Anyone Play the Saxophone?

panthro

panthro

panthro

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Joined
19 Nov 2004
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Wokingham
Ive always wanted to learn and now Ive got the time to do so....but I have no idea where to begin. I know theres different types but which one do you choose? Is it a good idea to get lessons? Any ideas/advice/positive comments would be appreciated. Cheers.
 
i played alto for a good few years, still have it and can play but very very rarely do
i think it's the most accessible and has the widest variety of music written for it
 
Abraham said:
i played alto for a good few years, still have it and can play but very very rarely do
i think it's the most accessible and has the widest variety of music written for it
Click to expand...

Is that the type you hear in most jazz, rhythm n blues etc type of music?
 
it's the kind more commonly used for solos, i would say tenor features about equally otherwise,
bigger and produces a deeper sound
 
Abraham said:
i played alto for a good few years, still have it and can play but very very rarely do
i think it's the most accessible and has the widest variety of music written for it
Click to expand...

Ditto (scarily, to everything :eek: ).

I played alto for about 9 years, started studying for grade 8 but decided to not go for it as A-Levels were looming. I then went to Uni (and graduated last year), and havent really played properly since.

Alto is what you'd get started on if you were young-ish, however if you're ~16+ you might ask about learning tenor. Since probably doing my grade 6 i wanted to move onto tenor as it just has a nicer, fuller sound. But because i started very young i physically couldnt play the tenor (hands not big enough etc.) The tenor i'd say is more widely used by solo artists and saxophonists in jazz combos/small groups (of course, big bands mostly have alto as well as tenors).

I just spotted your question: Is it a good idea to get lessons! Of course! You honestly wont get too far without lessons, unfortunately. It's possible but it will make it such a steep learning curve to learn how to read music, learn fingering, and all the other skills you need to play the sax. Look out for sax teachers that teach jazz. I was never interested in playing anything other than jazz, so that's what i did. (Incidentally, part of the reason why i stopped lessons was because my teacher went off to tour in his band :rolleyes: :p).

Maybe go into your local music store and ask about sax teachers. Pick one you like the sound of an arrange a meeting. They'll let you have a bit of a go (probably on different ones), and you can have a chat about what you want to do.
 
Thanks, thats good info. I might have a look round some of the local music shops. Not sure if I will buy one straight away, I might look at hiring one to see if I enjoy it. The Tenor definitely sounds like it would suit me. I love sax solos and jazz music.
 
Saxophone = Coolest instrument bar none.

Like the other people to reply, I started on alto while young but have since stopped playing despite still owning it (I did play a few weeks ago for the first time in a year(s) and the magic's still there :D ).

The reason why I don't play it anymore is, I think, because of my teaching. I had a really good teacher who taught me up to a grade 5 standard. The problem was that the teaching was aimed at learning and repeating songs without a real appreciation for the instrument and creativity. This is in stark contrast to my guitar teaching where I didn't attempt exams but learnt more theory application and how to play for myself. As a result I play it every day but don't know any good songs. ;)

It's a great instrument to play and I want to start playing again by learning the theory and recording myself with the guitar. It's very enjoyable to play in groups of other musicians though, which I did while at school. Since leaving I haven't really taken opportunities to do the same at uni.

So really, go for it and make sure you are taught in the way you want to play.
 
I started off with the soprano sax, I was only 10years old, so couldnt carry the big ones, lol.
Then i progressed up to alto, had a teacher who taught me up to Grade 5 standard, but stopped lessons just before GCSEs. Havent played it in months tho I still have it. Would quite like to get back into it to play jazz or whatever, just lacking a good teacher really ... I now play guitar for fun , just learning songs I like.

Its scary how similar some of our stories are!
 
Just a bump on this thread, my girlfriend has gone to work in South Africa for 9 months (:()and told me to look after her Yamaha Tenor Saxophone, so now Ive got everthing to start with, I will be looking for music teachers this week :)
 
I'd go for the tenor, it's definitely the best - I started on the tenor at 11... It came down to my knees!

If you need any help or advice Panthro, feel free to ask (sax - AT - timnightingale . co . uk) - I did a jazz degree on my sax, and have been a pro sax teacher for the last few years. You're off to a good start by a) seeking out lessons straight away and b) having a decent sax.

Get a teacher from the outset. Don't try and teach yourself the basics, as there'll invariably be something wrong with your mouth/embouchure that you won't know about, and you'll be on the back foot correcting bad habits from the word go when you get a teacher - which has put lots of people off in the past that I've taught.

Good luck!
 
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