Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Should A Beginner Saxophonist Learn The Alto Sax?

By Anita Hale


So you'd like to learn the saxophone? That's great news because the saxophone is a hugely playable woodwind instrument. However, buying a saxophone is a big investment and so it's important you choose the right one for you. In fact, out of all the woodwind instruments it is the saxophone that is considered to be the most expensive.

Typically, one can find four prevalent types of saxophone. They're soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone. The soprano sax is in the key of Bb. Alto is one-half octave lower and in the key of Eb. Tenor saxophone is an entire octave lower than soprano and thus also in Bb Last but not least, baritone is an entire octave lower than alto saxophone. For that reason it is also in the key of Eb.

Furthermore, music students are often encouraged to start with the clarinet ahead of taking on saxophone lessons. The clarinet requires tougher fingering. It's believed if you're able to achieve this then you can easily make swift progression on the saxophone.

Then again, there is an alternative approach which states that the saxophone is an excellent point of entry should you be brand new to woodwind. This is because of its more mild learning curve. The saxophone's embouchure is assumed to be a bit less onerous. Embouchure denotes the way in which we submit the mouth to the mouthpiece to create the desired sound. Both the embouchure and the span of keys are more straightforward to operate in comparison with clarinet and flute. This is why a student saxophonist is likely to produce a pleasing tone out of their horn more quickly.

But which of the four main saxes is the best for a beginner? Generally, people would say the alto saxophone is best. The main reason for this is the intermediate pitch of an alto sax. This makes it easier to elicit the full range of notes compared to the higher an lower pitched horns. The physical size of the keys also makes the alto sax better suited to children and those with small hands. Another important point to endorse the alto is the wealth of sheet music available for it. This is important as you'll need sheet music to practice with.

No matter how many practical tips you can give on choosing the right saxophone it will always boil down to a gut feeling. It doesn't matter if your saxophone isn't the most expensive or beautiful looking model. What matter is that you choose an instrument that will keep you motivated. However, there is still a question of finances to consider. Saxophones can cost a lot of money and you might not want to spend this for an instrument you're not sure of. Therefore, it is recommended that you always try out lots of different models before committing yourself. Alternatively, there are a number of shops that offer saxophones for hire and this might be the ideal option for some.




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