeth SHOULD be as my teacher tells me

  • @TheMichguff
    @TheMichguff Před 7 lety

    Saying " low A " is a misnomer. An alto will only play as low as Bb. There is nothing wrong with a good exercise though.

  • @kevindeibert3369
    @kevindeibert3369 Před 2 lety

    Wow ! That was a pretty cool opening lick ! What was that ?

  • @JorgeOstos
    @JorgeOstos Před 6 lety

    hhehhehe one of your first! You're the best mate

  • @coldstub
    @coldstub Před 5 lety +8

    But how does this improve your sound?

    • @isaiahd9947
      @isaiahd9947 Před 4 lety

      I think it teaches you to open your throat more

    • @RikardPeterson
      @RikardPeterson Před 3 lety

      It's about getting control of what you're doing. A similar exercise is to do the opposite: Play the upper octave without using your thumb.

    • @teretere9038
      @teretere9038 Před 3 lety

      @@isaiahd9947 speak in a low voice five times a day

  • @chicofun4779
    @chicofun4779 Před 7 lety

    nice!!

  • @dwayneroccufort6871
    @dwayneroccufort6871 Před 2 lety

    Its interesting..would lyk to try hehe

  • @EddieHaskelll
    @EddieHaskelll Před 8 lety

    ...so kinda like "undertones" rather than overtones. It really does help. I am curious.. are we trying to get the notes in tune, or just get them to play and to heck with intonation?

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety

      +Eddy Haskel Don't worry about intonation on this one. It's more about opening up your throat, mouth space, and sound.

    • @EddieHaskelll
      @EddieHaskelll Před 8 lety

      ***** Thanks, Jeff. Works better with my YAS 23 alto than on my old PanAm/Conn 64M for some reason. Even easier on the tenor. Great exercise... however, my wife requests that I never again try this when she is home.... heh.

  • @mikester99
    @mikester99 Před 8 lety +4

    I play a one peice soprano, hmm I'm afraid this might brerak something on it ! :O or?

    • @CtpSirak
      @CtpSirak Před 8 lety +2

      The octave mechanism on a one piece soprano should be able to extend enough for this exercise. AFAIK there shouldn't be any issues or reasons for something to break.
      1* AKAIF- as far as I know

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety +1

      It doesn't have to be a pencil. Look forward a skinnier object if you feel like you're forcing that thing up too much. Good luck and be safe!

  • @_omega420
    @_omega420 Před 8 lety +5

    Is this exercise to help with overtones ? I know overtones add more (something) to your tone

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety

      +Omega_Ronan This exercise can definitely help with overtones. Let me know how it goes!

  • @slankan
    @slankan Před 7 lety +1

    I know this may sound unrelated, but do you think this exercise will help me play lower notes.( idk why but the notes below d i can play well, but the note d its self is very soft and if i try to play loudly, it will go up the octave)

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 7 lety

      +turkey rides ;) yes, this exercise will help you play notes in all of the registers on the horn. The exercise forces you to open your throat and fill up the instrument with as much air as possible, which is helpful for all notes.

    • @slankan
      @slankan Před 7 lety

      yes okay thx

  • @4dasorthebeast398
    @4dasorthebeast398 Před 6 lety

    Nice

  • @Johnwilkinsonofficial
    @Johnwilkinsonofficial Před 5 lety

    happy faces are key 😁🔑

  • @thatmf5181
    @thatmf5181 Před 5 lety +1

    This is hard af lol

  • @mcaprisun
    @mcaprisun Před 5 lety +3

    also what does this exercise do?

    • @zachattack4982
      @zachattack4982 Před 4 lety +1

      Teaches you good form on lower notes so when you actually play them legit it will sound better.

  • @ericblachman232
    @ericblachman232 Před rokem

    Kudos for the Ralph Lalama mention, this concept still begs elaboration.

  • @JazzFan76
    @JazzFan76 Před 6 lety +1

    Doesn't work. The octive key is up so it doesn't work for me.

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 6 lety +2

      Exactly. The octave key is supposed to be up. That’s why it’s hard. I recommend blowing more air than you think you’d need.

  • @albertolopez2697
    @albertolopez2697 Před 7 lety

    Hello Jeff, regards from Dominican Republic. Look this exersice its working great on me on alto sax. But, I was wondering if I can use the same exercise on the tenor sax??, beacuse I really dont like my sound on the tenor. Thanks

  • @malika2nice865
    @malika2nice865 Před 6 lety +1

    MY SAX IS NOW BROKEN.....THX

  • @lovelymusicnow4404
    @lovelymusicnow4404 Před 10 měsíci

    What’s the fingering for a low A? I’m a concert pianist and a beginner sax player. I know the finger down to a low B

  • @eugeniaavilava584
    @eugeniaavilava584 Před rokem

    Is this trick equivalent to mouthpiece exercise?

  • @Simpawknits
    @Simpawknits Před 7 lety +29

    With respect, you are very attractive. Okay. Back to being serious about sax.

  • @Laurenz_Heinrich
    @Laurenz_Heinrich Před 7 lety +1

    why does it improve the sound?

  • @cristophernavarro1819
    @cristophernavarro1819 Před 5 lety

    Can someone explain to me in what way this exercise helps? Just so I can use it better.

  • @MacedonianAlwaysGreek
    @MacedonianAlwaysGreek Před 8 lety +1

    Nice, I like your sound too. What reed and mouthpiece do you use?

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety

      +Macedonian Always Greek Thanks! I play on a Pillinger mouthpiece and Hemke reeds.

    • @MacedonianAlwaysGreek
      @MacedonianAlwaysGreek Před 8 lety

      ***** Thank you, that's a good combination, really nice sound.

  • @KarlBonner1982
    @KarlBonner1982 Před 4 lety

    THE PENCIL EXERCISE (saxophone edition)!

  • @cascade2356
    @cascade2356 Před rokem +1

    i literally cannot do it

  • @comhghallgeraghty3541
    @comhghallgeraghty3541 Před 6 lety

    Nice tone excercise but why cant I just hold the octive key down?

  • @matk3068
    @matk3068 Před 8 lety

    nice

  • @leonardoll30
    @leonardoll30 Před 8 lety +1

    Hello, Jeff. Thank you for the trick.
    How do you record your videos? Which equipement do you use?

    • @JeffSchneiderMusic
      @JeffSchneiderMusic  Před 8 lety +2

      Hey Leonardo, It depends on the video. This one with the pencil looks like I recorded it on a potato. It was actually just my iPhone. These days I use a Canon G7x and a Rode NTK mic.

    • @leonardoll30
      @leonardoll30 Před 8 lety

      Thank you.

  • @teretere9038
    @teretere9038 Před 3 lety

    oh my playing saxophone needs to be fun >>>

  • @mcaprisun
    @mcaprisun Před 5 lety +1

    I tried this and it squeaks every note below middle A. What’s wrong with my sax or me?

  • @wooji5731
    @wooji5731 Před 7 lety

    How long do you believe doing this exercise will take until you can achieve the goal? Right now im trying it and i can get shaky low As and Gs but the rest no😂 ill keep practicing it though:)

  • @Your_Local_Pacifist
    @Your_Local_Pacifist Před 9 měsíci

    Its not working, whenever i try the note I play is always a high A, what am I doing wrong? Why can't i play it?

    • @lefuzz251
      @lefuzz251 Před 9 měsíci +2

      you have to expand your throat cavity imagine you are trying to blow warm air into your saxophone as if you are trying to fog up a mirror

  • @gonzo2739
    @gonzo2739 Před 5 lety +2

    How do I do this with a bari sax?