Teno to ---> Alto

[kcp]

I've been paying tenor for almost 15 years. I also played a bit of soprano before and also alto occasionally when I could get my hands on one. But now I've got an alto and the other day during my practice routine I decided to pick it up for a change instead of tenor. I played what... 10 minutes and that was all that I could stand. I put down the alto and pick-up my tenor instead and Ahhh what a releif!!

Ok, so I got to accept that I'm not that much of an alto player. But still, that's bugging me. That alto really doesn't like me. The best way I can describe is: I sound like a tenor player torturing an alto.

I would like to at least improve my tone on alto so that I could stand myself playing it more than 10 minutes :lol: So what am I doing wrong? Is it my embouchure, the way I blow, my posture? What?

Any opinions, comments, suggestions, (insults?) :lol: are welcome.
Thanks

[markieg]

I would try to make sure the mpc/lig/reed setup is similar to your tenor, with maybe a ½ step smaller reed if necessary, but try not to change the reed strength if you don't have to. Since you're used to a bigger mpc you might have to take some out of your mouth. Also, as you probably know, find some literature that you enjoy playing and just practice and experiment.

[Helen]

Hi Kim. Last fall I had the same experience you're describing.

I was hired to play a show out of town and had to fly, so I decided to do the show on alto, so that I wouldn't have to check my horn. I'm primarily a bari and tenor player. When I started rehearsing on alto, I thought, this sounds absolutely awful!! Uck...

I stuck with it for 2 months, listened to as many alto players as I could, and finally developed a tonal concept for alto. I really like my alto sound now, and am rehearsing it to keep my embouchure up.

For me, one of the things that made the biggest difference was pulling in the corners of my mouth more when playing alto as opposed to tenor. Since you already play soprano, you likely know what I mean. For me the alto embouchure is inbetween the soprano (that I don't play well enough to consider myself a real soprano player) and tenor with regards to corner pressure and muscle control.

For what it's worth, here are my set ups for my horns:

Tenor: Dukoff S 7 m/p with a medium soft Fibracell reed and Rovner lig.
Alto: Runyon Custom 8 with spoiler, with medium soft Fibracell reed and Rovner lig.

My advice would be: stick with it. Try to develop a tonal concept for the horn. That will go a long way towards helping you achieve a sound you like.

Hope this helps a bit... :P

[kcp]

Thanks for the good tips. I tried my alto again today and I sounded better, or at least that's the impression I had.

I forgot to mention earlyer: These days I most often play tenor with a Runyon Custom #8 +splr with Plasticover #3 reeds.
I got for my alto the same mpc but in size #7 and Vandoren V16 #2
I feel very comfortable playing with that set-up. My problem isn't "making a noise" it's making a sound that I enjoy. I've realized that what I find difficult is to doze the right amount bitting, tounging, blowing, etc. For me, everything sounds so much more exagerated and very rough with the alto.

Thanks again for your comments

[gary]

Kim - you might want to try a stronger reed. I play a Custom #7 on also, also, and use #3 reeds. #2 just seems to me like it would close up on you, particularly in the upper range.

I had a reverse problem last summer, switching from alto to tenor. What solved my problems (at Dino Govoni's coaching) were dropping the tenor down a bit (ie loosening the neck strap), taking in more mouthpiece, having the mouthpiece/neck more parallel to the ground, and loosening up my embouchure. So...you might try doing the reverse.

The difference in sound concept and playing are, for me, just different. I think of them as two completely different instruments and that helps me go back and forth.

Oh yeah. I haven't yet read the magic words..."Long Tones"!

Good luck!

[gary]

"...on also, also..."
That's on ALTO, also

[kcp]

you might want to try a stronger reed...

Gary, that sounds like a good plan. I was told that it is more difficult to maintain the pitch when playing alto. So I thought I'd use a softer reed to give myself a break... but now I'm thinking that #2 maybe is a bit too exagerated.

Today's very warm so I'm thinking about taking my street sax for a stroll outside and I'll buy some alto reeds on the way back :)
Thanks for your suggestion.

[tubbycub]

Is it generally true that the low notes (low C and below) on alto are harder to play as compared to the tenor?

Reason for asking this is that I can play the low notes on the tenor and bari with ease and the tone is warm. But these notes usually honk on the alto and I need to push harder to get them. I had experienced the same issue on several altos that I had played on.

[sjabariiii]

<<Is it generally true that the low notes (low C and below) on alto are harder to play as compared to the tenor?>>

Just me, but I find it's the opposite.

[matsuo]

just give it some time it will come eventually

[mikesmodern]

I started out on Alto and went to Tenor. I went to bar jams once I had it together enough on Tenor. Two players sitting at a table afterwards said I sounded ok, but like an Alto player playing Tenor (are they psychic?) Not a bad thing, but one approach is different from the other. I think it's just a matter of sound and feel. One thing I did, and still do, is listen to "Kind of Blue". It's great classroom stuff for Tenor/Alto because almost all the tunes have Coltrane and Adderly back to back soloing.

[eRock08]

In my limited experience, I have decided that the alto has a different sound. A tenor player shouldnt play an alto like it was their tenor. (unless you want to do this for effect) I would listen to some alto solo's because I know i cant play unless I know what I want to sound like.


Also in my opinion. Tenor players and alto players seem to have slightly different mindsets. Just a side note.

[fballatore]

I have the answer Kim....



It's your new avatar. :D



Seriously though, I'm having the reverse problem now - alto to tenor, and although I haven't played nearly as long as you, many of the things that Gary mentioned are helping me out. I think mostly it's the adjustment in embouchure that I have to get used to. I realize it's not going to happen overnight. I'm also experimenting with mouthpieces and reeds.

Frank