Forge of a 2nsmithTales and tellings from Tunesmith/Saxman, Mac McClanahan, as he tries to make the world a happier place one tune at a time. My goal is to share some of my observations and experiences.
We’ll be trying out a few new arrangements I penned for the Double Stuff Horns of FCnF. Truly, a Hi-Octane weekend brews ahead. Sax Assured with Foster Campbell and Friends on Thursday and Saturday. Click on an event link for more details.
To update you: Through March my next few Sax Gigs are at private events. I will be posting my public appearances as I receive all the specifics. On the Tunesmith front, I’m currently working on three horn arrangement commissions.
While in my Saxman alter ego, I was searching the web for tuning note tones in mp3 format that I could download for my phone and iPod. (Yup, I have a phone AND an iPod, but I don’t own a tuner.) I didn’t find much that was useful and free. I did find a blog post by Mike O’Connor,
which included tones for orchestral and guitar tuning using the pitches A, D, and E Concert. I found the mp3 files straightforward, well-done and easy enough to download. [Thumbs-up Mr. O’Connor.] Oh yeah, …and I loved the price (free.) Still, as a Tenor Saxophonist, I was looking for pitches that would help me center the intonation of my axe. So, I booted up the ol’ Finale music notation program to generate the pitches I really wanted and convert them to mp3’s.
Well, once I saw the manuscript paper I was in Tunesmith mode. I couldn’t just stop at four whole notes of Concert G. Time to tinker! Even though I realize as a practical matter most musicians can tune their horns in 8 to 16 beats, I decided to take things a little further by adding a second pitch and additional reference devices to help center a performer’s intonation on the same track. Needles on tuners are nice and usually very accurate, but during performance we rely upon our ears to stay in tune. It’s better to check more than one note, as a horn player, to be certain you’re ready to play in tune.
Naturally, I couldn’t leave my section-mates hangin’. So, I forged similar tracks for Alto, Bari, Trumpet and ‘Bone. Remember: Tuning aids are nice to have, but the best performers make time to WARM-UP and KEEP Their EARS ON. Listen! Listen! LISTEN! Following are links to the Tuning Note mp3s. The tracks are geared for a quick reference for seasoned players or as a training tool for newer instrumentalists. If there is sufficient request, I’ll forge more of these for different instruments.
Many thanks to Anthony (Tony) Aguilar and Phil Blass for their invaluable input. Thanks again to Mike O’Connor.
Thursday, May 9, 2013: CSU Bakersfield’s 41st Annual Spring BBQ.
Forge of a 2nsmith 