How can I improve my intonation on the saxophone?

Answer 1

You work with a Tuner playing different scales very slowly making sure your notes align with "0" or as close as possible. Your embouchure has to be developed to maintain good intonation. This is why students, with the right teacher, practices embouchure exercises because it takes strength to stay in tune.

Answer 2

Intonation

There are four ways to improve saxophone intonation or ‘pitch accuracy’ as it is defined.

Neck:

 If the instrument is quality made with a matching neck originally from the manufacturer, the horn is ready to be played in tune. Often times the body of the instrument and the neck are swapped for aesthetic reasons thus ruining the original tuning of the instrument. The length of the neck and proper fitting of the neck onto the saxophone help determine pitch accuracy.

Mouthpiece:

There are a variety of mouthpieces out there; thousands probably. Some are meant to play loud, soft, jazz, rock and roll, classical, —you name it. There are mouthpieces for every personality or style you can think of. 

Basically what makes each mouthpiece different is the tip opening. The tip opening is the distance from the mouthpiece to the reed usually measured by a general number. The lower the number the smaller the opening, the higher the number the larger the opening. The bigger the tip opening the more air it takes to make a sound. The smaller the tip opening the less air it takes to make a sound.

Reed:

There are a variety of reeds out there; thousands probably. Some are meant to play loud, soft, jazz, rock and roll, classical, —you name it. There are reeds for every personality or style you can think of. 

Basically what makes each reed different is its thickness. The lower the number the smaller the thickness, the higher the number the larger the thickness. The thicker the reed the more air it takes to make a sound. The smaller the reed the less air it takes to make a sound. Finding a good reed/mouthpiece combination is like a good marriage.

Embouchure:

 Your mouth/lip position on the mouthpiece and reed must be firm yet not too tight to let the air through.

Answer 3

I like the answers these other people have put on this question: It is very important to produce more air support in your playing. When the air is weak the note will tend to be thin and even squeaky.

I would add that it is important to have the air support at the very beginning of your note. If you start off with less air pressure and then push more your will probably squeak. So, as you practice your long tones, try to be blow with equal pressure from the very beginning of the note to the end; a consistent air flow. Lower notes on the sax are going to require more support.

Answer 4

more and faster air is usually the key to gaining good intonation in the beginning. Playing long tones with a tuner can certainly help, but listening and matching good tone can help in developing a good sense of tone and intonation.

Answer 5

I practice long tones as a good way to warm up my sound and get in shape. But, I use a tuner when I am practicing exercises and will occasionally to find out where my intonation lies. In order to have good intonation, one has to here where they are sharp or flat, and find ways to relax the embouchure and use the muscles from your stomach and throat to carry the sound.