About the Saxophone
A saxophone is a fun horn to play because of the different things you can do with it. The horn is capable of a variety of musical styles from rock to jazz to classical to swing. If you’re sure the saxophone is the horn for you, odds are you want to buy one rather than spending all your hard earned money on a rental which must be returned to the store. It is a lot less expensive for you to buy a good used saxophone than to pay a lot of money for a new.
The first thing you’ll want to do is decide what type of saxophone you want to play. The most popular types are alto, baritone, soprano, and tenor. This article will provide information on the various types so you can decide what type of used saxophone to buy.
The alto saxophone has the most classical music to play of all the types. It is also a good size for younger kids. It reads the treble clef in the key of E?. The musical range on the alto sax is from concert D?3 to concert A?5. Usually only advanced players can successfully control the altissimo register of the alto sax.
The baritone saxophone has an extra loop near its mouthpiece in order to keep the height of the instrument reasonable. It weighs about 15-20 pounds, so if you’re planning on playing in a marching band, it might be a good idea to consider a different type of horn. It plays notes an octave
The soprano saxophone is pitched in the key of B? and plays an octave above the tenor saxophone. More modern soprano saxophones provide additional keys to allow players to reach notes of F? and G. A more advanced player can make use of the altissimo register. Kenny G, a famous saxophone player who you’ve probably heard on the radio, plays the soprano sax.
The tenor saxophone is among the most common. It has a deeper sound than the alto sax. It is pitched in the key of B?. The tenor saxophone has a slightly larger mouthpiece, reed, and ligature than the alto sax has. You can easily tell the difference between an alto and a tenor sax because the tenor has a crook in its neck just ahead of the mouthpiece.
The deciding factor in what type of saxophone you decide to go with will most likely be how you plan to use the horn. If you’re going to play in a marching band, you might want to stay away from the baritone sax. Even if you have a strap to help distribute the weight it’s likely to be too cumbersome. If you’re going to play in a jazz band, consider a tenor sax. You might want to play each type of saxophone to get a good idea of what you’d be comfortable using.
Typically, a person who is serious about playing the saxophone will have a few types at his house. There is not a learning curve from one type to another. You can then change from one type of used saxophone to another depending on what music you happen to be playing.