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Mar 27, 2003
Intonation and Tone Development - Part 3
More on the importance of practicing the extreme ranges saxophone. (Info)

Last week I communicated the importance in playing the extreme ranges of the saxophone. This week, I want to add a basic exercise. I call them Low End exercises and High End exercises respectively. (Pretty ingenius, huh?)

Keeping the type of embouchure that I mentioned last week in mind (Remember? "e"?),
let's try this now:

Starting on low F, play downwards to low B in a pace of even eighth-notes (medium slow tempo please), and back like this:

F - E - D - C - B - C - D - E - F

Be sure not to change your jaw position (don't drop it) but do not cause yourself any tension or any pain. Repeat that about 3 times.

Now do it like this:

F - E - D - C - Bb - C - D - E - F

and then,

(the "Flat" keys)
F - Eb - D - C - Bb - C - D - Eb - F
F - Eb - Db - C - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F
F - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - F
Fb - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - F

(the "Sharp" keys)
F# - E - D - C - B - C - D - E - F#
F# - E - D - C# - B - C# - D -E - F#
F# - E - D# - C# - B - C# - D# - E - F#
F# - E# - D# - C# - B - C# - D# - E# - F#
F# - E# - D# - C# - B# - C# - D# - E# - F#

And now, for the High Notes:

Start on high B and play upwards toward high F and then back down, like this:

b - c - d - e - f - e - d - c - b (3x)

And then,

(The "Flat" keys)
Bb - C - D - E - F - E - D - C - Bb
Bb - C - D - Eb - F - Eb - D - C - Bb
Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - Eb - Db - C - Bb
Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - F - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb
Bb - Cb - Db - Eb - Fb - Eb - Db - Cb - Bb


(the "Sharp" keys)
b - c - d - e - f# - e - d - c - b
b - c# - d - e - f# - e - d - c# - b
b - c# - d# - e - f# - e - d# - c# - b
b - c# - d# - e# - f# - e# - d# - c# - b
b# - c# - d# - e# - f# - e# - d# - c# - b#

What does this do? This helps you keep flexibility and improve your tone and intonation in these ranges.
Be mindful to LISTEN to what your playing and really test yourself for intonation. Try using any of the tools I suggested from last week's Sax Tip (tape recorder, digital tuning device, piano, etc.)

Have fun!

Contributed by:
etjazz
©2002 Evan Tate
Email: etate@web.de
Website: SaxTips eZine