Hi, I need to know how to play the lower notes better, is there a specific drill or exercise I can work on to help with this? Also, I would like to buy a CD with a professional playing note and then saying that was an a, next will be a b and so forth. I already have method books with play along cds and so forth, I just want the notes. For Alto Sax

Longtones are the best way to work out the low notes, basically play the tone as long and steady as you can. Some may suggest that you drop your jaw, while this will help in the short term it will cause problems in the long run, ie... Intonation. Practice your longtones everyday yes they are boring but they will help with your embouchoure muscles and it will make your sound so much better. Oh and if you have one try playing it with a tuner.

Later
CJ

can you recommend a good tune rthat is cheaper . hahha

Yhath,

I agree with CJ that long tones are great for developing tone. In fact I think the ultimate in tone development comes from doing the overtone exercises as discussed in Sigurd Rascher's "Top Tones for Saxophone"

These exercises should probably be viewed as a long term project but they are effective.

Try playing your low Bb and without changing the fingering sound the overtones F and then the middle Bb. It may sound terrible the first few tries but after working with it for a while it strengthens the embochure and helps you develop sound imagination.

That is an advanced concept for sure.
That Top Tones book gives a pretty good explanation.

cheers,

Don Manuel
don@buy-saxophones-online.com
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