Archived 11/30/2025
Our focus will be on developing a jazz sound and rich tone quality. You already have a good tone quality but let's take it even further!
Exercise: Play a note with the octave key. While holding the note and not changing your fingering, relax your jaw to play the fundamental note one octave lower. (So if you play high G try to make low G come out with the same fingering). The 1:30 mark of this video has an example: https://youtube.com/shorts/-YqBCrPqLAE?si=hz5HXONLDq53tv4Z
Also: Avoid exaggerated chest / torso movements. You may need to use voicing on this exercise as well, but anything beneath your throat (shoulders, chest, diaphragm, etc) should hold good posture. Verify your playing posture by warming up in front of a mirror.
Ideally, pick a different warm-up each practice session. If time allows maybe do two or even three of these (but don't over do it!)
Long tones:
Hold a comfortable note for as long as you can. Use a metronome so you can count the beats and note the tempo.
Bonus: Now try holding an uncomfortable note (typically something low) and see how long you can hold it.
Hold a comfortable note for 16 beats at a moderate tempo (90 - 100 bpm). Play it as quietly as possible.
Bonus: Record your long tone. Compare it to a normal volume long tone. Is the tone quality the same? Does the pitch waver? Quiet notes should have the same level of control as moderate or loud notes.
(The quiet long tone is the secret to playing loudly. You develop such control of the instrument that playing loudly is much more successful)
As you work on long tones, try different embouchure techniques. The embouchure we've been using is traditionally good for an all-around pure sound. But other approaches can be brighter / brassier which may sound better for a jazz piece. Please watch the following videos and try the embouchures they describe:
Classical VS Jazz Embouchure On Sax
Get A Better Sax Tone In One Simple Step!
Website about long tones and general jazz techniques
Subtone:
Try holding long tones but use the subtone technique rather than full tone ('normal' tone).
Newer video about producing subtone (this one focuses more on airstream)
You'll want just enough air to make a sound but not too much or else it pushes you into full tone
Here's a video about producing subtone
I think his suggestion for the jaw is okay, but remember to relax your jaw during subtone. His jaw position looks a little tense and a variation of it being more relaxed is likely better. You'll need to experiment quite a bit to figure out what embouchure is best for you.Â
Vibrato practice (coming soon)
Tonguing drill (coming soon)
Pinky drill - pdf here
Five-note finger drill (coming soon)
Mouthpiece drills (coming soon)