alto or soprano to learn on?

[saxbeginner]

Firstly, a big thanks to anyone taking the time to read this! I value any help any of you saxophonists out there give me!

I'm 31, been playing the flute for years!, but really love the sax and want to learn. I don't know whether to start with the soprano or alto. And I haven't got so much cash that I'll be able to start with one and take up the other in 12 months time! I absolutely adore the sound of the soprano, fell in love with it whilst watching a jazz band perform years ago in Manchester, but have heard a few people say you shouldn't learn on the soprano. Can anyone help me with this? Is it true that it's harder to get a decent tone out of the soprano? I also have an upper back problem so thought it might be lighter too.

I borrowed my friend's cheap tenor, got B-A-G-F-E-D out of it, but found it easier to play the higher notes. Found the lower ones tough to get out and kept overblowing them. However, must say this is the first time I've ever had a go on one!

Another question - sorry everyone!!! - do you have to use slightly different embouchures for soprano, alto and tenor? I take it they're not all the same...

Ta everyone :wink:

[xuanvu]

I first started on Soprano (2 months ago :) ) and love it a lot since that the sound that I always wanted. Although i heard that soprano sax is harder to control and to play with, but since I haven't play any other saxes, I can't tell how hard it is compare to other saxes. So if you like the soprano' sound, then go for it.

[kcp]

Soprano is harder to maintain the pitch as you play. It requires a well developped embouchure.

There is a "school of thought" that says one should get started on alto sax. Because of so there is a majority who got started on alto. Personally I don't think that is an absolute must (I started with tenor) However there is some truth there. I find that the alto works best for developping embouchure strenght.

Finally, alto saxophones generally cost less $$ than sopranos.

Do you need more hints?? :wink:

[saxbeginner]

thanks!

I just had an email from a music shop owner, a sax player, who said cos I've got grade 8 flute I shouldn't have a problem with soprano - he said main intonation problems are due to breathing.

???

Are there any other soprano players reading this who also started on soprano? Or even flautists who started sax?

:) ta again!

[Perfect Pitch]

Hi - I started on alto 20 some years ago and moved to tenor as primary instrument. I have played soprano for 8 years and would endorse the previous assertions that embouchure and breathing are important. Without reasonable proficiency you will scare most people (and most felines, canines and irritatin bugs) away learning soprano. Pitch discernment is more critical due to higher tones more insistent (shrill , piercing - less overtones) quality.
Perhaps you could hire a soprano, but I believe alto or tenor are probably better to build up a solid technique. A good teacher will help. Best blowing 8)

[kcp]

Sorry for not minding my own business but I wouldn't take advice from a music shop owner in the present circumstances. I would rather take advice from players who don't have something to sell me.

[johnsax]

Saxbeginner,

To quote you: "I absolutely adore the sound of the soprano"

Does anything more need to be said?

John

[saxbeginner]

Kim, sorry I didn't fully explain myself re shop owner. He's an experienced saxophonist (etc.) and owns a clarinet and saxophone rental/purchase store, and I had asked him to keep me in mind for any v good deals/second hand instruments coming in, decent mpc's etc. He wasn't force selling or anything! I had asked him what he thought about learning on a soprano, and he reckoned that although it's harder, should be ok as I have grade 8 flute/good 'ear', should help with intonation/breathing stuff etc. What do you think? I asked him because I don't know any other sax players really - well, apart from joining here which I only did yesterday!
Thanks for your help everyone. Still welcome any other thoughts, as everyone seems to have diff opinion.

[goodsax]

If you plan to include playing with a group like a community concert band, for example, the alto is the better way to go. It's rare, to the best of my knowledge, to find soprano sax parts written for concert bands, whereas alto sax is one of the principal sax family components for such a group.

For many of the reasons stated already, I think the learning curve on a soprano might be a bit steeper than that for the alto. I started on c melody and went to alto a few months later. Now, I play alto, soprano, tenor and baritone, but alto still is my primary with tenor rapidly gaining ground.

My two cents worth...

8)

[colibri]

First start on tenor. You can easily get a decent sound out of it with a week or two of practice. Not too many people can sound like a real alto player.

[saxbeginner]

Yeh, I do like the sound of the tenor. I've just borrowed my friend's to have a go on, but due to an upper back problem, it's just too heavy/awkward for me. Thanks anyway!

[colibri]

A harness or Neotech padded neckstrap might solve your back problem.

[goodsax]

If your back problem is severe enough, and it seems that it might be, that brings the soprano back in the picture as possibly more desirable, but for a different reason than embochure and the like.
8)

[kcp]

Saxbeginner: Like johnsax says; If you really dig the soprano that much, well yeah sure go for it. There is no say that it is impossible to get started on soprano, just that you are not making it too easy for yourself.

It takes a lot more air to blow in a flute than into a soprano. That is a + for you. But in terms of embouchure, flute and sop don't use the same muscles.

In the end, you are the one who gets to decide.
I didn't want to sound bossy, sorry if I did. Good luck to you and have fun :D

[saxbeginner]

Aw Kim, that's ok! Thanks for your message and the good pointers. I think my pocket (ie £) will be deciding for me after all this.....I'm going to get a better decent alto than I would a sop. Sop's are sooo expensive...

Re my back: I tried the tenor with a harness, too heavy. Are alto's quite a bit lighter than tenors, sop's a lot lighter than alto's...??


(Ta - Again!!!)

[Perfect Pitch]

Alto weighs about 2/3 of a tenor
Soprano weighs about 2/3 alto

:shock:

[www.mradlai.com]

If you compare the same model sax soprano, alto, tenor, baritone... you will quickly realize that the more metal the horn has, the more expensive it is. Its just that there are alot more student models for alto and tenor, but you can now buy cheap sopranos for less than a decent mouthpiece ($250). But if you do have to spend less than $2000 on a sax, dont buy a soprano. Playing it in tune will take all of your concentration and you will get very frustrated!

[Aardvark]

I also have a problem with back (and shoulder) pains that date back years before I took up the saxophone. I found that playing tenor with a neck strap was very uncomfortable but my teacher suggested using the neck strap under my right shoulder. That worked well, so I bought a Klondyke strap which is excellent - it's designed to go over the left shoulder and under the right armpit and is really comfortable. I've tried several harnesses but find them really uncomfortable.
Hope that helps, Aardvark.

[jaysne]

I would start on alto. Soprano's embochure needs to be too taut for a beginner. And a tenor's embochure is too large for a beginner. Alto is just right.

After playing alto for a year or two, try the others out.