And so you've finally made a resolution that your goal is to start playing the saxophone. Except before anything else, you've got a variety of judgment calls to muse on. Saxophones aren't the most budget friendly of woodwind instruments. Therefore you'll have to think carefully about selecting the right one for you.
When it comes to saxophones, there are four basic types of saxophone. These are soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Soprano is the highest pitch and physically smallest of these four. It is in the key of Bb. After soprano, each saxophone increases in size, but is lower in pitch. There is half an octave between the key that each of these is tuned in. This makes the alto sax one-half octave lower than the soprano saxophone. Therefore, the alto is in the key of Eb. The tenor sax is half an octave lower than the alto and in the key of B flat, but at a full octave below the soprano. Lastly, baritone saxophone is an octave lower than the alto and therefore also in the key of E flat.
What's more, beginners are often advised in school to get started with the clarinet ahead of taking on the sax. The clarinet requires trickier fingering. The general consensus is that if you're able to achieve this then you'll make light work of progressing on the saxophone. Even so, there exists a second way of thinking which suggests that the saxophone is an ideal beginner's instrument. This is largely attributed to its more gentle learning curve. The saxophone's embouchure is reckoned to be a bit less difficult. Embouchure refers to the way you apply the mouth to the mouth piece to generate musical notes. Both this and the ordinary spread of keys are much easier to operate in comparison with the clarinet and flute. Therefore, a student saxophonist could produce a satisfying tone out of their instrument with less difficulty.
Now the question arises of which saxophone is best for you. The alto sax is by far the most commonly recommended of the four. This is essentially because it is the easiest to play. The moderate pitch of the alto means that you don't have to blow so hard to get a tone out of it. The relatively small size of the instrument also makes it ideal for children's hands. The keys are closer together due to this and so playing them is not so hard. The alto saxophone also happens to be the most regularly implemented type of saxophone in classical compositions. Consequently, there's a considerable amount of music for the alto saxophone readily available.
But apart from all this advice, it is highly recommended to try out a variety of saxophones before you buy. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from music store staff. In addition, a teacher usually can give good recommendations on where to buy a suitable horn. Remember, getting the cheapest model isn't always the best decision in the long run. Even though saxophones can be expensive, a pricier sax will more likely stand the test of time. It will also produce a nicer tone and this is important when you are learning an instrument.
When it comes to saxophones, there are four basic types of saxophone. These are soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. Soprano is the highest pitch and physically smallest of these four. It is in the key of Bb. After soprano, each saxophone increases in size, but is lower in pitch. There is half an octave between the key that each of these is tuned in. This makes the alto sax one-half octave lower than the soprano saxophone. Therefore, the alto is in the key of Eb. The tenor sax is half an octave lower than the alto and in the key of B flat, but at a full octave below the soprano. Lastly, baritone saxophone is an octave lower than the alto and therefore also in the key of E flat.
What's more, beginners are often advised in school to get started with the clarinet ahead of taking on the sax. The clarinet requires trickier fingering. The general consensus is that if you're able to achieve this then you'll make light work of progressing on the saxophone. Even so, there exists a second way of thinking which suggests that the saxophone is an ideal beginner's instrument. This is largely attributed to its more gentle learning curve. The saxophone's embouchure is reckoned to be a bit less difficult. Embouchure refers to the way you apply the mouth to the mouth piece to generate musical notes. Both this and the ordinary spread of keys are much easier to operate in comparison with the clarinet and flute. Therefore, a student saxophonist could produce a satisfying tone out of their instrument with less difficulty.
Now the question arises of which saxophone is best for you. The alto sax is by far the most commonly recommended of the four. This is essentially because it is the easiest to play. The moderate pitch of the alto means that you don't have to blow so hard to get a tone out of it. The relatively small size of the instrument also makes it ideal for children's hands. The keys are closer together due to this and so playing them is not so hard. The alto saxophone also happens to be the most regularly implemented type of saxophone in classical compositions. Consequently, there's a considerable amount of music for the alto saxophone readily available.
But apart from all this advice, it is highly recommended to try out a variety of saxophones before you buy. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from music store staff. In addition, a teacher usually can give good recommendations on where to buy a suitable horn. Remember, getting the cheapest model isn't always the best decision in the long run. Even though saxophones can be expensive, a pricier sax will more likely stand the test of time. It will also produce a nicer tone and this is important when you are learning an instrument.
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