Am I a drooling machine???

[DanA]

When I practice, even during longtones, I notice that in the range of E (E with octave key and 5 fingers) and up, there is a slight buzz comming from inside the horn. I'm not sure what it is, but is it me? I tried to change my mouth formation because I thought I might have been using the wrong embouchure but it keeps comming. There is also a problem where from the range of G (3 fingers) and up, when I tounge, the sax gives a slobbery sound. If I slur and hold a note, it sounds like spits jumping around inside. I am constantly trying to work on tone but the slobber thing is really annoying and gets me frustrated. Anything lower than the G is fine and comes out clearly. Am I tounging incorrectly or just keeping my tounge on the reed too long? I use an Antigua 582 with the mouthpiece that came with it. I also take private lessons but my teacher hasn't really said anything about it but I am planning to ask him the next time I go. By the way, I am still learning, I started up the sax about 2 weeks ago so please bear with me :(

[Gordon (NZ)]

Perhaps you are getting saliva between the reed and the mouthpiece. Moist air should enter the instrument, but not saliva.

Try collecting saliva under the tongue, behind the lower teeth, until you have a chance to swallow it.

Sucking hard on the mouthpiece/reed can clear saliva from it. Otherwise remove the reed to dry it.

The vibration could be from many sources, including the way you blow. If the sound is mechanical in origin, it can be from any part of the mechanism resonating to a certain note, and vibrating against another part of the mechanism, e.g. a long rod vibrating against a supporting post. Silencing materials should such as cork be used in such locations, or the mechanism adjusted to rest FIRMLY against such supporting posts. Other possibilities include a loose screw (say the lyre screw, a key guard screw, or even a pivot screw) or metal pad resonator vibrating against a rivet, or even lack of lubrication.

[DanA]

Uhh...I understood everything until you started talking about the screws. Haha :oops: I don't hear the vibration anymore so I think it was just me. Thanks for the tips on where to store the saliva. One question though, when is a good time to swallow your saliva? During a rest or cut a long note a little short? You have to take your entire mouth off the mouthpiece in order to swallow, am I correct? If there's another way, please let me know. Thanks once again.

[paulwl]

Never really thought about it myself... :roll: This sort of thing demonstrates why music is an Art. Its response to basic human needs is always: "Tough t!tty."

Gordon (or anyone): Is it possible that "moist air" alone can cause a spitty sound in the setup?

[Gordon (NZ)]

The air that you breath out has approximately 100% humidity I imagine.

Therfore if the mouthpiece is cooler than your breath, which it almost always is, then you will get condensation within it.

It is only a problem when it makes the reed spitty-sounding, and this area is usually easily cleared with a quick suck.

[DanA]

The quick suck method works :D thanks for your help.

[duckmaster1089]

I really just skimmed this thread, but ill write this anyways. When performing, if u have troubble with saliva making ur sound, well sound like crap, then try this. *****I have not tried this******* Although my professor did, who is a superb and experienced player. Put vasaline, or however its spelled, in ur mouthpiece. Using a q-tip, spread the vasaline on the bottom of ur mp, but only a light coat. This will make the spit bead, and flow smoothly down ur mp. I do not recommend this for daily use. But for performences yes. Test it first.