C-sharp on the saxophone

[genericaudioperson]

Hello,

To play a C-sharp on the saxophone, some fingering charts indicate
simply playing the instrument open with no keys pressed down. I find
this C-sharp to be rather flat. It's far below a standard half-step
below the adjacent D note. It's simply too flat to play a proper
leading tone to the D. It sounds horrible.

Other than playing a low C-sharp with the octave key pressed down...
is there some other way to play C-sharp in the middle part of the
range? I'm looking for a true half-step below the D.

I've seen several "alternate fingerings" for this C-sharp. But they
have been disappointments because they are all too flat. There must
be a solution to this puzzle.

[jbt...@yahoo.com]

On Feb 15, 8:29 pm, genericaudioperson

On most makes and models opening the middle side key (C trill) will
bring up the pitch of the C# to an acceptable level. You may also
find that putting your mouthpiece farther on the cork and playing a
bit lower on the pitch by opening the teeth and throat will bring the
C# with the regular fingering better in tune. On some saxes fingering
the low C# with the octave key and lifting the first finger of the
left hand produces a note with a nice tone and pitch that matches the
sound of the D.

John

[genericaudioperson]

Thanks for the insights,

I guess that this C# is a note known to have tuning problems. I
haven't heard of the side key idea that you suggested. I will have to
try that.

[Nick Jones]

Yes - it's a regular problem (assuming you mean the second C#, not the
third).I can't see the alternative fingerings you suggest, so don't know
if this has already been suggested, but try:

Register(octave) key plus third finger LH (the 'g' key).

That seems to work pretty well on my Selmer - though 'no fingers' is
still easier in fast passages.

Nick

[Toby]

"genericaudioperson" <genericau...@hotmail.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:1dfcccf8-4ed1-4bca...@v19g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...

I think it is very possible that this is an embouchure problem, though you
would have to check on another sax to be sure.

The deal is this: if you bite too hard on the reed, it raises the overall
pitch. To compensate for that, you need to pull the mpc farther off the
neck. This mistunes the instrument in a particular way because it lengthens
the tube but leaves all the toneholes in their same positions. This means
that the proportion of lengthening is more for the short tube notes than the
long tube notes. Basically when this happens, the notes become progressively
flatter as you approach the C#, but since it is progressive you don't really
notice it and compensate with your embouchure. But when suddenly you go to
the D you go from short tube to long tube, and the mistuning becomes very
evident.

You can check if you are biting too hard by taking the mpc off the sax,
blowing it with a normal embouchure, and seeing what note sounds. Read here
for further info:

http://www.keynotesmagazine.com/article.php?uid=48

HTH,

Toby

[grmpy...@aol.com]

On Feb 15, 10:29�pm, genericaudioperson

Check your key heights, especially for the B key. Might be set too
low.

[grmpy...@aol.com]

On Feb 16, 9:44�am, grmpyol...@aol.com wrote:

> Check your key heights, especially for the B key. �Might be set too
> low.

But if C plays alright, it could be the key height of the A that's too
high. Just a possibility.

[jbt...@yahoo.com]

On Feb 16, 7:53 am, grmpyol...@aol.com wrote:

> But if C plays alright, it could be the key height of the A that's too
> high.  Just a possibility.

That makes no sense with regard to the C# playing flat. Do you
actually repair and adjust saxes, or are you just guessing what to do?

[grmpy...@aol.com]

To clarify this for the original poster with the flat C#; if C plays
alright, then there wouldn't be a problem with the B key height. So
then logically, the A key height may be the culprit if C# is still
flat. It's not rocket science, and any competent tech would first
rule these factors out before moving on to more extreme measures.

[grmpy...@aol.com]

On Feb 18, 9:48�am, grmpyol...@aol.com wrote:
> > But if C plays alright, it could be the key height of the A that's too
> > high. Just a possibility.

Oops, I see what may have caused confusion. That should have been
"the A that's too LOW". Sure it makes sense now though, and sorry for
any confusion.

[grmpy...@aol.com]

On Feb 15, 10:29�pm, genericaudioperson
<genericaudioper...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Another point to help diagnose your problem: Have you checked your
middle D with a digital tuner? That note does tend to be sharp, which
may be making your middle C# seem more flat than it really is.