Growling Technique

[keys4ever]

Is there any specific method for growling, cuz one day i was practicing and i was kinda 'feeling' it, and i did the growl, but did really know wat i did in order to accomplish it. I always hear really good sax. players do it...and i tried but was not successful. I think it adds some spice to ur playing experience.. and hopefully it would do the same to mine. However, I dont want to over do it, cuz them it becomes boring, nor do i want to do it by luck. So is there any specific method of growling? Considering your embrochure(think i spelled that wrong), breathing...etc...

[dfwkeys]

Growling on the saxophone is used in rock, jazz and blues as an effect to change the sound of the sax, giving it more emphasis.  Sometimes, growling will be used for a whole song, like distortion on a guitar, and sometimes, it will be added only to certain notes or phrases to colour them.

Growling is done by singing, or rather vocalising, through the saxophone while playing the note.  The pitch of the vocal note doesn't really matter, but I find that something a bit below the played note works well.  If you sing the same pitch as the note you are playing, then the growl will not work, because the growl relies on the interference between the vocal pitch and the played pitch.

Normally, a note is played by just blowing, with the vocal chords inactive.  To growl, you use your vocal chords as well.  The difficulty comes in getting enough air through, because getting your vocal chords to vibrate requires much less air pressure than getting the sax reed to vibrate.  Practice by saying "aaaaaaahh" (quite loudly), and blowing through your lips.  Start with an open mouth, (and your nose closed) and gradually close your mouth.  As your lips gradually close, you will find it harder to say aaaah, but keep pushing with your stomach muscles, until your lips are almost closed, and you can feel the air blowing out of your lips onto your hand.  The harder you can blow with this exercise the better.

Now try the same thing on the sax.  Finger a G in the first octave.  Just say "aaaah" through the sax at first, and then gradually push more air, and press the reed with your lip until you've built up enough air and embouchure pressure to vibrate the reed.  If you find that your vocal chords stop before the reed starts, start saying "aaah" louder, and keep pushing with your stomach muscles.

Once you've got the basic technique, it's quite easy to adjust the amount of growl.   Try growling a whole scale, but remember not to sing the same scale, because growling doesn't work if you sing the same note as you play.  To start, don't worry about changing vocal pitch as you change notes - just keep saying aaah, and let the sax do the scale.  For a real challenge, try playing a long note, and fading a growl in and out. 

http://www.wirelessdatasys.com/dea/music/growling.htm

[keys4ever]

Thank you... ..I'll practice this asap.!!

[vkeys314]

to do the growl effect you should hum in harmony to the note that you are playing... that will give you the best effect in the growl.... remember to practice before you do it in public... you may be able to find a way to do it that is easier than what other people tell yous

[saxandkeys]

to do the growl effect you should hum in harmony to the note that you are playing... that will give you the best effect in the growl.... remember to practice before you do it in public... you may be able to find a way to do it that is easier than what other people tell yous

Growling on the saxophone is used in rock, jazz and blues as an effect to change the sound of the sax, giving it more emphasis.  Sometimes, growling will be used for a whole song, like distortion on a guitar, and sometimes, it will be added only to certain notes or phrases to colour them.

Growling is done by singing, or rather vocalising, through the saxophone while playing the note.  The pitch of the vocal note doesn't really matter, but I find that something a bit below the played note works well.  If you sing the same pitch as the note you are playing, then the growl will not work, because the growl relies on the interference between the vocal pitch and the played pitch.

Normally, a note is played by just blowing, with the vocal chords inactive.  To growl, you use your vocal chords as well.  The difficulty comes in getting enough air through, because getting your vocal chords to vibrate requires much less air pressure than getting the sax reed to vibrate.  Practice by saying "aaaaaaahh" (quite loudly), and blowing through your lips.  Start with an open mouth, (and your nose closed) and gradually close your mouth.  As your lips gradually close, you will find it harder to say aaaah, but keep pushing with your stomach muscles, until your lips are almost closed, and you can feel the air blowing out of your lips onto your hand.  The harder you can blow with this exercise the better.

Now try the same thing on the sax.  Finger a G in the first octave.  Just say "aaaah" through the sax at first, and then gradually push more air, and press the reed with your lip until you've built up enough air and embouchure pressure to vibrate the reed.  If you find that your vocal chords stop before the reed starts, start saying "aaah" louder, and keep pushing with your stomach muscles.

Once you've got the basic technique, it's quite easy to adjust the amount of growl.   Try growling a whole scale, but remember not to sing the same scale, because growling doesn't work if you sing the same note as you play.  To start, don't worry about changing vocal pitch as you change notes - just keep saying aaah, and let the sax do the scale.  For a real challenge, try playing a long note, and fading a growl in and out. 

http://www.wirelessdatasys.com/dea/music/growling.htm

.................those are really good post.  I was never able to explain that to anyone in words.

[lisacrum]

I can barely respond to this for laughing...not at your question, but at my answer! 

The best way I can describe the way to do it is to drop your jaw while keeping an airlock on the mouthpiece, and let the air vibrate through as if you're going to imitate a horse snorting, or even faking the exhale part of a snore.  (See I warned you my answer was going to be dumb!  But it works!)

It's awkward when you first practice it, and I'm sure there are some who can instruct you better than I on the method.  This is just what works for me, and I may even be told that I do it wrong!  LOL   

Also, growling is a great technique but use it sparingly.  Ever hear someone finally learn how to do it vocally and then they try to do it too much when they sing?  It gets annoying and it's overly obvious that the person's trying too hard to show off the fact that they can do it now.  Same applies with a sax.  Choose those times when a growl is really a great accent, and use it only then.   

[Ladymusic88]

I can barely respond to this for laughing...not at your question, but at my answer! 

The best way I can describe the way to do it is to drop your jaw while keeping an airlock on the mouthpiece, and let the air vibrate through as if you're going to imitate a horse snorting, or even faking the exhale part of a snore.  (See I warned you my answer was going to be dumb!  But it works!)

It's awkward when you first practice it, and I'm sure there are some who can instruct you better than I on the method.  This is just what works for me, and I may even be told that I do it wrong!  LOL   

Also, growling is a great technique but use it sparingly.  Ever hear someone finally learn how to do it vocally and then they try to do it too much when they sing?  It gets annoying and it's overly obvious that the person's trying too hard to show off the fact that they can do it now.  Same applies with a sax.  Choose those times when a growl is really a great accent, and use it only then.   

Almost like you are gargling? 

[lisacrum]

Well, not quite (now you have me laughing at myself!).  But in that same respect, you have to have your throat and jaw relaxed.  Trying to think now of similar instances.  I think we all played with toy cars and stuff when we were little...remember making the car engine sound?  It's just that vibration thing happening, without the vocal sound effects (no gear shifting!!!!).  Or, how about a horse "snorting"?  The growling is, in part, the result of the tongue vibrating on the back of the upper palate while air is being exhaled from the lungs.  Gee, there's NO good way I can describe this!  LOL  Another thing that comes to mind is "hocking a loogie!"  (sp?) No, scrap that one...I'm afraid I might cause some one to take me literally and boy would that be messy to try to clean out of a horn!  Ewwwwwwww! 

Anyway, using WHATEVER example can help you achieve the same end, keep the mouth firm on the mouthpiece, but don't pinch the reed at the tip.  You need to keep that air flowing through the mouthpiece.

Somebody call me a paddy wagon.  I'd say by now my credibility is shot and y'all think I am, as someone else put it somewhere on this board, "short bus certified."

Bottom line--do whatever works!    

[Dan Duncan]

There is such great advice already given!  So yes, vocalizing is the way to go, (humming, singing, whatever).  The thing is, you've got to find what works best for YOU...not only in terms of sound, but also comfort.  There are many ways to accomplish your goal...experiment and be wise about it.  As a trumpet player, we can either hum, or flutter our tongue.  I don't think you can do that on sax, but if somebody can, please let me know.

Dan