After years of deliberating you've finally made the decision that you should start to play the saxophone. With that hurdle out of the way you can rest easy. Right? Wrong! It's one thing to decide to learn the saxophone, but it's another to decide on which saxophone to learn.
When choosing a saxophone you must decide on which type you want to learn. There are four main types of sax: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Each of these carries a different pitch, dependant on the key it is in. Soprano is the highest and is the key of Bb. The alto is one-half octave lower and in the key of Eb. Tenor sax is an entire octave lower than soprano and thus also in Bb. The baritone saxophone is therefore the lowest in pitch and also the largest in physical size. It is one full octave lower than alto sax and so also in the key of E flat.
If you are a school pupil you might find that your teacher suggests learning the clarinet first. There is an opinion out there that the skills required for clarinet provide a good foundation for the saxophone. However, the clarinet is undoubtedly harder to play. This is why many actually prefer to start on the saxophone. The embouchure for the sax is definitely less difficult compared to both the flute and clarinet. This refers to the way we shape our mouth to the instrument. In addition, the actual pressing of the keys is also easier on a saxophone. All of this means that it doesn't take as long for a student to get a good sound of out their sax. This in itself can be a great motivational force to keep practising.
But which of the four saxophones should you learn? The alto saxophone stands out as the one nearly all inexperienced players are recommended to start with. This is largely owing to the instrument's pitch. The alto has less demanding breath work than the higher pitch of the soprano and the lower pitch of the tenor and baritone. The scale of keys are also closer together and the physical size of the alto is on the smaller side. All of this makes it an easier instrument to hold and play for children. But another big draw is that there is a lot of sheet music written specifically for the alto saxophone. This is because it is the most commonly employed of all the saxophones in classical music.
But the main thing regarding choosing a sax is tracking down one that just feels right for you. It doesn't have to be the prettiest or even produce the best tone. But it does have to have something about it that will keep you motivated. A word of warning, saxophones aren't cheap! Most independent music stores will offer good impartial advice so don't be afraid to ask. It is also worth talking to a music teacher to see if they have any recommendations. You can even find some shops that loan out instruments. this can be a great way of seeing if you really want to invest in a good sax.
When choosing a saxophone you must decide on which type you want to learn. There are four main types of sax: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Each of these carries a different pitch, dependant on the key it is in. Soprano is the highest and is the key of Bb. The alto is one-half octave lower and in the key of Eb. Tenor sax is an entire octave lower than soprano and thus also in Bb. The baritone saxophone is therefore the lowest in pitch and also the largest in physical size. It is one full octave lower than alto sax and so also in the key of E flat.
If you are a school pupil you might find that your teacher suggests learning the clarinet first. There is an opinion out there that the skills required for clarinet provide a good foundation for the saxophone. However, the clarinet is undoubtedly harder to play. This is why many actually prefer to start on the saxophone. The embouchure for the sax is definitely less difficult compared to both the flute and clarinet. This refers to the way we shape our mouth to the instrument. In addition, the actual pressing of the keys is also easier on a saxophone. All of this means that it doesn't take as long for a student to get a good sound of out their sax. This in itself can be a great motivational force to keep practising.
But which of the four saxophones should you learn? The alto saxophone stands out as the one nearly all inexperienced players are recommended to start with. This is largely owing to the instrument's pitch. The alto has less demanding breath work than the higher pitch of the soprano and the lower pitch of the tenor and baritone. The scale of keys are also closer together and the physical size of the alto is on the smaller side. All of this makes it an easier instrument to hold and play for children. But another big draw is that there is a lot of sheet music written specifically for the alto saxophone. This is because it is the most commonly employed of all the saxophones in classical music.
But the main thing regarding choosing a sax is tracking down one that just feels right for you. It doesn't have to be the prettiest or even produce the best tone. But it does have to have something about it that will keep you motivated. A word of warning, saxophones aren't cheap! Most independent music stores will offer good impartial advice so don't be afraid to ask. It is also worth talking to a music teacher to see if they have any recommendations. You can even find some shops that loan out instruments. this can be a great way of seeing if you really want to invest in a good sax.
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Beginners looking for alto saxophones for sale would do well to try yamaha saxophones uk.
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