Chromatic Long Tones with a Drum Loop – A Great Workout in Under 10 Minutes
This under-10-minute long tone exercise will give you a great workout!
Uniformity of Tone Character – An Exercise to Achieve a Balanced, Full Sound in All Registers
Working on this chop-buster long tone exercise will help get you a uniform, balanced tone in all ranges of your instrument. And if you work on it the right way, it will be great for your time-feel.
Altissimo Diagnosis – Helpful Tips From Studio Members on Unlocking the Upper Range
A compilation of all the advice from the “Altissimo Blues” thread. I loved hearing everyone’s advice and contributions!
How To Get a Bigger, Fatter, Warmer Tone
Here’s why—and how—to drop your lower lip.
Ways to Practice Intonation
In this video I address several ways of focusing on accurate pitch, including different practice techniques, the pros and cons of digital tuners (hint: develop and trust your ears, not your eyes), how professional jazz saxophonists setup differently from beginners, tuning overtones, voicing and air flow, and what part reed strength plays.
Q&A – Altissimo control, copying articulation, pros/cons of using harder reeds, and developing intonation imagination
Your questions answered, with related lessons to check out.
Vibrato: Common Mistakes, Practice Methods, and Performance Suggestions
Vibrato is an expressive tool, but many saxophonists overuse it (without knowing). In this lesson I’ll show you when and how to most effectively use it, as well as a great exercise to practice it.
Developing a Sound That Fills the Room
What should you do when you feel like your sound isn’t projecting the way you wish it would? Change mouthpieces? Reed strengths? Both? Here are some practices I use to develop a big sound—at any volume.
A One-Note Exercise to Significantly Improve Your Sound
Using middle D to address tone quality (and avoid “high school” tone).
Half (Ghost) Tonguing
How do you get that sound that’s kind of articulated, kind of not? The one you hear in so much bebop?
Simple way to get started with overtones
Doing this exercise for 10 mins each time you practice will have a radically positive impact on your sound, intonation and overall facility on the horn.
Avoiding Common Problems: Pinched Tone, Jerky Time-Feel, & Wandering Scale-Based Improv
A few suggestions for getting past these common issues.
Improve Your Time Feel with This Long Tone Exercise
Practice getting comfortable with a medium tempo swing feel while simultaneously improving your tone quality.
Triadic Tone Exercise
A simple, but powerful exercise to improve your intonation.
The Simple Trick to Make Your Mouthpiece, Reed, and Ligature Work as a Team
Getting a good sound starts with positioning your reed in the sweet spot on your mouthpiece.
How to make your saxophone sing! (Vocal techniques applied to saxophone performance)
Here’s a KILLER example of saying a lot with a limited selection of notes.
Finding that soft, airy Joe Henderson-esque tone in the upper register
What Joe Henderson can teach you about getting that warm, breathy tone up top.
How to Do an Altissimo Glissando
How to get that really cool upwards slur in the altissimo register. (Great for dramatic endings.)
How I soak reeds
Here’s how I set my reeds up to give them the best chance of responding evenly.
Strengthen Your Tone with These 3 Mouthpiece and Neck Exercises
Strengthen your embouchure, focus your tone, and improve your intonation…without touching the horn.
B Flat Overtone Series – Play Along with Bob
How to play/practice the Bb overtone series.
Improve Your Tone While Learning a New Melody
Another “kill two birds with one stone” practice strategy. Great way to work on tone while also memorizing a new melody.
What to Do About Wimpy High Notes
How to make those palm keys speak as naturally as the middle range of your horn
How I Split Altissimo G
How to get that slightly broken, or cracked, sound on altissimo G.