Sticky keys on saxophone!?

Question:I have 1 really sticky key on my saxophone! It's the key you add to make a D sharp. It's been sticky for a while but now I can barely play. Everyone says that's the worst key but I still want to fix it. Should I get my pad replaced? Thats supposedly really expensive. Are there any tricks that can fix it? I think someone once said dollar bills work? Please help! I have all-state auditions soon and my song has a lot of D sharps! Thanks!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have 1 really sticky key on my saxophone! It's the key you add to make a D sharp. It's been sticky for a while but now I can barely play. Everyone says that's the worst key but I still want to fix it. Should I get my pad replaced? Thats supposedly really expensive. Are there any tricks that can fix it? I think someone once said dollar bills work? Please help! I have all-state auditions soon and my song has a lot of D sharps! Thanks!

DO NOT use alcohol or mouthwash! That will hurt the pad if used directly on it! ESPECIALLY don't use mouthwash, because believe it or not, there are sugar products in it. If you use anything, use the instrument sani-spray (in a plastic bottle, green color).

The dollar bill trick will work and is especially good for saxophone pads since they are leather and have a lesser chance of tearing than bladder pads. Do this trick VERY gently.
*Take the dollar bill and lift your pad. Place it under the pad and let it close.
*GENTLY pull it out of the location.
*Repeat until pad is clean.

After you're done, take a few q-tips and wet the ends with water. Raise the pad and wipe the edges of the tone hole with the q-tips and let it dry completely before letting the pad return to the tone hole. Be careful with this and don't let any strings or fuzzies fall off of the q-tip and into the tone hole.

Once you're done, clean out your saxophone like you normally do after playing (at least, I hope you do) just in case you didn't catch any fuzzies from the Q-tip.

Make sure to always rinse your mouth out with water and don't consume any foods or sugary products before playing--those items can buildup on your pads and on the inside of your saxophone. Also clean it regularly after playing. Without taking these needed cleaning measures, the sax can mildew and rust.

You don't need to get a pad replaced simply because of dirt buildup, unless the pad will not seal/seat, is torn, or falls out....the pads themselves are not super-expensive, the labor costs are. Replacing pads on a saxophone is tricky and time consuming because you have to remove so many keys just to get to one pad.

Good luck!

you've got dried/congealed spit in the valve. use rubbing alchohal. even mouthwash. make sure you lubricate after it dries. AND work the valve once you've aplied.