I have been playing sax for about 8years mostly on alto but later swiched to bari.
I fined my self picking up a friends tenor and Im haveing trouble with it there is no resistance when i push air throw it. it just flows throw without makeing a sound?

Did you remember to put a reed on?

yes

try with a softer reed..

Is a tenor a bflat instrument? I just picked up an alto (to learn) thinking it was a bflat instrument only to find it's a C instrument. Will the tenor be tough to adapt to (I originally wanted a tenor but the rental shop only had an alto).

Mike

I meant the alto is an A instrument. What's with that?

I thought a Soprano was Bb, an Alto was Eb, a tenor's in Bb, a baritone is definitely in Eb, as it's the same key as my dad's Eb tuba! That's what I thought, anyway!

altos are Eb and tenors are Bb i dont know what kind of alto you have but i would ask ur band director to find out if that instroment is a real brand you might have been cheeted for a fake

All I know is that when I play an 'A' on the alto, it's a 'C' on guitar/piano. Ah, does that make it an Eflat instrument?

The easy way to work it out - play a written C & find out what note it sounds & that is the key of the instrument. In your case it should be an E flat.

To go back to Noblebari's original query.

My guess is that the mouthpiece on your friend's tenor has a more open lay than you are used to on the alto & even your bari, probably combined with harder reeds.

k thx contra
and cnote yes that makes it an Eb instrument