# Navbar-iframe { altezza : 0px ; visibilità : hidden ; Display : none }

Should A Beginner Saxophonist Learn The Alto Sax?

By Anita Hale


It's a new year and you've made the decision that you'd like to take lessons for the saxophone. However, first you will have a couple of options to ponder. Saxophones will never be the most budget friendly of instruments. Therefore one should aim to go with a model of sax you are able to advance on at a gratifying rate.

There are many different types of saxophone. However the four most common types are soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. The soprano saxophone is obviously the highest in pitch and also the smallest in size. Conversely, the baritone has the lowest pitch and is substantially larger. There is half an octave difference between the pitch of all four saxophones. Soprano is in the key of Bb, then your alto sax is in the key of Eb. The tenor sax is also in the key of Bb, but a full octave lower than the soprano. Last but not least, baritone saxophone is one full octave lower than alto and thus also in the key of Eb.

Furthermore, beginners are occasionally urged in school to take on the clarinet before taking up saxophone lessons. The clarinet features much harder fingering and therefore it's believed when you excel at this you'll make light work of improving on the saxophone.

On the other hand, you have an additional school of thought that says that the saxophone is an excellent beginner's due to its more mild learning curve. The basic spread of keys is more straightforward to play compared to the flute and clarinet. In addition, the embouchure of the sax is believed to be less demanding. Embouchure denotes the way in which you apply the mouth to the mouthpiece to produce notes. These factors mean that a beginner saxophonist should be able to produce a satisfying tone from their instrument more easily.

If you are new to the woodwind family then the alto sax is usually the type of saxophone recommended to learn on. The breath work required to play an alto is not so demanding compared to the higher and lower pitched saxophones out there. The actual position of the keys on the instrument also makes it easier to play. This is particularly important for children hoping to take up the saxophone. You'll also find an abundance of sheet music on the market written specifically for the alto sax. This is because it is the most utilised type of saxophone in classical music.

Finally, what's important about considering a saxophone is finding a model that you think can keep you invested in practicing. Seek as much impartial advice as you can because buying a saxophone is a big investment. If you cannot afford to buy one outright you may be able to find one to rent. Ask at your local music store if they have this option in place.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment