Any problems from Tenor to Alto?

[Doremifaman]

Hi!

I am seriously thinking of getting an alto saxophone. I am primarily a tenor player having only played it for 3 years or so. On the tenor I think I can be quite expressive but would there be any differences when it comes to playing the alto? Are there anythings that I need to watch out for? I read somewhere on this forum that breath support is quite different for the two horns. Is that true?

Would appreciate any advice here.

Cheers,
Luke

[Ritchie]

Going from tenor to alto you should be especially critical with your alto's intonation in the higher registers. Everything is smaller on alto, the same amount of being incorrect leads to bigger deviations on the smaller horn. Breath support is more of a problem when going from alto to tenor, because you'll not be used to the breath required for the tenor's low register. Generally I'd say alto and tenor are much more alike than tenor and bari or alto and soprano.

The most important thing for me is to develop a different voice on the different horns. I try not to treat the alto as a shorter length tenor. Have fun with your additional voice!

[sabritas]

i just switched its harder to play the palm keys.

[retread]

As one who is primarily a tenor and bari player, I have to concentrate on embouchure when playing alto. If I'm not careful I get too loose.

[Dlew]

I made a switch to a tenor for a little while. A tenor has a much much more loose embrochure. As well your going into a sax that has a tapered neck unlike the tenor so it takes less air straight into the mouthpiece. the reeds are shorter too. so are naturally weaker. I think just my opinion but thats me.

later


don