Tuning the Saxophone

how to tune a sax

Tuning is the process of matching pitch, which requires two sources: your instrument and another instrumentalist or electronic tuner. Experienced players tune to a "remembered" pitch.
How to Tune
1. Warm up thoroughly before tuning.
2. Tune to a reliable frequency using written "C", which is "Concert E-flat."
3. Play at a medium dynamic level without vibrato.
4. Adjust the mouthpiece on the neckpiece to lengthen or shorten the instrument.
5. "Pull out" to lower the pitch.
6. "Push in" to raise the pitch.
How to Control Pitch
Pitch problems can be corrected by changing the angle of the mouthpiece in the mouth, turning the neckpiece slightly to the right or left, or varying the amount of bottom lip over the teeth.
The saxophone embouchure does not have the lip flexibility of other woodwind embouchures. As a last resort, students may "lip up" the pitch by raising the jaw to tighten the embouchure. There is an excellent pitch-alteration chart (p. 66) in the book entitled, "The Art of Saxophone Playing" by Larry Teal.