Tuning an Alto Sax

[adrianw]

I suppose it's a very basic question but how do you tune an alto sax. I bought an Intelli Metro Tuner and like most things these days the instructions are almost non existent.
I have the pitch set at 440hz and then play a note but to get the note to show correctly on the display I have to enter 2 flats. Does anyone out there have one of these devices or something similar and can they enlighten me. :?:

[Dave Dolson]

Adrian: If its "440hz" then the tone sounded is an A. Because your alto is an Eb instrument, try sounding your F# and see if that reads anywhere close on the meter.

Most tuners I know will read any note you play and interpret it to the meter, but maybe your's is a one-note wonder. Hope that helps. DAVE

[adrianw]

If I set the tuner to the standard A=440HZ (no flats) it shows an A when I play an F#. Is that what you meant and does that mean I am playing in tune. :?:

[MS]

Tuners usually show the pitch in concert key, unless your model alows you to set to transposition. If you play alto saxophone, you will need to think transposition to concert key.

So if you play a C, the tuner will show Eb. if you play a G, tuner will show Bb and so on.

[Dave Dolson]

Adrian: MS is correct.

And - Yes, that's what I meant. I am not familiar with your brand of tuner. I assume it has a meter that will show how far off pitch you are for any given note.

If your tuner just shows one note (and that would be concert A = 440hz), then when you blow your F#, the tuner should show how close you are to being in tune with its concert A.

If the tuner shows you are flat, you should push the mouthpiece in until you come to pitch - if it shows sharp, then you must pull it out to come to pitch.

I don't know what brand of horn you are playing, but most horns will be in tune at that point. Better horns will be in pitch over the entire instrument's range once you place the mouthpiece correctly on the cork (and the tuner shows you to be in tune). Lesser-quality horns may be in tune at that note but be off on other notes. Therein is a problem. DAVE

[Metro Gnome]

k, so once I've pushed the mouthpiece onto the cork to attain the correct pitch (440Hz) should I mark on the cork the position? OR, will the various reed imperfections and subtitles affect? i.e. can I make a one position fits all with that mouth piece or (for perfection) should I re-tune each time?

Most of my playing is personal practice. Of course, it makes sense to 'tune' before a gig etc...
:roll:

[Dave Dolson]

Metro: I do that - mark my corks. But that changes when I change mouthpieces and they are different lengths. But a mark helps me come close enough in situations where I can't tune up before playing (I know . . . when is THAT? Believe me, it happens) - then all I have to do is make small adjustments and I'm on with the gig. DAVE

[colibri]

According to Ralph Morgan, if you tune up your C2 with the overtone of C1, you will automatically have the position of the mouthpiece on the neck where it plays the most in tune, because that's the same position on the blue print of the saxophone.

[Gandalfe]

What Colibri sez is also the test I use to tell if a horn has good intonation. If I can get the two in tune, I pass on the horn.

[adrianw]

Thanks guys!
At least now I know I'm in tune. :P