Sax high notes? ?

Question

i've been playing the alto sax not that long... and i had problems with some low notes and the high G like i could play like almost every note above high g to high f with some small problems sometimes... but like every time i played the g i always had a prob.... well anyways i just got a new sax and now i don't have problems with low notes... well i dont know about like super low notes cause we dont play them in class but for some reason i havent been able to play like ANY high notes like anything above a D! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING???? i thought it might be my reed or something but ive tried lots and the same thing always happens... and my sax is new soo i dont think its broken

Answer 1

When I first started, it was the same.  I just changed my omboucher, like by smiling, to tighten up and get better high notes.  After a while, I could do every high note up to high C without using my octave key.  I dropped my alto sax on the pavement in March, and it was all bent over, so all I could play was a E and an A, so I got a new one as well.

If there's nothing wrong with your mouthpiece, omboucher or fingers, the reason you cant get a high G but most other notes, the problem is probably with the spring for the G key.  Its a little wire, and it should have a a little notch it fits into.  If its not in the notch, just push it back in.  

If you look at the right hand keys, if there is an extra one  behind the main 3 that isnt on all saxes, it means you now have an intermediate sax, which is a little harder to play than a primary one.  I kept my old mouthpiece, and it helped me to play my int. one better.  Since your sax is brand new, and it might be a better quality one, you'll just have to really exagerate your omboucher until your cheek muscles tighten up a bit.  It took me a week or two until I could play every note again.  dont worry, it'll come with practise.  

I still have to take a run down to the low notes, on a bad day.  You just have to drop your jaw really low, and concentrate on on going "woooh"  like a fog horn.  Its like playing a clarinet, trust me, those are hard, since your jaw is always way down :p