Congratulations on your decision to learn the saxophone! This is the first step to a brilliant rewarding musical experience. However, now you have various choices to muse on. Most importantly you will have to decide on the type of saxophone you wish to learn. Once you've made that choice, you will need to select a model that suits you and the pace you want to learn at.
Typically, one can find four conventional sizes of saxophone. They are as follows: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. The soprano saxophone is in the key of Bb, and then the alto is one-half octave lower, in the key of Eb. Tenor sax is also in the key of B flat, but at a full octave below the soprano saxophone. Lastly, baritone sax is an octave below alto saxophone and therefore also in the key of E flat.
If you're still at school you may find yourself being encouraged to learn the clarinet first. There is a notion that clarinet provides groundwork for other woodwind instruments. Unfortunately this also means it is much harder to learn. Both the embouchure and fingering on a clarinet is more difficult compared to the saxophone. The term "embouchure" is referring to how one submits their mouth to the mouth piece of the instrument. It is very important in woodwind instruments as it determines how well you can produce the notes. There's definitely another school of thought which suggests that the saxophone is a great place to start when you're new to woodwind instruments due to its more gentle learning curve. This is partly attributable to its easier embouchure. The keys are also easier to work on a saxophone than on a flute or clarinet. All of this means that it won't take the beginner as long to get a pleasing sound out of their sax.
So now let's discuss which saxophone is best suited to a beginner. The alto saxophone is undoubtedly the easiest to learn. The pitch of the alto is more moderate than the deep tenor and baritone and high soprano sax. What this means is that the student will not need to breath as hard to get the full range of notes out of it. The physical size of the alto also makes it ideal for beginners and children alike. Kids will be able to get their hands around it easily and it's not too heavy. On top of this, the keys are not too spread out. That makes the finger work relatively easier as well. You can also buy a lot of sheet music specifically for the alto sax. This is because it is the most used type of saxophone in classical compositions.
When it comes down to actually purchasing your first saxophone it is normal to want to get a cheaper model. There are some good budget models out there, but make sure you try one out before buying. You might save money on a bargain sax, but it might produce a bad sound. Remember that you'll want a saxophone that continues to inspire you to practice. Sometimes it's worth paying more for a model that looks and sounds great. This saxes will often motivate you to practice more and thus learn faster. Always ask advice from both your local music store and your music teacher. Lots of retailers offer loans and rental schemes to encourage budding musicians. Look around at different brands and always play the model you want before buying it.
Typically, one can find four conventional sizes of saxophone. They are as follows: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. The soprano saxophone is in the key of Bb, and then the alto is one-half octave lower, in the key of Eb. Tenor sax is also in the key of B flat, but at a full octave below the soprano saxophone. Lastly, baritone sax is an octave below alto saxophone and therefore also in the key of E flat.
If you're still at school you may find yourself being encouraged to learn the clarinet first. There is a notion that clarinet provides groundwork for other woodwind instruments. Unfortunately this also means it is much harder to learn. Both the embouchure and fingering on a clarinet is more difficult compared to the saxophone. The term "embouchure" is referring to how one submits their mouth to the mouth piece of the instrument. It is very important in woodwind instruments as it determines how well you can produce the notes. There's definitely another school of thought which suggests that the saxophone is a great place to start when you're new to woodwind instruments due to its more gentle learning curve. This is partly attributable to its easier embouchure. The keys are also easier to work on a saxophone than on a flute or clarinet. All of this means that it won't take the beginner as long to get a pleasing sound out of their sax.
So now let's discuss which saxophone is best suited to a beginner. The alto saxophone is undoubtedly the easiest to learn. The pitch of the alto is more moderate than the deep tenor and baritone and high soprano sax. What this means is that the student will not need to breath as hard to get the full range of notes out of it. The physical size of the alto also makes it ideal for beginners and children alike. Kids will be able to get their hands around it easily and it's not too heavy. On top of this, the keys are not too spread out. That makes the finger work relatively easier as well. You can also buy a lot of sheet music specifically for the alto sax. This is because it is the most used type of saxophone in classical compositions.
When it comes down to actually purchasing your first saxophone it is normal to want to get a cheaper model. There are some good budget models out there, but make sure you try one out before buying. You might save money on a bargain sax, but it might produce a bad sound. Remember that you'll want a saxophone that continues to inspire you to practice. Sometimes it's worth paying more for a model that looks and sounds great. This saxes will often motivate you to practice more and thus learn faster. Always ask advice from both your local music store and your music teacher. Lots of retailers offer loans and rental schemes to encourage budding musicians. Look around at different brands and always play the model you want before buying it.
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