How to Circle Breathe on Alto Saxophones

Circle breathing is used by people who play alto saxophone and other wind instruments.

Circle breathing --- also called circular breathing --- is a breathing technique used by people who play alto saxophone and other wind instruments. Circle breathing allows the player to sustain a note without taking noticeable stops for breathing in air, and it creates an effect that is very pleasing and impressive to listeners. You can deliver a seamless and continuous note or phrase by keeping a pocket of air in your cheeks and blowing that store of air into the instrument while simultaneously breathing in air through the nose.

Instructions

1. Puff out your cheeks, and play a note by blowing into your alto saxophone's mouthpiece with air from your lungs. Choose any note you'd like.

2. Touch the roof of your mouth with the base of your tongue. Use your tongue as a barrier between your throat and your mouth so the reserve of air in your cheeks doesn't escape. Keep sustaining the note by blowing a constant stream of air from your lungs into the instrument.

3. Inhale through your nose once your lungs are almost empty. While inhaling through your nose, simultaneously blow into the alto saxophone's mouthpiece with the reserve of air in your cheeks. Release the reserve of air at a constant, steady pace so the note does not waver or noticeably change.

4. Remove the base of your tongue from the roof of your mouth, and fill your cheeks back up with air, and repeat the entire process.

5. Practice circle breathing by sustaining one note or a series of notes for as long as you can without taking noticeable stops for air. Once you think you've got it mastered, incorporate the technique into your performances or recordings, if you are a performing or recording artist.

Tips & Warnings

• If you wish, you can practice circle breathing by blowing bubbles into a glass of water with a straw. When done properly, you should be able to achieve a constant stream of bubbles that continues even while you fill your lungs with air.

References

• Taming the Saxophone: Circular Breathing
• Woodwind; How Can I Learn Circular Breathing?; Robert S. Spring; 1993
• Planet Sax: The Circular Breathing