Hi i am alex i am about to go high scool and i play all saxophones but dont know witch to use any advise let me know

If you can play them all, find out what saxophone they need you to play, to complete the band. Usually most students will play alto so there will always be an abundace of those. If you were just starting I would say alto and maybe tenor, even though its a little harder to start on. Just make it known to your band teacher that you have experience playing them all, I`m sure it would make your teacher happy.

Later
CJ

I forgot to add this. If you teacher wants you to play tenor don`t quit playing the alto, there are tons of solo repitore for the alto, that the other saxophones don`t have the luxury of. Viseversa with the tenor, don`t stop playing the tenor because, there are less tenor players and you will be in higher demand for ensemble work.

Later
CJ

Alex,

Here`s what I am doing. I play bari in concert band, and alto in jazz band. I find that it is harder to make a good sound on the bari, but that is probably because I have been playing it for less time (and that I`m using a legere reed). I get plenty of playing time for each instrument, as I also take private alto lessons. So, like CJ said, just pick whatever one your band needs (more of), and play another other one in your spare time.

That`s great that you play four saxophones, too! I haven`t really ever had the chance to play the tenor or the soprano, yet. I imagine in university I will, though... Keep playing!

Thomas

well i play both

Hi i`m alex and i play the Alto sax , i found this one easiest to play at first because the tenor or one of the bass sax`s are veryvery heavy and are quite hard to blow, beleive me i tryed. Anyway the alto is great to play and its a good intrument i started last yr when i was starting high school

There are actually four other saxophones that are lower than the tenor. In order from higest to lowest, there is the Eb baritone sax, Bb bass sax, Eb contrabass sax, and Bb sub-contrabass sax.

Another sax that is very rare now is the bass sax in C, the original saxophone. Yes, contrary to what some people think, the C bass saxophone was the first one ever made. It was created by Adolphe Sax in the mid 1900`s to provide an extra bit of "oomph" to the low reeds section.

The saxophone family has a lot more than 4 members. There are around 20 different saxophones, including all of the different variations on currently mass-produced saxes (eg. straight alto, curved soprano). This makes it the largest family of any instrument section.

Thomas

I play alto.. and I`m wondering that if I switch to baritone, will it be harder to blow?

...There`s also a pocket sax. Looks like a clarinet but plays like a sax, similar to sopranino but completely different. It`s really interesting.

Anyways play whatever you want to play, if you don`t want to play it, I can guarentee you wont ever love it.

Saxo, bari`s isn`t harder than alto; you just have to loosen up your embouchre a whole lot!!! I played bari the first year I started band asnd it` easy to pick up! Have fun!

""It was created by Adolphe Sax in the mid 1900`s to provide an extra bit of "oomph" to the low reeds section.""

I may be wrong, but I don`t believe Sax was alive in the mid 1900s. He created his saxophone family in the mid 1800s. Perhaps that`s what you meant.

Don`t all of the saxes have the same fingering? I know Alto and Tenor do, because those are the two I know how to play.

I`m also thinking of switching from Tenor (I`ve played Tenor for the past 2 years, and Alto for about 2 months when I switched schools) to Soprano. Would it be a difficult transition? Do they have the same fingering system? Do you think band teachers have music for Sopranos?

Sorry if I`m asking too many questions but this seemed like a good place to ask.

And Alex, from experiance, tenor is an easy instrument to play because it`s usually got the background part in music, but the solos are SO FUN! And it`s worth it to play background if you get your own solos. I played the only tenor this past school year, and my first year i was one of 6, so ya... lol and I was the only girl my first year. Fun.

ANYWAY, whatever you choose I`m sure it`ll end up right

Tally-Ho!
HaliJade

i`ve been playing tenor for about three years. it is mid range. it was easy for me to get started. that was the first time i ever picked up a sax. but if u don`t like it don`t play it.