Low notes on Bari

Hi All, I'm having the devil of a time getting the low notes (C and below) to sound right on my Bari - a 3 month old Yamaha YBS62..I've tried reeds from several manufacturers in strengths varying from 1 1/2 to 3 1/2. And I just get a lot of honking on the low notes. I can hit them if I play down the scale from G down to low A, but if I have to hit one in a fast moving piece it just sounds like some weird harmonic. Any

Weird harmonics or bobbling on low notes could well be leaks in the horn.

Check with a drop light, low Eb, C and the C# pads. Also check to see that there is no movement of the closed G# when fingering low C#, B and Bb. Also check the upper part of the horn. Look, again with a drop light, the side Bb, C and the left hand stack. Sometimes a leak an octave above the problem spot is the cause of the problem.

Leaks that will effect the low notes could be almost anywhere. They could be in the lower stack as well. It is particularly important that the F# pad cup closes. If either of the adjusting screws that close G# or the one and one Bb have been turned in too far, the F# will not properly close. (The center of the horn is the heart of the horn. This is where all pad heights are determined, including the bell keys, and where the articulated G# can either help or hurt.

A reed that does not balance on the back sides will make low notes hard to

Presumably it was OK when you bought the horn, take it back to the shop to get fixed

PT

Hi Al when playing the scale down, do the notes feel like they want to break? Or do they flow easily from the horn? If the notes are easy on the scale, then I would suspect a breath support issue. It does take a lot of support to excite the long air column in a bari on an attack (and you get used to playing in front of the beat so the sound comes out on the beat), much less to add small amounts as in playing a scale. Try playing louder and see if the notes come out. If so, keep practicing the long tones to build up breath support. If the notes feel like the want to break, can you identify a single note that is very bad (say C is difficult, B is nearly impossible, Bb and A are difficult)? If so, look for a leak halfway between that pad and the mouthpiece. If all the notes below a certain point (say D is OK, but C on down are impossible), then look for a leak around the last good note, plus or minus a pad. The YBS-62 is a great bari. It should play in tune and with ease throughout the scale of the horn. And yes, it is possible to play a pp low A or Bb (something I was never able to do on all the MkVI baris I played.) Mark Bushaw

If you're not already doing it, work on long tone excercises on these low notes. This is a great way to firm up intonation, strengthen your embouchure and increase your breath support besides. After you've done long tone work for 10-15 minutes, your low notes should pop out a lot easier.

If you ARE already doing long tone exercises and still having this problem, it sounds to me like your horn needs adjustment.

JL

JTL in Atlanta (remove .conn from address to reply)

I had this problem for a while, too. Try dropping your jaw

Also, make sure that everything is sealed up tight. Those big pads and long rods are prone to mishandling, and any leak there acts as a register vent, popping your erstwhile big fat low A into aome sort of warped high Bb.

Finally, I strongly second the loose application of the lower jaw. It's the most likely cause if everything else is in good condition.

Terry L. Stibal

Hi Al and Mark. Yes Mark I couldn't agree more that the YBS 62 is a great bari, mine is great and gorgeous as well. Luscious low A btw. Interesting what you say about the Mark VI's not playing as well at pp, I've only played my 62 bari, and yes can play so so quietly all over its range, and of course explode at will with much glee hehe. Incredible horn. I'm using an 8* metal Link and loving that also btw. Also I concur with the slack jaw idea, though I prefer to think of it as a looser embouchure feel for the baritone, over its entire range, not dropping my jaw for low notes. Good luck with what ails yours Al, tight embouchure, unbalanced/wrong reed/s or a leak or perhaps a damaged facing on your mouthpiece?? Horns are challenging at times are they not?... but the YBS 62 is way worth it. My advice if all else is failing, get it checked over by the best repair guy you can find. Regards Dave Artmonas