
It’s easier to handle than a soprano sax, thanks to the neck and shoulder strap. You don’t need to make a tremendous effort to produce a sound when you start. It’s small and light enough to be comfortably held by a child. The alto sax is very often the first choice for beginners and children, because: Got it? Good, now let’s look into each model with more details. Meaning you probably won’t ever find a “regular” band with a baritone sax, unless it is a saxophone band or a big band. The only difference is their pitch, and some people say the alto’s pitch is similar to the one of a female voice, whereas the tenor’s pitch is similar to the male voice.Ĭheck out this video to hear the differences between these two for yourself:īefore making a decision, know that all 4 models share the same fingerings, meaning that if you can play one model, you technically can play all of them.Ĭhoosing a specific type of saxophone essentially comes down to these factors:īut let me tell you right now, the LEAST obvious choice here is the baritone sax, and that’s because it’s only very rarely played as a solo instrument…
Now, alto and tenor sax play the exact same range of notes, meaning their lowest and highest notes are the same. These are the 2 models you hear the most, inside as well as outside of jazz and classical music.
The tenor sax– which has a fuller, deeper sound. The alto sax– which has a bright, higher pitched sound, and…. So back to our 4 models: among them, 2 are especially popular: These instruments are extremely difficult to play, due either to their size and the technique required to play them. Indeed, try looking for models such as a sopranissimo or a subcontrabass saxophone and tell me how it went…Īnd if you ever do manage to find one, try to play it. These sizes cover the most common range of notes used in an orchestra/big band, and they are also the easiest models to come by, as well as the easiest to PLAY. There are many different saxophone sizes, but for this article I’ll cover the 4 most popular ones :
Its sound is produced by blowing into a mouthpiece and making a reed vibrate against this same mouthpiece.ĭepending on the model you’re looking at, all these parts vary in size. I have in today’s in-depth article everything you need to know to get started on the saxophone…Īs well as to take your playing to the next level if you are already a confirmed musician.Įven though it is mainly made of brass, the saxophone is not to be confused with brass instruments (which have no reed, such as the trumpet). So whether you want to learn to play that cheesy 80’s lick, or become the next John Coltrane… We all have in mind the image of a lone saxophonist playing in a foggy street of New York City at night… Right?Īnd there’s just something unique and fascinating about its sound, the musicians who play it, and even its shape…Īnd, unlike the vast majority of musical instruments, the saxophone is a fairly recent invention, which might be one of the reason it is so versatile. Let’s face it, we all considered playing it at some point in our life.
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So you wanna learn how to play the saxophone, huh?