10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If the reed is too hard, the player will not be able to make it resonate. If it is too soft, it closes the mouthpiece and then also will not resonate. Therefore, the correct strength is of great importance in producing a good sound. Hard reeds are labelled with a higher number, soft reeds with a lower number.

Not quite, the clarinet has different fingerings for each octave, since it does not overblow an octave like a saxophone, but an octave and a 5th (duodecime). Because the saxophone has an octave key, the fingerings in the different registers are almost the same, apart from the very low and very high notes. The fingerings for the 2nd octave however are almost identical for clarinet and saxophone.

This depends on how often the saxophone gets played. A reed wears down, turns soft and loses tension. You will also notice that the tone will appear thin and it gets difficult to control the tone. At this point the reed needs to be replaced. It also needs to be replaced if it becomes chipped or the reed is torn because that will keep the reed from resonating properly and air can leak out.

The instrument's tuning is adjusted by positioning the mouthpiece on the cork extension of the neck, pushing the mouthpiece in or pulling it out. Pushing in creates a higher pitch, pulling it out a lower pitch.

Several issues might cause this problem.

• Are the key-pads of the saxophone closing tight?
• Is the reed too hard or too soft?
• Is my breathing correct and do I support the tone using my diaphragm?