Hello, I am new to the saxaphone and was wondering which is best to start with? Just to clarify I mean Soprano, Alto, Tenor, or Baritone. I am in a band and have been for three years (All of which I have played the Tuba) and will ask my instructor and saxaphone players in the band but want to ask as many people as possible. Also I played the clarinet for a month if that helps. Any tips or advice are also welcome.

for alto sax try ode to joy

yeah the alto sax is probably the best beginner sax for you to play. but since you mentioned you playing the tuba, then it probably would not really make a difference if you start out on tenor or the alto. and since you have had experience on a single reed instrument before, it should be an easy transition

I am 6ft tall but have heard the alto is best for beginners from several sources but I am still considering tenor.

they must of said that because beginners arent used to blowing alot of air into a horn. but since you play tuba, it wont really matter which one you choose because 1)you already know how to blow into an instument 2)fingering is the same for all the saxes 3)you have already have had experience with a single reed mouth piece

Soprano is by far the most demanding on most sax players. Baritone has its' challenges, as well. So, I agree that the choice is between alto and tenor. However, the mouthpiece you select will have as much to do with your progress as the horn you choose. If you feel like you are "fighting" the horn, then your reed and mouthpiece "set-up" may be the problem. A big mistake made by many beginners, is to use a reed that is too soft. This can make the horn hard to play, because the reed is closing up on the tip opening. Anyway, find a sax that has good pitch and plays easily. Then, ask questions about mouthpieces. The stock Yamaha mouthpieces aren't too bad. They were designed by a professional sax player, with a classical sound in mind, as opposed to a "jazz" sound. Ask players in your area to help you find an instrument that meets these qualifications. You are definately on the "right track" by asking questions. As you become more comfortable and adjusted to what the horn can do and what you want to do, you may need to move on to a pro horn. Also, find a sax player to copy and go after that "sound." Alto . . Phil Woods is tremendous. Tenor . . I really like Jeff Coffin. He has his own web site with alot of info!! Then, as time goes by, you will personalize your playing . . . depending on how serious you become. Good luck!!

A Yamaha C4 is one that is good for beginers and it can somewhat play jazz and classical music.

I started with a clarinet & then wanted something with a deeper sound so I went to youtube & listened to the alto & tenor sax players. Both instruments sounded great so I ended up getting an alto first & then a few weeks later I bought a tenor. Now I play one for a week or more & then switch to the other. The tenor has a bigger sound of course.

I found that the bigger the reeds got then the easier they were to blow, the clarinet being the hardest. Later I also bought a trumpet & found that practicing on that made my muscles etc much stronger, so that when I picked up a sax it was super easy to blow & take to the next level.

playing saxophone a bit tough job.Then you require to fit your dog with NRR 28 or even better hearing protection devices. You might also need to shop for a replacement family ,if you can. I think that will be better way to start with.

Thanks!!
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alto sax is prob. the best especially after playing the clarinet

Alto Sax is the best sax to start with. I started with the Alto sax so i suggest you should too. By the way, if you are short don't try the tenor sax.

Try alto, it will be hard to get a sound out of the bari. Go for alto, if you like playing it and still want to play tenor then would be the time. Tenor and baritone take a decent amount of air support and control which most beginning sax players struggle with.

I would go for alto because technically, it is easier to use the alto, because it's the one that's fit for all sizes, and there are a lot of short people i know who play the tenor sax

http://hubpages.com/hub/Learning-the-Saxophone-the-Right-Way

This article (near the bottom of the page) gives a good answer to your question.