Alto sax problem!?

Question

im a great player on a 3 vandoren but on a 3.5 it takes too much air and some of the octave notes it gets really fuzzy. help?

Answer 1

is there a certain reason why you moved up to a 3.5?

i play clarinet & sax, and i feel so much more comfortable with a 3.

3.5 reeds are too hard, and hitting high notes is nearly impossible for me.

so not everyone can play successfully on 3.5 reeds, so maybe it's best if you stick with a 3.

but if you REALLY want to play the 3.5, practice, practice, practice and make sure the reed is very moist!

Answer 2

Although it is commonly thought to be true, reed strength is not a sign of experience or ability. When I was in high school I played tenor as my main. At one point I was playing 4s and I thought I was the king. However, my tone was terrible and I was shamed back down to a 3.5. It wasn't until college that I learned that it isn't the strength of the reed that makes a difference it is the player. Many times you hear of the jazz giants playing on fours or even harder strengths, it only perpetuates the false idea. Pick a reed strength that gives you a solid tone without making you clamp down but that you can put pressure on to seal your embouchure. I am now in my 5th year of playing at a collegiate level and will be getting a degree in saxophone performance in December. I play classical tenor in the university's top Wind Ensemble and jazz tenor in the 1st ensemble group who will be touring in the fall in Germany. My classical reeds are blue box #3 and my jazz reeds are zz #3. When I try harder reeds my tone becomes forced and flat (in an acoustic way, not in pitch).

The short of it - find what is right for you and what you sound the best on - mouthpiece and reed and even horn. No two players are alike. Find your own set up and get your tone and musicianship going. Don't worry about what number you are.

Answer 3

stick with the 3 then

Answer 4

this means that you're lip is not ready for it yet. Use the 3.5 for practice, as it will beef up your lip to handle those, but use the 3 for any big gigs (concerts, etc.) as you get the best tone out of it that way. I know because I jump from 3 directly to 4 on my tenor and I was having similar problems then.

Keep on playing from a fellow saxophonist!!! :)