This may seem like a rather dumb question but I have been wanting to pick up a soprano after playing alto and tenor all this while and was wondering if it is possible to play soprano sheet music with tenor and vice versa. I mean, they`re both B-Flat instruments with the soprano being an octave higher (if i got my facts right), so I was just wondering if it could be done, just that the song would be played in a higher or lower pitch when using the alternative instrument. I`d really appreciate any help on this matter.

Correct

You can also play clarinet and Bb trumpet/cornet music with a Soprano and Tenor. You just have to be careful and raise or lower the notes that are above or lower than the sax`s range - more of a problem on clarinet than trumpet.

hey steve, if i`m not wrong, you meant that if i wanted to achieve a similar tone on a tenor as a soprano, i`d have to press the octave key or move it one octave higher right? what i meant was is it possible to look at a soprano sax`s music sheet and just play it as it is with a tenor? besides sounding an octave lower, will it sound similar? i was asking this because as i mentioned, i want to pick up the soprano but thought that if i couldn`t spend on one just yet, i could get hold of some soprano music scores and just start practising the songs with my tenor first.

sorry, just adding on a bit more questions. really really sorry for the bother.

as i was saying, i can`t practise on my alto unless i transpose right? then that would kinda mess up the fingering i`m trying to practise for the soprano. and if i don`t transpose and maintain similar fingerings, it`ll sound kinda odd cos it`s in Eb won`t it? i`m really not very certain abt my facts, so i really hope u can help me clear things up a lil. thanks and once again, sorry for the long-windedness.

yes, as long as each instrument is in the same key you can play any instrument in that key and sound correct.

So you can share Bb music amongst a Bb soprano, Bb tenor, and so forth such as a Bb clarinet, Bb trumpet, etc.

So you can use the same Bb music for soprano and tenor. Same fingerings, same `key` of Bb, so no problem. Just the tone will be different between the soprano and tenor.

Hope that helps.

p.s. don`t worry about the octave key. I was just mentioning that if you play Bb clarinet music because a clarinet has a much lower and higher range than a saxophone.

ic. thanks a mil for clearing things up for me, now i can start practising my song fingerings while i try to save up for a soprano. haha. you have just brought me a little closer to my dream. thanks!

Jennifer, I was going to email you some other stuff but your email wasn`t correct.

Steve,
You sound like you know what you are doing, so thought I would ask...I am learning the soprano sax, but can`t find any "how to books" on it. Bought an alto book for the fingerings, but now I need music for it. Can I use a Tenor how to book and have the fingerings and use the music for it also? I don`t have a Tenor book in front of me, so I can compare, but I know it is the same key as the soprano. If I used a Tenor but, there wouldn`t be any transposing? I would just read the music as is and use the fingering and just know that the soprano is going to be higher pitched? Thanks if you can help me, as I can`t find any answers to this anywhere.

yes you can use a tenor book. i did.