Sax growl...

[Delta_King]

I know how to do it and it sounds cool, but i cant maintain it for as long as other people. Is there any way i can keep the note suspended for longer?

[Janeway]

Well...
Do you run out of breath, or can you just not keep humming?

[Orion_Matter]

I for one would like to know how to do it. Someone once tried to explain how to do it to me once, but they weren't that great of a sax player and couldn't get it acrossed. Just kept saying something about going "oooo" or something like that.

[even if they were canadian]

I think you're supposed to hum while playing, but I can't do it. As soon as I start humming, the sax drops out. Does anyone else have trouble humming and playing at the same time?

[Janeway]

It was difficult at first, I couldn't blow while humming, but I eventually got the hang of it after about 30 minutes.
Pick a note that you're comfortable on, I would choose something without the octave key. I started on G but I figured out it was easier on low D.
Take a big breath, and just hold that note for a few seconds and then try to hum.
Hum a note different than the one your playing on. Usually it's easier to go lower, but it doesn't matter, just as long as it's different. You have to kind of open up your throat and push your voice out with your chest.
It's really not that hard, and once you pick it up, just try practicing long tones with it to improve.

[traveller]

I went to a sax workshop and they showed us how Coleman Hawkins did it on his tenor and he used to growl at the back of his throat whilst pushing the air through his mouth piece. But then again it'll take a lot of practice

[Orion_Matter]

Was this a bear type growl, or just a grr type growl?

[Det_Nosnip]

Actually, it was a death metal growl. Hawkins later went on to form the well-known death metal band, Cannibal Corpse. :p

[Delta_King]

Well...
Do you run out of breath, or can you just not keep humming?

I run out of breath

[Orion_Matter]

Does anyone have a link to something, or know of a song where I can hear exactly what a sax growl is supposed to sound like? I want to see if I'm doing it right.

[edhara]

Does anyone have a link to something, or know of a song where I can hear exactly what a sax growl is supposed to sound like? I want to see if I'm doing it right.
I'd start listening to Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen's group. He does it a LOT.

[Janeway]

I run out of breath
Do you practice long tones?
Of you don't, start.

[Blank]

I thought it said SEX growl :lol:

[Orion_Matter]

I'd start listening to Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen's group. He does it a LOT.

I'll have to check that out, thanks for the input.

...And SEX growl, eh? I think I got that down pretty well. heh heh :smoke: