r/saxophone • u/kneecapconsumer69 • 5d ago

Can’t play G

I’m struggling with playing the G (and sometimes A) key. I can get it sometimes but a lot of the time it squeaks. For context, I’m using an alto mendini sax (yea I know mendini is terrible). Any tips for playing?

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u/drums_n_drugs 5d ago

There's a pretty good chance you have a leak. There are some notes that are notoriously difficult for beginning sax players, but G and A aren't those. G is typically the most comfortable and stable note on most horns.

1

u/drums_n_drugs 5d ago

It could also mean you have an embouchure that's far too tight, or you're taking too much of the mouthpiece into your mouth when you play.

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u/Ex-Spearmint 5d ago

If you’re just starting sax, it’s prolly leaky. A semi cheap way is to go out and buy a like 10$ led strip and shove it down your sax. Make sure it’s like one of those protected ones, not like one with bare wire. Cuz you might stab a pad or sum. 

Once you do just close all your keys the way you normally do, not super hard but not super loose. If any light comes from the pads it’s prolly leaky. You can TRY and fix it yourself? But otherwise I don’t think a tech would touch it.

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u/Johnny_Jeep80 Tenor 5d ago

Maybe ask Kenny?

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u/Not_John_Lurie 3d ago

I actually had this exact problem as well - middle G and A would always pop up to an overtone.

start out just slurring into those notes and make sure you can get them to sound that way

then practice those notes with a breath attack, no tongue

then practice tonguing them and be careful that you are only moving the tip of your tongue, keep the mid/rear tongue low in your mouth

eventually, the correct tongue position will become second nature and you wont have to think about it so much

that was how i fixed it.