By Anita Hale
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.
So where do you begin? Well, the first thing you should know is that saxophones come in many shapes and sizes. However, there are four main types of saxophone. These are the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax. Unsurprisingly, the soprano is the highest pitched of these four. They then decrease in pitch by half an octave at a time. So while the soprano is in the key of Bb, the baritone sax is an octave and a half lower and in the key of Eb.
Music students are often counselled in school to get started with the clarinet ahead of signing up for the saxophone. The clarinet carries more troublesome fingering that requires great discipline to master. It's assumed that if you perfect this you might make short work at developing on the saxophone. On the other hand, there's definitely another belief which states that the saxophone is the perfect place to start when you're a newcomer to woodwind instruments. For a start, the embouchure of the sax is thought to be far easier to get the hang of. Embouchure indicates the method by which you submit your mouth to the mouth piece to produce the notes. The standard spread of keys on a sax are also easier to work than both the flute and clarinet. This helps a beginner saxophonist to get an agreeable tone from their horn with relative ease.
But which of the four saxophones should you choose? The alto sax is definitely the type that countless first-timers are recommended to begin with due its pitch. A novice will usually find that they can strike up an effective range of tones from an alto. This is harder on the higher and lower pitched saxophones, which require more strenuous breathing. In addition, the physical size of the keys is scaled-down on an alto sax and thus kids should have no difficulty in comfortably holding the instrument. The alto sax is actually the most regularly chosen kind of saxophone in classical arrangements and consequently there is a mass of sheet music published for it on the market.
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.
So where do you begin? Well, the first thing you should know is that saxophones come in many shapes and sizes. However, there are four main types of saxophone. These are the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax. Unsurprisingly, the soprano is the highest pitched of these four. They then decrease in pitch by half an octave at a time. So while the soprano is in the key of Bb, the baritone sax is an octave and a half lower and in the key of Eb.
Music students are often counselled in school to get started with the clarinet ahead of signing up for the saxophone. The clarinet carries more troublesome fingering that requires great discipline to master. It's assumed that if you perfect this you might make short work at developing on the saxophone. On the other hand, there's definitely another belief which states that the saxophone is the perfect place to start when you're a newcomer to woodwind instruments. For a start, the embouchure of the sax is thought to be far easier to get the hang of. Embouchure indicates the method by which you submit your mouth to the mouth piece to produce the notes. The standard spread of keys on a sax are also easier to work than both the flute and clarinet. This helps a beginner saxophonist to get an agreeable tone from their horn with relative ease.
But which of the four saxophones should you choose? The alto sax is definitely the type that countless first-timers are recommended to begin with due its pitch. A novice will usually find that they can strike up an effective range of tones from an alto. This is harder on the higher and lower pitched saxophones, which require more strenuous breathing. In addition, the physical size of the keys is scaled-down on an alto sax and thus kids should have no difficulty in comfortably holding the instrument. The alto sax is actually the most regularly chosen kind of saxophone in classical arrangements and consequently there is a mass of sheet music published for it on the market.
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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