When playing the saxophone, whether in a small ensemble, a full band, or even on your own, tuning is very important. Good tuning gives you a clear and beautiful sound and it is essential that all saxophonists know how to tune and adjust their instruments. With saxophones, this ability is even more important as the tuning depends a lot on the unique shape of the saxophone, as well as your own complexion.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Tune in Concert Notes
Step 1. Set the tuner to note a
If you have a designated rehearsal space or don't mind bringing an extra piece of gear with you, purchase a self-contained digital tuner. Otherwise, download a tuning app to your smartphone. Once you're ready to test your saxophone, select the concert note to start tuning. If your tuner or application does not have a default setting for specific notes, tune to a frequency of 440 hertz (Hz) on the concert note.
- If possible, buy or download a specific tuner for saxophones. Most other tuners are designed for piano or guitar. Because these instruments are in a different key than saxophones, a standard tuner could misread the notes on your saxophone. For example, a note played on an alto or baritone saxophone could be read as C on the tuner, while the same note played on a tenor or soprano saxophone could be read as G.
- Some tuning apps for saxophones are Cleartune (iPad) and Easy Saxophone (Android).
Step 2. Play the note a
Look at the needle on the tuner. Aim for it to stay exactly in the middle of the monitor for as long as you hold the note. If the needle moves left or right to indicate that the note is too high or out of tune, adjust the mouthpiece accordingly, about a millimeter at a time, and try again. Repeat as needed.
- If the note is too watery, pull the mouthpiece a little along the cork at the neck.
- If the note is too out of tune, push the mouthpiece further in along the neck cork.
Step 3. Play F sharp
Once the note is in tune, try F sharp. These two notes are the easiest to tune on the saxophone. Start with this simple pair before moving on to the ones that might need further adjustment. Use the same technique of adjusting the mouthpiece to correct high-pitched or out-of-tune sounds.
- A tuner for piano or guitar might read the note F sharp as the note A if you play an alto or baritone saxophone, while F sharp on a tenor or soprano might be read as E.
- F sharp = 370 hertz (Hz).
Step 4. Move on to other notes
Once you have mastered the notes A and F sharp, continue the process with other notes. Modify the embouchure (the way you place your mouth on the mouthpiece) to make notes sound higher or lower.
- Go over the notes again once you've tuned them properly. Close your eyes and listen to each one as you play. Develop your hearing so that you depend less on the tuner.
- Mouthpiece designs vary widely, so even if you master embouching on one mouthpiece, those same techniques might not work for another. Experiment with how you position your lips, chin, and posture until you decide on a combination that works.
Step 5. Touch scales
Start with the lowest note on the scale. Go up the scale to the highest note, and then play back to the lowest note. You should modify the embouchure as little as possible while continuing to set the correct notes. Pay attention to notes that constantly sound bad no matter what you do, which could indicate a problem with the saxophone.
If the saxophone is not a problem for you, repeat the scales with your eyes closed to further develop your hearing as relying on the tuner when playing scales, long notes, and arrangements will hurt you in the long run
Method 2 of 2: Solve Saxophone Problems
Step 1. Use the correct mouthpiece
Nozzles vary in design. Make sure your saxophone is compatible with the mouthpiece as older saxophones might not work as well with newer mouthpieces. Check the baffle, chamber size, and tip width, all of which could affect the sound. Speakers in particular make a huge difference in sound, so try various types to find the one that's right for you.
- Straight speakers are known for their consistent sound. They are ideal for older saxophones and also for sopranos.
- Rollover cabinets, which are most popular with jazz saxophonists, add a slight pop with growl effects and a hint of brightness at the beginning of a note while maintaining a strong and consistent sound.
- Step speakers are perhaps the easiest to use. Their ability to project sound makes them popular with R&B and rock saxophonists, who have to fight their way through a great deal of external noise to stand out from their bandmates and make themselves heard.
- Concave baffles lack projection and are difficult to hear unless you're very close. Because of this, they are hardly used except to produce very specific effects.
Step 2. Be consistent
Choose a type of reed to play with: hard or soft. If you are a beginner, consider using a soft reed. Although they tend to produce out-of-tune sounds at first, it will be easier for you to manipulate the sound between out of tune and sharp than it would be with a hard reed. Regardless of which reed you use, stick with it as switching from one type to another will create drastic changes in the sound.
Along the same lines, if you tend to use a lot of vibrato when playing, be sure to add vibrato when tuning the saxophone
Step 3. Check the temperature
The colder a saxophone is, the more out of tune the sound is. If your saxophone has been stored in a cold area, move it to a warm place so it can reach room temperature before you start tuning it. If you don't have time to warm up on its own, use your body heat and blow warm air through the saxophone.
Make sure the entire saxophone is at the same temperature. The top can feel warm over time thanks to the body heat from your hands and fingers while the bottom stays cool. If the temperature of the top and bottom are not the same, play long notes to circulate the hot air throughout the instrument
Step 4. Check the age of the saxophone
If your saxophone doesn't play the correct notes regardless of the adjustments you make to the mouthpiece or embouchure, find out how old it is if you don't already know. Lower saxophones are considered standard today but, before this was established, manufacturers made treble saxophones as well. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to tune the latter precisely to other, more modern instruments.
If you can't figure out on your own whether your saxophone is high or low, take it to a music store. A technician should be able to tell it apart in addition to repairing the saxophone if it turns out to be a serious standard model that just doesn't work right
Step 5. Get used to your saxophone
Saxophones are known to be very temperamental in terms of tuning as the slightest imperfection or deviation in the design can alter their sound. Just relax. Work less to achieve perfection and more to reach a proficient level with each individual saxophone. If one or more notes sound incredibly out of tune, take it in for repair to make sure everything is where it should be. Otherwise, modify your technique to produce the correct notes (or the closest thing to them) rather than stubbornly demanding that your saxophone perform the way you want it to.