Music Performance, Worship Leading, Saxophones, Things to Think About, More

Visit our Sites
Jump to the School of the Rock Home Page CreekDontRise.com Home Page Jump to our articles about music
Visit our Classic Train Songs Page View articles and other resources supporting independent Christian musicians.
Click to visit Paul's Music Page

It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:58 pm


Note: Because we manage multiple music sites with some overlapping content, we have divided the discussion topics between the sites' discussion forums, depending on which site has the greater emphasis on a topic.

The discussion forums on this page relate to such topics as:

  • Vintage Saxophones
  • Contemporary Christian Music
  • Christian Living
  • Worship Leading
  • Bible Interpretation

Other Music topics, including acoustic instruments, music performance, music careers, songwriting, and train songs are discussed on the CreekDontRise.com discussion forum.

To join the discussions on this page, please use the SchoolOfTheRock.com forum signup page.
To visit the discussion forums on the CreekDontRise.com page, please click here.
To join the discussions on the CreekDontRise.com page, please use the CreekDontrise.com forum signup page.
Our Momma Don't 'Low newsletter includes music topics from all of our music web pages. Click here for more information.
To contact Paul offline, please use our SchoolOfTheRock.com contact page.

However you get in touch, we'll be very glad to hear from you - Paul Click to see Paul's music home page Click to contact Paul through this page. Click to see Paul's music page on Facebook Click to sign up for this discussion forum. Click to hear Paul's music on SoundCloud. Click to see Paul's music blog page Click to learn about our Momma Don't Low Newsletter. Click to see Paul's YouTube Channel. Click to see Paul's Twitter Page

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 4:11 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 6:03 pm
Posts: 214
I don't know who to ask. I have been playing my alto sax for years and years. I am now also an occasional tenor sax player. I get wonderful results out of my alto - a Selmer Mark VI, with a metal classical Selmer mouthpiece D.

My tenor is also a Mark VI, which makes the transition from one sax to the other much easier. However, I am baffled when it comes to mouthpiece. I have tried what I could find in my area, but I never got to try a metal classical Selmer mouthpiece on my tenor. My gut feeling is that if I got one, I would finally feel right at home on the tenor.

I am willing to fork out the price of it, but I don't know what to pick. If I like a D on an alto, would I also like a D on a tenor, or is there a rule of thumb that I can use to know what would be the equivalent of my alto D?

-----------------------------our reply - feel free to add yours below, but be nice ----------

Like you, I live where I have no access to a variety of mouthpieces to try out. Also, I don't have lots of extra money to buy five or six $200-$400 mouthpieces to decide which ones I like the best.

I AM glad you have access to two decent horns. At least you know it's not the horns holding you back. :-)

Regarding mouthpieces, all I can really give you is a list of things to think about.

I use C*s on all my saxes because they serve my purpose, give me the intonation I need, and allow me to switch back and forth easily. But I often play in churches and other places where it's important to be able to play quietly and "sweetly." If I was playing R&B or Ska all the time, I'd certainly have a more open mouthpiece on my Tenor (my core instrument).

I can see why if you're used to a metal D on your alto, having the tenor equivalent is appealing. I REALLY wish you had access to one to try out. If you're into big band or R&B or R&R, and the tenor isn't putting you out of breath, I don't think you can go wrong with a metal D. Most of the guys who've been doing it for years have graduated to an F G or H. If you play enough, you'll get used to a D pretty quickly. I can't guarantee it will make going back and forth between your alto and tenor that much easier. You still have a different embouchere, amount of air flow, amount of air pressure, amount of pressure on the reed, etc. But I think it would probably help.

I'm guessing you have a C* on your tenor, since that was the typical stock mouthpiece for those. It's certainly the minimum acceptable mouthpiece for that horn.

Does the Tenor C* feel "stuffy" to you, like it's holding you back or has too much backpressure, or like it's too easy to "overblow"? If so you might prefer a Tenor D anyway. On the other hand, if you're running out of air on the tenor with a C*, a D will make that worse. A Selmer Tenor C** has the same tip opening as a Selmer alto D and might be easier to adjust to.

Either one should give you better volume than the C*.

Hope this helps - please let me know what you wind up trying,


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron


To join the discussions on this page, please use the SchoolOfTheRock.com forum signup page.

To contact Paul offline, please use our SchoolOfTheRock.com contact page.

Paul Race playing his Longneck guitar. Click to go to Paul's music home page.A Note from Paul: Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you have a blessed day and figure out how to be a blessing to those around you as well.

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race Click to see Paul's music home page Click to contact Paul through this page. Click to see Paul's music page on Facebook Click to sign up for this discussion forum. Click to hear Paul's music on SoundCloud. Click to see Paul's music blog page Click to learn about our Momma Don't Low Newsletter. Click to see Paul's YouTube Channel. Click to see Paul's Twitter Page



All material, illustrations, and content of this web site is copyrighted © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 by Paul D. Race. All rights reserved.




Musician's Friend Stupid Deal of the Day



Visit related pages and affiliated sites:
- Music -
Heartland-inspired music, history, and acoustic instrument tips.
Best-loved railroad songs and the stories behind them.
School Of the Rock Discussion Forums:  Saxophones, Christian Music, Worship, Things to Think About, and More. Creek Don't Rise Discussion Groups, Acoustic Instruments, Careers, Songwriting, Performance, More The Independent Christian Musician. Check out our article on finding good used guitars.
Carols of many countries, including music, lyrics, and the story behind the songs. X and Y-generation Christians take Contemporary Christian music, including worship, for granted, but the first generation of Contemporary Christian musicians faced strong, and often bitter resistance. Different kinds of music call for different kinds of banjos.  Just trying to steer you in the right direction. New, used, or vintage - tips for whatever your needs and preferences. Wax recordings from the early 1900s, mostly collected by George Nelson.  Download them all for a 'period' album. Explains the various kinds of acoustic guitar and what to look for in each.
Look to Riverboat Music buyers' guide for descriptions of musical instruments by people who play musical instruments. Learn 5-string banjo at your own speed, with many examples and user-friendly explanations. Explains the various kinds of banjos and what each is good for. Learn more about our newsletter for roots-based and acoustic music. Folks with Bb or Eb instruments can contribute to worship services, but the WAY they do depends on the way the worship leader approaches the music. A page devoted to some of Paul's own music endeavors.
With a few tools and an hour or two of work, you can make your guitar, banjo, or mandolin much more responsive.  Instruments with movable bridges can have better-than-new intonation as well. Musings about music-related subjects on SchoolOfTheRock.com Explains why Bluegrass pickers look for certain features. Contact Paul through this site's Contact page. Check out Paul's music page on Facebook. Jump to the School of the Rock Home Page



Click to trains that commemorate your team!

Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group