Competing Sonically: Strengthening Your Sound on Saxophone

Hey there! I'm Zach Lucas, one of the saxophone players in the Youngblood Brass Band. Today, I want to address a question I frequently get:

How do you compete sonically alongside a brass section that plays so loud and aggressively for 75 minutes at a time?

To that, I would say:

• Invest in a nice microphone.
• More importantly, focus on strengthening your sound so that you project better.

Long Tone Exercise

One effective exercise I recommend is a long tone exercise, which I like to do at the beginning and end of my practice sessions.

Steps to Follow:

1. Start on an open C sharp.
2. Begin piano (soft).
3. Gradually crescendo to your loudest point.
4. Decrescendo back to piano.

This exercise is great for:

• Building strength
• Improving stamina

Make sure to do it in one breath. Here's an example to demonstrate.

Going Down Chromatically

Next, move down chromatically. You should feel the effort in your face. If you don't, either you're not doing it right or you're a robot.

• Now, let's go down to the octave C.
• Avoid any vibrato; if you hear it, it might just be nerves.

Chromatic Variation

The second part of my exercise is a chromatic variation that also starts on C sharp.

• This too should be done in one breath.
• It doesn't have to be strictly chromatic; you can move around.

It will sound something like this.

Straight Tone

You want to achieve a straight tone , think of it as a "laser tone."

In Youngblood Brass Band, our phrasing is very straight with:

• Minimal vibrato
• A strong emphasis on staying on top of the beat

Air and Finger Placement

It's crucial to keep the air flowing and your fingers moving.

• I'm not using the octave key because this register (mid to low) of the saxophone is the meat and potatoes of the instrument.
• Developing a nice low end will ensure your upper register sounds good automatically.

Here's that same exercise using the octave key.

Feel free to speed it up or adjust the tempo as you see fit, but always concentrate on achieving that laser tone.

Conclusion

Good luck with the exercise! Work on your laser tone, and it will enhance your sound across any type of music , not just Youngblood stuff.

When you're playing a solo, this technique will enable you to project and create long, cool phrases. Happy practicing!