Hi, I was thinking about starting to take sax lessons, and i`m interested in playing the tenor sax. I`ve heard the spacing of they keys on a tenor are furhter apart than an alto sax, but i`ve been playing guitar for almost 2 and 1/2 years and the spacing doesn`t concern me too much. Do people think i should start off on an alto then switch to tenor, or learn right away on a tenor? Thanks

im wanting to learn aswell,but the price puts me off, i dont really want to buy a saxaphone because they are really expensive and if it isnt for me then im a bit stuck, iv had a look into renting a sax but its looking difficult! anyone got any ideas for me?
thanks

I play the saxaphone and i think it way cooler then trumpet but the saxaphone starts easy and it gets harder but don`t worryonce you get the hang of it it really pretty simple

well if you ask me, try both at first because if you pick an instrument just because it`s easier to play dosen`t mean that it will be fun while you play it.

I am an 8th grade band student, and i recently switched from clarinet to tenor saxaphone. And i think its easier to switch to tenor and not play alto first, becaause trumpet and tenor saxophone are both in the b flat key. its a much easier switch than having to learn the key all over again.

Hmmmm well i play saxaphone but i would say any instrument is hard if you think it is the trumpet only has 3 keys and you have to change pitches wiht your mouth but, the emboucher is hard on any wind intruments so, you tell me which sounds eaiser? hahaha

I have played Saxaphone professionally for 8 years now, and have been playing saxaphone for 14 years. My knowledge of trumpet is limited, but this debate over which of the two is more difficult will never be resolved. Saxaphones and trumpets are two totally different instruments, played two totally different ways. It is so funny seing how bias you all in your replies. eg. I am a trumpet player, therefore trumpet is better and way harder. Stop this stupid debate, it is endless. Put your positive energy in learning every swuare inch of your trumpet and saxaphone, not arguiing over inevitably which is the better instrument. After all who can compare Michael Brecker to Miles Davis?

I have been playing saxophone for several years now. I play lead alto sax in a professional big band. I am going to be a band director, So A few years ago I learned the Trumpet. The Sax is easier to learn at first, but once you progress to harder things, the sax becomes much much more difficult than the trumpet.

I just picked up a nice sax at a garage sale and was picking out some tunes within a few minutes . now if i can only figure out what all those twenty some buttons and levers all do. who dreamed up this thing anyway Rube Goldberg?

This line of discussion is very humorous to me. I`m an adult and it is entertaining to read the various comments. For someone to say that they learned the sax in 5 minutes just makes me laugh my head off. Anyway, I play trumpet, sax, and piano. As far as the trumpet and sax is concerned, I play trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, tenor sax, and soprano sax. A beginner can honk out notes on any of those instruments in a very short period of time (even 5 minutes). But, to become an exceptional player that people will want to listen to takes many years of hard work. You don`t get to the Coltrane, Parker, Kenny G, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval, etc. levels in 15 minutes. Ninety-nine percent of students graduating from high school are nowhere close. As far as which instrument is the coolest for playing jazz, that is a matter of personal preference. Which do you like the best - apples or oranges? It`s all about personal preference. Listen to recordings of the great jazz performers and decide for yourself which sound you like. But remember that there are other forms of music that you may also want to play and musical settings to participate in. Playing is not all about jazz. But jazz is a lot fun - it`s all about being creative - and you can do that on trumpet or sax - if you are creative and can express your creativity through your instrument. You might also want to play in church (in a church service or a wedding) and most likely would not be playing jazz in that setting.

PLAY THE INSTRUMENT THAT WILL BE MOST REWARDING FOR YOU TO LEARN. tRUMPET IS TOUGH AND IS LOTS OF WORK JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT. sAX IS EASIER TO GET OUT THE FIRST FEW NOTES BUT. IN THE LONG RUN TONE AND SKILL IS GONNA BE THE SAME.
STEVE
KANSTUL CUSTOM CLASS 900

ILL DISAGREE I CAN NAME TRIPLE THE PROFESSIONAL SAX PLAYERS TO TRUMPET PLAYERS`

ILL DISAGREE I CAN NAME TRIPLE THE PROFESSIONAL SAX PLAYERS TO TRUMPET PLAYERS`

i`ve been playing saxaphone for 10 years, and just recently picked up trumpet as well. the trumpet is alot easier to play, once you get used to the numbness in the lips haha. i think the saxaphone is a much better instrument though, so much more you can do on it. it can go along with pretty much any kind of music, rock, jazz, pop, ska, you can throw an alto in there and have something good. plus, bill clinton plays the saxaphone.. if you need any help with anything, either email me or IM on aim, my sn`s daverulz02...and no, lol..i`m not that concited.

I`m a trumpet player, I love the sound of a sax.

Either the "old school" music instructors wanted to keep us from making a lot of noise or they may have had a point. Jumping from brass instrument to brass instrument was considered a great way to do some pretty good damage to your chops. They even kept us from the woodwinds and kept the woodwind players away from all cup-shaped mouthpieces.

Without asking any medical experts, it is fair to consider that muscle damage could result from too much experimenting and "instrument hopping".