Hey!

I'm a clarinet player looking to pick up bari sax over the summer for jazz band. Does anyone have any advice?

-Amanda

There are similarities between the saxophone and the clarinet, so it shouldn't be much of a problem. Amature (sp?) is the same and it looks like you hold both instuments the same way. You might have to get used to blowing a little harded since you're playing the baritone sax, but other than that, you should be fine.

Good Luck!!




By the way, I feel I should tell you that I have never played the clarinet in my life (just the saxophone); my 9-year-old brother helped me with this post since he plays the clarinet. Basically, you might want to ask around a bit more in case anyone else can be more specific.

does anyone have black eyed peas pump it music for anything

okay for the guy who wants PUMP IT music, start a new fourm for that, and for the guy wanting to play bari, well a lot more air and more mouthpeice in your mouth. good luck.
i'd think you should try alto or tenor 1st to build your way up but whatever works.
and if your girls, well i meant guys as whatever.
anyhow there you go, thats my 2 cents,
~Triforce

if you wat to try bari thats cool, but its way more air, different fingerings, and a lot more weight to carry.

Good luck!!!

Triforce, tenorsax13, and Lera all have a point. Going from a clarinet to a bari sax would be a bigger change. Starting off on an alto, a tenor, or even a soprano sax would be easier. It's your choice, though.

I really don't think there's much point in "working your way up" size-wise. you'd just have more adjustments to make each switch, despite each being slightly less of an adjustment. if you want to play bari, just go for it to begin with.

sax fingerings are the same as the upper register of clarinet, for the most part. they are also noticably similar to recorder, if you ever played that in elementary school or anything.

embochure wise, saxophone has a looser embochure in general than clarinets, particularly the lower ones. I found when i played bari (doubling for pit orchestra) that i had trouble getting the lowest few notes to come out consistantly, because i wasn't used to dropping my jaw quite so much. that's something that you'll just have to get used to. i'm inclined to guess a softer reed will also help with this. sax tends (from my clarinet-y point of veiw, anyway) to let hte notes jump up the octave much more easily- half the time i would forget the register key and still be playing the upper octave notes, because that was what my mouth wanted to do... and i'm primarily a bass clarinetist, which isn't as tight as soprano.

as for the size, you'll just have to get used to the bigger mouthpiece and instrument. i'd definitely suggest using a harness, not a neckstrap, if at all possible. especially when you're used to the tiny(comparatively) clarinet, bari's are heavy! i wouldn't want to put that much weight on my neck alone for any substantial period of time, that's for sure.

well, i seem to have written a novel, so i'll stop! i hope some of that helps good luck, and have fun!

Hey guys,

Thanks for your help but I talked to my teacher and she said that it wouldn't be a good idea to go from clarinet to bari because it would do to much to my clarinet ombechure (totally slaughtered that word!)

-Amanda

Don't feel bad; I don't think anyone here knows how to spell it!!

I started on clarinet and picked up tenor. Keep playing clarinet! It helps so much! I still play clarinet and every day I praise that decision. That's great that you are going to play bari. There is always need for a good one. Remember to play out in jazz band. You will possibly be the only bari and the entire low woodwind section. They need you! You may want to hear this awsome song with a bari intro:

http://www.kendormusic.com/2000/1545.htm

We played it in jazz band.

hi.. i'm new too.. I'm going from bass clarinet (all the time) to tenor sax (for marching)

I read up and saw the thing about it jumping octaves.. that happens to me all the time.. do i just need to put in tons more of the mouthpiece in to get it to stop???

Out of personal experience I found that if your range on the saxophone isn't right, you can try adjusting your embouchure a little. You can also try taking in a lot more of the mouthpiece...

You could also try another mouthpiece, one that isn't as wide (assuming that you don't use a beginner's mouthpiece). That could help loads on the tone too.