Air notes
Blowing air through the instrument without deliberately sounding a
pitch. Notated with a verbal instruction. Effective
on the saxophone, and a wide range of articulations and
dynamics may be used. Pitches may also be specified.
Air notes:
Key Clicks
Rattling instrument keys. Notated with x-shaped notehads and a verbal
instruction. Works best on the baritone, but is effective on all the instruments.
Key clicks:
Multiphonics (played)
Playing chords. Fingering for the chord should be provided, either beside the note
or in an appendix to the score. However, consult
specialist manuals for detailed fingerings.
Chord notation:
Chords:
Multiphonics (sung)
Growling, or singing into the instrument while playing, is a recognised
substitute for fluttertonguing, but is also quite characteristic of
certain kinds of raucous sax playing styles. Notate with a verbal
instruction to "sing into the instrument" or "growl".
Growling:
Microtones
Intervals smaller than a semitone. Notations vary, but the examples
above show a microtonal inflection and a quartertone. Produced
by using 'fake' fingerings and/or adjusting the embouchure.
Most quartertones are possible on the sax, but the player will
need to prepare them in advance. N.B.
there is no fingering for G quarter-sharp
Mutes
Mutes are objects that are instered into the sax bell. They do exist,
but are rarely used.
Mutes:
Slap Tongue
A
violent release of the tongue, creating a 'slap' as the
vacuum is opened. Highly efective on the baritone.
Slap tongue: