im trying to be with my high school marching squad this year but one big problem . . . my main instrument is the oboe (dun da du) so i wanted to play the soprano sax but since most off u actually play the sax in some form or shape i was wondering if yall had any suggestions as to what i should play or do any help is welcome thanks

Jaedie,

Most of the marching bands I`ve heard of have alto and tenor saxes regularly included in their ensembles. I have yet to hear of a marching band which has a bari sax or a soprano sax, so I wouldn`t suggest starting on either of those for marching band. All of the saxes are pretty much the same, so if you needed to play another one, it wouldn`t be a huge change. The common baritone, alto, and sopranino saxophones are in Eb, and the common bass, tenor, and soprano saxophones are in Bb. That is the only major difference between them. There are some minor differences,too. For example, newer baritone saxes have a low A key, and most Selmer saxophones have an F# key. There is, obviously, a noticeable size difference between the different saxophones, too.

Check out this link if you want to learn more about the saxophones.

http://www.jayeaston.com/galleries/sax_family/sax_family_gallery.htm

Cheers,

Thomas

i`ve heard of a bari marching, but that would really hurt your neck.

No... I wouldn`t really, if you had a harness. They make those for the larger saxes. I`m a 7th grader, that`s going to be marching next year on alto, my first year.. Yay!!

well, from playing bari in jazz band for 20 minutes it hurts my neck... so marching...

I`ve played bari the whole year in concert band, and rehearsals are 80 minutes at a time. It did strain my neck a bit in the beginning, but I`ve just gotten used to it.

we have 2 bari`s in our marching band.. and we`re only a high skool


-joe

we had a baritone sax player (he was amazing) but he graduated. so he wont be marching this coming season. *tear. yeah, he wore a harness. (ha ha, bad tan lines from band camp, lol)

do bands actually march soprano saxes???

oh, and to the original question.....start with the alto. the embourcher (sp?) will be easier to get if you start with the alto.

Did you notice that this post is a year old.

thats kindof cool, I remember it now.

You can march with a bari, but a harness is strongly recommended. I have seen one pic of someone marching with a soprano. That was in one of my college viewbooks for Drake University.

hmm well i play alto and tenor, so i would recommend playing tenor sax in marching band.

Seriously I think Jaediemay made a decision over a year ago. I think this is done and over with. Just my opinion.

I play bari sax and i have no problem with neck pain (i do not use a harness.
(I know this post is old but its my first reply and i had to.)