Monday, 3 June 2013

How To Choose A Saxophone

By Anita Hale


Now let's say that you want to learn to play the saxophone. While that's great news, there are still so many decisions to make. A saxophone is one of the more expensive woodwind instruments. This means it's important to choose the right model for you. It's also essential that you learn on an instrument that you can advance on at a attractive pace.

So where do you begin? Well, the first thing you should know is that saxophones come in many shapes and sizes. However, there are four main types of saxophone. These are the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax. Unsurprisingly, the soprano is the highest pitched of these four. They then decrease in pitch by half an octave at a time. So while the soprano is in the key of Bb, the baritone sax is an octave and a half lower and in the key of Eb.

If you are still at school your music teacher may have suggested trying the clarinet ahead of embracing the sax. The clarinet has more difficult fingering than the saxophone and it is thought this lays good foundations for learning other woodwind instruments. Conversely, as the saxophone is generally easier to learn it can lso be viewed as the perfect starting point. There are two main points that make the saxophone one of the easiest woodwind instruments to play. The first is its embouchure. This refers to the technique of applying your mouth to the mouthpiece. It's a complicated concept to grasp on any woodwind instrument, but less so on the sax. The other point is the fingering required on the sax. The range of keys are closer together which makes the fingering easier. All of this means that a novice player will be able to elicit a pleasing tone from their sax quite easily.

But which of the four saxophones should you choose? The alto sax is definitely the type that countless first-timers are recommended to begin with due its pitch. A novice will usually find that they can strike up an effective range of tones from an alto. This is harder on the higher and lower pitched saxophones, which require more strenuous breathing. In addition, the physical size of the keys is scaled-down on an alto sax and thus kids should have no difficulty in comfortably holding the instrument. The alto sax is actually the most regularly chosen kind of saxophone in classical arrangements and consequently there is a mass of sheet music published for it on the market.

But apart from all this advice, it is highly recommended to try out a variety of saxophones before you buy. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from music store staff. In addition, a teacher usually can give good recommendations on where to buy a suitable horn. Remember, getting the cheapest model isn't always the best decision in the long run. Even though saxophones can be expensive, a pricier sax will more likely stand the test of time. It will also produce a nicer tone and this is important when you are learning an instrument.




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