Chromatic Scale - Throat Still Images

These still images, extracted from the video clip of the chromatic scale, highlight the significant changes in the tongue, glottis, and pharyngeal wall across the range of the alto saxophone from Bb3 to F#6. Notice that the pharyngeal space is much more narrow in the image of Bb3 located in the top row (in anticipation of the initial attack) than in the image of Bb3 in the bottom row (the last note of the scale, when the reed is already in vibration). This narrowing of the pharyngeal space may be due to the need for greater flow of air in initiating vibration of the reed.



 
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