1. **How electric wind instruments /electronic-wind-instrument/electric-saxophone-ewi.htmluse breath to express emotions and dynamic changes**
- **Volume control**:
- The strength of breath is the key factor in controlling the volume of electric wind instruments. When the performer blows hard, the volume of the sound produced by the electric wind instrument will increase; while blowing softly, the volume will decrease. For example, when playing an exciting melody, such as march-style music, the volume can be increased by increasing the blowing force, making the music sound more heroic and exciting. On the contrary, when playing a soothing lyrical passage, such as a slow love song, blowing gently, with a smaller volume to express delicate and gentle emotions.
- The gradual change of breath strength is also very important. The volume can be gradually increased or decreased by gradually increasing or decreasing the blowing strength, thereby creating a dynamic sense of music. For example, in the climax of a piece of music, let the breath gradually increase from gentle to strong, so that the volume gradually increases, effectively promoting the rise of musical emotions.
- **Timbre shaping**:
- Different blowing speeds and pressures can affect the timbre of electric wind instruments. Generally speaking, fast and powerful airflow may make the timbre brighter and sharper, suitable for expressing cheerful, lively or nervous emotions. Slow and soft airflow will make the timbre softer and mellower, which is more suitable for expressing emotions such as tranquility and sadness.
- Some electric blowpipes also have the function of controlling the change of timbre parameters by breath. For example, the brightness and saturation of the timbre can be adjusted by the change of breath pressure. The performer can use this function to flexibly adjust the timbre according to the needs of musical emotions. For example, when expressing a dreamy musical scene, the brightness of the timbre can be reduced by slight changes in breath pressure, making the sound sound more ethereal.
- **Vibrato and vibrato effects**:
- Vibrato is achieved through slight fluctuations in breath. The performer can slightly change the force or speed of blowing regularly to make the pitch fluctuate slightly, thereby producing a vibrato effect. This vibrato can add emotional color to the music and make the notes sound more vivid and expressive. For example, when playing a long note in a classical music work, adding vibrato appropriately can make the music have a classical and elegant charm.
- The vibrato effect can also be produced by breath, which is similar to tremolo but may have a larger amplitude or a faster frequency. In some modern styles of music, such as pop or jazz, vibrato is used to enhance the rhythm and dynamics of the music, expressing excitement and lively emotions.
2. **The difference between the use of breath in electric blowpipes and traditional wind instruments**
- **Differences based on the principle of sound production**:
- The sound production of traditional wind instruments mainly depends on the vibration of the air column inside the instrument. For example, the flute makes sound by blowing air through the blowhole to make the air column in the tube vibrate, while the saxophone drives the air column in the tube to vibrate through the vibration of the single reed. In traditional wind instruments, the breath directly acts on the air column, and the change of breath will directly change the vibration state of the air column, thereby affecting the pitch, volume and timbre. The electric blowpipe first converts the air flow vibration into an electrical signal, and then processes the sound through electronic circuits and internal software. The effect of breath on sound production is indirect.
- **Differences in pitch control**:
- In traditional wind instruments, the pressure and speed of the breath can control the pitch to a certain extent. For example, in bamboo flute playing, by changing the force of blowing, the pitch can be overblown, raising the pitch by one octave or more. However, this pitch change method has different rules and techniques in different traditional instruments, and it takes a long time of practice to master it. The pitch of the electric blowpipe is mainly controlled by keys, and the direct influence of breath on the pitch is relatively small. However, in some advanced electric blowpipes, the pitch can also be fine-tuned by parameters such as breath pressure.
- **Differences in timbre control**:
- The timbre of traditional wind instruments is mainly determined by the material and structure of the instrument itself and the blowing skills of the performer. For example, saxophones of different materials (such as brass, phosphor bronze, etc.) will produce different timbre characteristics, and the performer changes the timbre through oral techniques such as mouth shape and tongue position. The timbre of the electric blowpipe is more determined by the internally stored timbre data and circuit processing. The influence of breath on the timbre is mainly achieved by adjusting the parameters of the timbre, such as brightness, saturation, etc., which is relatively more digital and flexible.
- **Differences in breath sensitivity**:
- Traditional wind instruments are more sensitive to breath because their sound generation is directly dependent on airflow vibrations. Even slight changes in the player's breath can have a noticeable effect on pitch, volume, and timbre. For example, when playing a clarinet, a small tremor in the breath can cause pitch instability. However, since the electric blowpipe has internal signal processing circuits, its sensitivity to breath can be adjusted through internal settings. Some electric blowpipes can be set to be sensitive to breath changes to simulate the high sensitivity of traditional wind instruments, or they can be set to be relatively insensitive to help beginners better control the sound.
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