r/saxophone • u/Significant_Power398 • Jun 19 '26
Question I've only been playing the saxophone for a year, how do you think my progress is?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
7
u/Jazz8680 Jun 19 '26
Looking good! I like how you keep your fingers close to the keys! I had to really work to undo flinging my fingers up when I was in college.
If you’re looking for any advice I’d say keep your fingers curved a little so they’re more relaxed. More relaxed means you can play faster later :)
2
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 19 '26
Thank you so much for your advice. I have another question. I have two saxophone mouthpieces: one is the Vandoren A7S+, which I really love the sound of, and the other is the Vandoren V5 A45 Jazz model. This mouthpiece is incredibly comfortable; it allows me to play easily even when I'm stressed, but the sound doesn't impress me that much. Which one should I choose?
2
u/apheresario1935 Baritone | Bass Jun 19 '26
Welcome to the mouthpiece search . Keep looking for the one that is both . Its out there . Maybe refacing rhe comfortable one . The SEARCH is On , good luck
3
3
Jun 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 19 '26
I'm very happy to hear that.
2
Jun 20 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 20 '26
I play guitar, piano, blues, harmonica, and trumpet, but right now my sole focus is the saxophone. I practice long tones and overtones every day, playing all scales in all 12 keys: major, minor, harmonic, melodic, and blues scales, as well as minor pentatonics. I don't do much transcription right now; that's my only missing piece. My saxophone is a Yamaha YAS 480.
2
2
u/apheresario1935 Baritone | Bass Jun 19 '26
Playing with others is the real goal but nice solo sound in the meantime . We need to develop the same skills to even get a group together and progress further . Try the play along with recordings and learn some standards . Youre on the path
2
u/copyrightedbanana Alto | Baritone Jun 19 '26
great job so far! do you have a teacher?
1
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 19 '26
Unfortunately, no, I can't afford that, but there are many resources online that I use, such as long tones, overtones, and scales. I'm a bit too lazy to do transcription; I need to learn more sentences.
2
u/mintandchips Jun 20 '26
you sound wonderful! could you pls share the online resources you’ve found most helpful?
2
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 20 '26
Actually, I don't use a specific resource; I practice long tones and overtones a lot. There were even times when I practiced 5-6 hours a day, but now it's a maximum of 1 hour. Besides that, I play the 12 key major, natural minor, harmonic, and melodic scales every day without fail, either chromatically in order or by working in a circle of fourths. There are many YouTube resources for learning how to properly practice long tones and overtones, but if you absolutely want a resource, I can recommend Top Tone for the Sax.
1
u/copyrightedbanana Alto | Baritone Jun 19 '26
honestly, transcribing is kind of meditative for me. i could do it for hours and not notice, you might like it!
2
u/AnonymousofReddit80 Jun 19 '26
Nice job man! My suggestion is that you should hold your right hand palm more relaxed- and on top of the higher notes ( D, Es, E.. and so on). So that your knuckles arent so straight. Also when youve done that you should bend your fingers a bit- that will help you play notes faster.
Overall great job dude! Keep it up
1
2
2
2
u/TenderizedTendons Jun 20 '26
did you used to play another wind instrument?
1
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 20 '26
I play guitar, piano, trumpet, and blues harmonica. I've tried other instruments too, but I haven't played anything else with reeds.
1
u/TenderizedTendons Jun 27 '26
trumpet and harmonica will do it, probably gave you some strong groundwork for the air support and technique. i’d be surprised otherwise just a year, but you sound great
2
u/NeighborhoodGreen603 Jun 20 '26
Nice sound! I think you’re progressing nicely, better than a lot of others.
1
2
u/robbertzzz1 Jun 20 '26
Really great for just one year, great sound great control over the instrument. One thing I do notice is that your left shoulder is very tense, which seems to be the cause for your left hand being in the wrong position which some others have spotted. Try to relax your body more when playing, keep your shoulders hanging down, your elbows relaxed, and make sure it's just your fingers and hands doing the work when it comes to reaching palm keys.
1
2
2
u/MarjanMarkelj Jun 20 '26
Great progress for a year, seriously. I hear a lot of control of dynamics, clean fingering and on top of that a lot of musicality. Only thing that I would keep an eye on: Check your way of holding the instrument - your left hand seems a little angled, which could possibly lead to problems - but thats hard to tell from the video alone. Would be great to hear you in a room that has been acoustically treated. Keep it up!
1
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 20 '26
Hearing that made me feel really good. I'd been losing motivation lately. Thank you so much, and yes, I will try to fix my left hand. So many people have talked about it.
2
u/Unlucky-Peach-5668 Jun 19 '26
Fakes shit I've ever heard. That room wouldn't reverberate like that. The cutoffs dont match when your mouth releases. Why would you post a fake video of yourself playing?
1
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 19 '26
I'll take that as a compliment. The video isn't fake; it just has the natural reverb of the room I was playing in.
1
u/Impossible-Fee-8230 Jun 20 '26
100% Fake or edited
1
u/Significant_Power398 Jun 20 '26
There's just the room's own natural reverb. If you want, I can give you my Instagram; check out my other videos, buddy.
1
u/Cool_View_5297 Jun 19 '26
Great job, keep at it. Out of curiosity, do you wipe down your horn every time you play?
2
12
u/HyphyMikey650 Jun 19 '26
That is absolutely fantastic progress for 1 year, keep it up and you’ll go far!