Soprano Saxophone Support
Play longer, play stronger – the Soprano Saxophone Support takes the weight, relieves pain, and lets you enjoy the music.
Soprano Saxophone Support
The general idea of all ERGObrass and also ERGOsax soprano support is based on a simple fact that all wind instruments are heavy to hold. We all know that relaxation is very important also in soprano saxophone playing. However, holding the instrument in playing position inevitably produces a static tension especially in right hand and thumb but also in the arm, shoulders, upper body and throat. Typically a player bend his or her head down and play the soprano downwards. This enables the neck strap to carry a part of the weight but the posture is difficult in the long run. Also the bell should be pointing higher to the audience, but then the neck strap does not help at all…
Most players can play with this curved posture and the tension, of course – but the tension is always there, disturbing the performance.
The real solution for the problems above is simple: by using an ERGOsax support every soprano sax player can stay totally relaxed while playing. And in addition to the better efficiency, it is also very comfortable!
The ERGOsax soprano support is specially designed to be a handy medium to enable the player to keep his or her hands and upper body completely relaxed by removing the need for the arms to support the weight of the soprano sax. Instead, the ERGOsax will transmit the weight of the horn to the chair, or to the belt pouch the player may wear.
Freeing up the upper body can also help the most important aspects of wind playing: breathing and airflow. With the weight of the instrument taken off of the body, the player’s touch and feel for playing are improved and stresses are reduced.
How to install the attaching part, the “ERGOPenguin”
Place the support head, the penguin, on top of the rod and the other spring below the penguin so that the spring is pointing downwards.
Plug the ERGOPenguin head to the neck strap ring of your instrument. Press the black button, this opens the slot lock and you can put the neck strap ring inside the slot, then release.
Put the support rod inside the black support tube and wrap the rubber band of the tube around the larger and lower screw of the spring lock.
In the support rod there is a coiled spring in order to give a smooth and soft floating feel to the horn. Your hands and arms are no more supporting the weight of the instrument.
You can attach your neck strap to the ring in the penguin neck to give you some extra stability even if the support takes most of the weight. Note, in the photo is an English horn.)
Now the weight of the soprano is transmitted to the belt pouch or to the chair. There is also a little ring in the support head. Put the strap lock in this ring as using the strap will keep the soprano better in balance, even your neck is no longer supporting the weight.
With the Patented Penguin head you can adjust how much the spring bends while you play and move your instrument. The higher the Penguin head is locked on the rod, the more it can move in all directions. This will give you a very smooth feeling! The lower it is, the more firm and stable feeling you get. At the lowest position the rod goes inside the penguin head and then it cannot bend at all. Experiment with different settings to find what you like best.
What people are saying
Joonatan Rautiola“The sound is more free and your body does not get tired. In case of baritone you can play with this easily from the front with the help of the ERGOsax and then your upper body is not twisted. This helps your respiration.
When you breath is deeper, your sound is deeper as well!”
Professor of Saxophone
Sibelius Academy
Helsinki Finland
Philippe Poussard“Thanks to the ERGOsax, you do not need to carry the instrument any longer. You eliminate tensions of the right thumb rest that can lead to serious injuries such as tendonitis. Consequently, without constraint, you can aim at a much better dexterity. No matter what you play, you have to seriously consider the positive implications of the ERGOsax on your playing.”
Saxophonist Bois-Colombes
Paris, France