Forum of the Saxes

girl sax · Guest

Hello Everyone! I am new in music topis. One day I decided to learn to play the sax but now I know that I need is to select one kind of sax for playing .. but I don't know what kind of sax to buy. I want to play jazz and blues but I'm not sure if I need to buy a baritone sax, tenor sax,or soprano sax. I don't know. Could you help me?
Thanks in advance...

Edited because it HAD to be a translated message from italian or something... Razz

Bariman · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:29 pm Post subject:

An alto is a good versatile size, and is less costly and easier to start out on. Tenor is a little more expensive, but has a slightly lower range. Try both out and decide which you like the best.

Bariman

Italian:
Un contralto è una misura di versatile buona, e è meno costoso e più facile cominciare fuori su. Il tenore è un poco più costoso, ma ha una gamma leggeramente più bassa. Tentare entrambi fuori da e decidere che lei ama il meglio.

Bariman
_________________
Resident Conn Aficionado, Baritone Saxophonist
Currently Moderating 'Vintage Horns', and the Usergroup for Bari Saxophonists!

altosax4ever · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:50 pm Post subject:

It looks like it might have been from Italian, cause before I edited it, it said contralto. Wow, that was a guess!
_________________
Music IS Life

(and the saxophone is breathing)

JPSaxMan · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 5:57 pm Post subject:

Yes, I would look at an alto first. It's the easiest to learn technique on, and of course, easier to afford. A good Yamaha YAS-23 is around $1,000 (USD). Not that "cheap", but cheap can be bad in the saxophone world.

I wish you luck on your sax quest! It most likely will be a lot of fun! Cool

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

reisio · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 177 Location: Florida

Try as many as you can, then pick your favorite.

acdcgraphics · Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 64 Location: California

I concur with JP, I still have my Yamaha YAS-23 bought new for me in 1986, it is in great shape, they are very durable and versatile, and have enough to get you through your formative years. I play mine still in a community marching band and jazz whenever I can. Alto is a great way to start, I now have a tenor, and it is harder to play, get your chops developed on an alto, going higher -- a soprano for instance-- is very difficult to keep in tune and they are more expensive. Also, I don't know about you, but I am short and the alto, especially my YAS-23, because of it's comfy keywork, is not only great for a beginner but fits a woman's hands nicely. I can really play now quickly on my alto, whereas, on my tenor, I'm nowhere near as fast, my fingers sometimes strain to reach...
_________________
Visit me!
http://www.acdcgraphics.com
http://www.capitolpops.org
http://www.chcmb.com
http://www.myspace.com/mammaava

Remist · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 8

Can I ask what you meant by the soprano being hard to keep in tune? Do you mean the sax itself is changing pitch because of shape size or mechanical inadequacies, or is the problem with the player? Perhaps like maybe embouchure is more critical or something. Cheers