circular breathing

[Bluemilk262]

can anyone hear circular breath? i can do it to some degree. i was wondering if anyone has some tips to help

[Ritchie]

Play didgeridoo... well, but then again: there are some differences beyond the raw basics.

Be aware that holding a single note for a very long time usually is more a gimmick than a musical statement. Overusing it can become very annoying very soon! But often some gimmicks do not hurt... Raahsan Roland Kirk was the true master of circular breathing.

Assuming your question was "Can anyone here circular breath", the answer is yes. Practise helps improving it (isn't this always the answer? :wink: )

[Ritchie]

Just to make it clear: I love Raahsan's music, to me it is far from annoying. :D

[markieg]

As far as I know Kenny G holds the record (damn the luck!). I heard a rumor he held a note for 45 minutes. I don't know why this is important, but I do know that circular breathing comes from breathing out your mouth and in your nose at the same time. Since air doesn't flow in and out of your lungs simultaniously, the air out your mouth has to be already in your mouth when you breath in. I attempted this a few times, got a little success but more frustration, and then came to the conclusion that there is no use for this unless you're going to be in the Guiness Book for the longest note held on a wind instrument.

[LennyH]

For the record.....from one of the sources I found:

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, saxophone milquetoast Kenny G won the official title for the longest sustained note after a 45-minute circular-breathing performance in 1997. But those familiar with arcane jazz history know better. Rahsaan Roland Kirk played a nonstop circular-breathing sax solo for two hours and 21 minutes in front of a roomful of witnesses in a London jazz club in the early '70s.

[MusicMedic]

When I was in undergrad I learned how to Circ. Breath playing the Didj, then in grad school I put it to the Saxophone. PLaying the didj. really helped.

On my Graduate recital I managed to play through Bach's Cello Suite #1 circular breathing. The plan was to circ. Breath through the prelude (for obvious reasons) and not the other mvnt.'s but it just made sense to do it in later movements.

Now, there are some folks I'm sure that could pull it off better than me but I have to say, It worked. I wonder why it's not a more often used technique. Those of us that can use it (I use it on Bass all the time) love the benefit of being able to play through any phrase we like without the problem of stopping. I took a lesson with a the Cello professor on the Cello Suite and it was amazing how much more productive the lesson was once he realized that he did not need to tell me "I guess you can breath there..." We just went through it like any student might with him.

-Just goes to prove that the Baritone Saxophone IS the most versatile instrument.... :D

[Anonymous]

I believe Kenny G also holds the record for circular improvising, but that may still belong to Coltrane.

There is a rumor that the Kenny G breathing record event will be his next three CDs.

And you thought YOU recycled!

[saxshooter]

Did they lock the auditorium doors at that Kenny G concert in 1997?

Captive audience. :D

[mr00420]

I cannot circular breath probably b/c I've never practiced it... but I have heard a technique for practicing it, short of playing the digeridoo:

Fill a glass w/ water and insert a straw. Practice holding air in your cheeks while you discontinue exhaling. Squeeze the air out into the straw while simultaneously breating in through your nose. If you produce bubbles, you know it's working. Once you can produce bubbles through the straw while breathing through your nose, work on connecting the to actions in a cycle: exhaling while collecting enough air in your cheeks to squeeze out while not blowing, but breathing in through your nose.

Once you've got a strong stream of air being released from only squeezing your cheeks, then try it on the horn. Easier said than done... I'll work on it some day, but I've got more pressing sax issues to deal w/ currently.

[Lyle]

Never could learn C.B. on wind instrument but pretty good with it on keyboard! :)

[LennyH]

I saw Joshua Redman last night and he opened the show with some circular breathing. I've only seen it done live a few times but in those cases it seemed to be used as much as a gimick as a useful technique.

Kirk, on the other hand, used in masterfully in his solos.

[BayviewSax]

Always found it sort of gimmicky. Seems like it requires such concentration that the music produced is rarely meaningful. Folk singer Vance Gilbert uses it a lot, and it rarely has musical value (though when it does, it's great). I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Harry Carney. He was doing CB in the 20s and 30s with Duke.

[dsharlz]

Try "Circular Breathing" by Trent Kynaston, published by Studio 224, Miami, 1978 - I learned it from there and now I use it in soloing when I'm in the mood and when it makes sense musically

[WindMusician81]

Funny thing, I've been working at circular breathing for a few weeks now (not all that seriously, but still trying) and the first instument I had any success was with my Bariton, and trumpet. I haven't really played with them since there are more toys to me, and I don't have the time to really practice on the brass.
The other night at a band practice, I tried on my sax, and managed to take about 10 breaths before I had to stop. It still needs a lot of practice before I'll be able to actually hold a note constant, but I can keep some sort of tone going, but my pitch really drops.

I still haven't had any sort of luck with my digeridoo, or my chanter, but I'd assume with a good bit of practice those will come as well.

[MusicMedic]

Seems like it requires such concentration that the music produced is rarely meaningful.

Although I'm not great at it, I do find that the more I use it, the less it feels awkward. Actually, I begin to notice my regular breaths more and more...

[Agent27]

I was watching Conan O'Brien the other night and they had the trumpet player hold a note for 3-4 minutes. They said he does it before the show and the crowd gets into it. Another example of using it as a gimmick but just thought I'd share.

[Tenorsaxer]

If used well, circula breathing can add depth and beauty to solos.

[Morry]

I think a local Birmingham, AL player has taken the circular breathing record from Kenny G. Whoopee.

[GHawk]

I learned circular breathing when I was playing classical in college and it was workable for that genre of music - particularly Bach viola da gamba transcriptions and "Improvisation et Caprice". I don't "do" classical in public these days and circular breathing isn't practical (nor is it necessary) for those of us who play in the "Texas Tenor" style....you need lots of power - you can't store that kind of air in your little cheeks! :lol: Try it with a big 'ol NY Link on tenor....kind of pitiful soundin'. IMHO phrases are phrases and there's a natural place to breathe MOST of the time - go ahead and take that breath and work on those really important things instead.

[mr_eastbay]

il have to agree with Ghawk on this subject it youst be cool but folks
are catching on to it i saw one horn player dam near get a beer bottle thrown at him for playing one note for so long ...lol" people are coming to be more proceptive in listening now days some even got the pitch to listen to..... youl be surprise , circular breathing has been around .

[Bluemilk262]

I was watching Conan O'Brien the other night and they had the trumpet player hold a note for 3-4 minutes. They said he does it before the show and the crowd gets into it. Another example of using it as a gimmick but just thought I'd share.

ive been to watch the show and the trumpet guy does do that. he also turns really red. i have a didgeridoo too. those things are hard to play

[Kareeser]

IMHO phrases are phrases and there's a natural place to breathe MOST of the time -

Not when my band director is arranging songs, ;)

Straight eigth notes, all of them over the break and back. I know you said "Most of the time", though, ;)

[Rick]

I've heard that circular breathing can bring severe health effects in life, especially if you started using it at a young age. I've heard its very hard on the respatory system and people only live around 40 years after they start using it on a daily basis. How much truth is there to this? Is circular breathing really worth using?

[Rubel]

That is incorrect. Circular Breathing is not breathing in through your nose and out your mouth at the same time. It is breathing in through your nose, and PUSHING air out through your mouth, by storing air in your cheeks. You puff your cheeks out (sort of like a blow fish) and push it out in a steady stream, like you were breathing, while at the same time breathing through your nose. It's not that hard, unless you have a really open mouthpiece. I don't mean to belittle people by saying it's not that hard, but anyone can be trained to do it. It's just like patting your stomach and rubbing your head at the same time. It takes practice, you can amaze your friends, and there's really no point to it!

Rubel

[david044058]

Speaking about c/b, I tried the technique on my alto saxophone and on my first day, I managed to keep it for 10 min. Like 1 week later I held it for 31 min. For some reason this was really easy for me to do, I did the water exercise and the straw one too and it was a piece of cake. My goal is to beat the official record of almost 46 min. Oh and I have been playing the sax for 2 years and I’m 14 years old I’m the best saxophone player in my school!!!!!! 1st chair 7th and 8th grade!! (':D')