Tuning Your Saxophone
The easiest and most accurate way to tune your saxophone is by using an electronic tuner. An electronic tuner allows you to see whether the note you are playing is sharp (too high) or flat (too low). There are several types of electronic tuners but most are relatively inexpensive and simple to operate. Use a chromatic tuner with a built-in microphone.
The pitch of the saxophone can be altered by either pushing the mouthpiece further onto the cork at the end of the neck, or pulling it back a bit.
Start by playing a G note. If your note is flat you can make it higher by pushing the mouthpiece gently a little further onto the cork. Be careful to move the mouthpiece only a small amount at a time, or you may put the instrument out of tune in the opposite direction, i.e., you may make the note sound too sharp instead of too flat. Once you have moved the mouthpiece, play the note again and check it against the tuner. If your note is still flat, repeat this process until your G note is in tune.
If your G note is sharp you will have to move the mouthpiece in the opposite direction. Pull it out along the cork a small amount and then check your note against the tuner. Once again, repeat the process if necessary until your G note is in tune.
If you have trouble finding the right pitch, don’t worry, this is common and tuning will become easier as your lips and facial muscles develop and you get a better sense of the sounds of notes in general.
