Bending notes on the sax

“Normal” bending notes on the saxophone usually involves starting the note at the correct pitch and bending it downwards, or starting at a lower pitch and bending it upwards. This is a technique that takes quite a while to master.

Using a tuner or tuning app is a good way to physically see the impact that lowering the jaw has the the tuning of the note. Whilst keeping a steady air flow lower the jaw and return to normal and see the impact that increasing the gap between reed and tip of the mouthpiece has. It’s fun to start with a bend at the start of a chromatic passage. You might find you can bend the higher notes on the sax more than a tone, maybe even two notes.

You may also use your oral cavity and tongue position to enhance the note bending. Bending the note often leads into vibrato techniques, so take care not to tense the throat - think of activating your diaphragm muscles for the support of the air stream. Now you might like to treat yourself to a jazz mouthpiece and see the impact it has.

Choosing a ligature

In smaller rooms, it is advisable to use a fabric ligature, whereas in larger spaces, metal ligatures are recommended. BG, a well-known manufacturer of ligatures, provides this guidance. Detail makes the difference when choosing a ligature. Fabric ligatures and metal ligatures cannot be compared. One is not better than the other, they are simply different. BG France suggest every musician must have several ligatures because every BG ligature provides a different sound for each situation and type of music. In Fabric Ligatures, the presence of the metal on the base plate increases the brightness and the projection of the sound. With just a rubber base, the warm sound is strengthened. Each ligature satisfies specific needs. Fabric ligatures are recommended for small rooms or when looking for a more intimate sound. They are perfect for ensemble works

Sound comes from the vibrations of the reed and mouthpiece and BG optimize them by using exclusively “one screw” ligatures, placed on top of the mouthpiece. Reeds vibrate from top to bottom and any pressure point on the reed has an effect on the sound. Using screws in contact with the reed changes the vibrations. It is common to use ligatures that come with your sax and work just fine, but as you progress it might be worth exploring the options.