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Forum » General Discussions » my Alto Sax plays half step flat by 002 (1 post) 12 years ago my Alto Sax plays half step flat When I play notes on my new (used) alto saxophone, they are a half step flat. So when I blow into it without covering any holes or pressing any keys, it plays a concert E flat when it's supposed to play a concert E. When I play a G, it plays a concert A instead of a B flat. Is there a way to fix this on my own or should I bring it to a professional? Reply To Post [Report Abuse] Report Abuse Web Address * Your Name Your Email Address Comment
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by Saxquest (420 posts) 12 years ago Re: my Alto Sax plays half step flat What brand of sax do you have? Do you know how old it is? Do you know if it has the original neck? I would be happy to help analyze the situation if I had a bit more information. Cheers, Mark Overton saxquest.com Reply To Post by krestonsmith (12 posts) 12 years ago Re: my Alto Sax plays half step flat The most obvious answer is to push in your mouthpiece. Check out some videos of pro sax players and you will notice that their mouthpiece is pushed way on to the neck and the cork does not show very much. The more relaxed your embochure is the bigger and warmer the sound which creeates a flatter pitch resulting in a need to push in your mouthpiece. Give that a try first and save your money. Be sure you have cork grease on the cork and that your turn and push at the same time. Hope that helps! Good Time and Happy Playing . . . Reply To Post by saxgourmet (127 posts) 12 years ago Re: my Alto Sax plays half step flat a good (and VERY necessary) place to start is to take the mouthpiece by itself (not attatched to the horn), blow it, and see what note you're producing....it should produce one of the following pitches: Soprano saxophone: concert c3 Alto saxophone: concert a2 Tenor saxophone: concert g2 Baritone saxophone: concert d2 if it doesn't, that's at least part of your problem....you cannot reasonably expect the horn to play in tune if you're giving it the wrong input! STEVE GOODSON New Orleans www.nationofmusic.com Reply To Post by Saxquest (420 posts) 12 years ago Re: my Alto Sax plays half step flat Steve is absolutely right on with that advise! This is an excercise that used to be taught by the great Joe Allard along with many others. I've used this process with students all the time and it works! Do what it takes to ge the right pitch from just the mouthpiece and then transfer that technique for blowing to the entire horn when you put the mouthpiece on the sax. Good advise Steve, THANKS! Cheers, Mark Overton saxquest.com Reply To Post by NS-D (1 post) 4 years ago Re: my Alto Sax plays half step flat Hi Steve what does concert a2 mean? Reply To Post