| Trumpet: | 1200 |
| Trombone: | 326 |
| Alto Sax: | 227 |
| Tenor Sax: | 114 |
| Baritone Sax: | 15 |
| Other horns: | 4 |
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colehole
User |
Posted: 2007-03-21 08:30 CEST | |
| Hey guys, I'm learning to play sax right now on an alto sax. Its coming along pretty good, and I'm thinking the tenor sax is what I really want to play. Just wondered if there are a lot of major diffrences or if going from the alto to the tenor is pretty simple? | ||
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skallege graduate
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Posted: 2007-03-22 00:29 CEST | |
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You should have no major problem with switching, as long as you've developed a solid embouchure on alto. I did the same thing. The only problem you will run into is tuning. Tenor Sax requires tight corners of the mouth and if you dont have that, you will most likely be about 30 cents flat. So there should be no major difficulties except for the intonation issue, and that can be fixed with practice. Ben  
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colehole
User |
Posted: 2007-03-22 03:04 CEST | |
| the biggest thing i was confused about is on fingering charts the notes are the same for alto and tenor... but they are diffrent keys. so i don't see how they could be the same note on the same finger positions? | ||
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skallege graduate
User |
Posted: 2007-03-23 23:09 CEST | |
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The Alto and Bari saxes are in the key of Eb, but the Tenor sax is in the key of Bb. Therefore, a C on a tenor is equivalent to an altos G. In the Bb major scale, instead of starting on a G like you would on alto, you'd start on C on Tenor. To find the starting note of a scale, you just take the major note and raise it a whole step. Example: Bb major starts on a C. Eb starts on F. C major starts on D,and so on. But as for fingerings, they are all the same. G is still the top three keys, and D is the top three and bottom 3. So its all the same. Any other questions? Ben
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colehole
User |
Posted: 2007-03-24 02:53 CEST | |
| I think I can figure it out. I'm a guitar player so all of this is new, how the written note actually sounds like another note. I'll get the hang of it though. Thanks! | ||
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Altosaxest92
User |
Posted: 2007-04-09 20:39 CEST | |
think of it like this play play whats in front of you don't go into music theory from saxs because then you'll be doing it for ever......trust me...... 
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WrightSaxes
User |
Posted: 2007-05-02 00:40 CEST | |
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<i>I think I can figure it out. I'm a guitar player so all of this is new, how the written note actually sounds like another note. I'll get the hang of it though. Thanks!</i> Guitar sounds and octave lower than written.  Anyway, you'll be glad you can transpose when you try and jam with other players.
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ndreaa
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Posted: 2007-05-02 11:56 CEST | |
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I'm telling my Teacher tomorrow that after 4 to 5 years of playing Alt I have decided to follow my dream and play Tenor. I'm doing my 4th exam within 8 weeks and after that I'm trying Tenor. I really can't wait! Tomorrow night I'm aloud to play on the Tenor of a friend of mine when we have our weekly rehearsal for our orchestra. Hope it works out! He said the only thing that's different is in what key your music is written and that you'll need more air.. |
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WrightSaxes
User |
Posted: 2007-05-03 00:55 CEST | |
| You don't really need too much more air from my experience. Of course, I tend to use more air than the average alto player >_>. | ||
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kklownskkill
User |
Posted: 2007-05-03 03:46 CEST | |
ndreaa wrote:...He said the only thing that's different is in what key your music is written and that you'll need more air.. well, ive never played a tenor, but ive play bari and alto, and the bari takes A LOT more air than alto, so ya, id think tenor would take some more air too |
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ndreaa
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Posted: 2007-05-03 15:41 CEST | |
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Well, I called my teacher because there are no lessons today. And he said he really thought I could do it and agreed starting before summer vacation so I could get used to the bigger instrument and the issue of more air. But well, he said I could do it, so let´s hope the people of the orchestra say it´s okay! |
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180digi
User |
Posted: 2007-05-18 04:09 CEST | |
| Unlike most people who learn to play saxophones, I started with the tenor as opposed to those who first learn the alto at a very young age and then switch. I got a taste of it when I was about ten years old, and I didn't enjoy the experience much because the thing was almost bigger than me when it was in its case. I got back into it two Septembers ago as a Freshman and I find it the most enjoyable class at school, hehehe. I sort of wish I could do more with it though. | ||
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Savage
User |
Posted: 2007-06-04 16:14 CEST | |
| Although Tenor obviously does take more air, the embochure is much looser, which makes air control much easier, so while playing, it doesn't seem to take up any more air, the Bari however does take tons more air than the alto or the Tenor. I switch between all the saxes quite frequently, and it's just something you have to get used to, if you put an Alto down and immediately pick up a Tenor, it feels huge, both to play and to hold, but do the same starting with a Bari, and the Tenor feels like it could be an Alto. In my experience, you get used to any differences within 5 minutes of switching, and whichever sax you pick up first after maybe an hour break will just feel normal (despite the mind games you may play with yourself). | ||
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ndreaa
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Posted: 2007-08-14 13:06 CEST | |
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Well, I've bene playint tenor now the whole summervacation and really, I love it! I've bene playing at the orchestra rehearsels and it went great. Okay, I sometimes tend to forget to do my stumache otherwise I suck at the d, c, etc etc. But well, it's great. The blowing isn't that hard. I always tended using more air on the Alt than the avarege player in my orchestra, ahaha. Everybody kept breathing in and I kept breathing out in between. hehe. But well, I am sure I'll keep on playing tenor. it is much deeper, warmer and I just love the sound etc.! |
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Saxy Minx
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Posted: 2007-10-12 12:21 CEST | |
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I played the Alto since I was 11 and switched to a tenor in Feb 06, so i've been playing it a yr and a half pretty much. Tenor is so much awesome, and it sounds so much better in ska bands too. The playing is exactly the same as the alto, obviously its in a different key, so if working in a band you've gotta learn to change transposition (its in Bb, so its 2 semitones up from concert pitch when transposing), but finger position wise, its the same. You've gotta have a strong pair of lungs on ya, so it takes a while to get the true power cos you've gotta get used to blowing harder. plus, its heavier, so you might find that you have serious neck ache after a while. do some weight training lol. on the upside, if you play tenor for a while, and then play the alto again, alto sounds SO much better-it has a better sound and it feels really light cos youve got used to something so much bigger. So yeh, I recommend getting good at alto first, and then switching to tenor, dont be scared of it, cos its cool 
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Mo Mo Ska Girl
User |
Posted: 2007-11-03 03:46 CEST | |
| I want to learn to play tenor but all I know is alto... | ||
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moik
User |
Posted: 2007-11-23 02:16 CEST | |
| well i play tenor and i love it and the kool thing is u can get trumpet tabs and not eve convert it and well i personaly thiing the alto is more fenemin but guys can use it to jsut ikd its better if a guy ues a tenor or beri | ||
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Mo Mo Ska Girl
User |
Posted: 2007-12-12 01:26 CEST | |
Gender really has no influence on what sax you play, my brother plays alto and loves it so... 
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nicthejew22
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Posted: 2007-12-13 15:32 CEST | |
moik wrote:well i play tenor and i love it and the kool thing is u can get trumpet tabs and not eve convert it and well i personaly thiing the alto is more fenemin but guys can use it to jsut ikd its better if a guy ues a tenor or beri learn how to spell haha |
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moik
User |
Posted: 2007-12-18 18:20 CEST | |
| hey fuck you i was just voicing my oppininon kkk did i spell that right! | ||
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nicthejew22
User |
Posted: 2007-12-20 16:58 CEST | |
| haha chill out, i was just jk | ||
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moik
User |
Posted: 2007-12-22 02:16 CEST | |
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oh sorry man really....
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Faulk
User |
Posted: 2007-12-24 09:20 CEST | |
| Hehe, but you gotta admit..."fenemin" is amusing =P | ||
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themourningchap
User |
Posted: 2008-03-09 03:00 CEST | |
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Tenro was what I originally wanted, but the idiot said I couldn't reach the pinky keys when I was playing C#, C, B, and B flat at any moment. So, I went to alto. It's pretty good, and I still have it from fourth grade. It's really awkward when switching, but then you get use to it. Have fun all you sax players! See you sometime, somewhere, somehow.
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ndreaa
User |
Posted: 2008-05-05 10:43 CEST | |
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I switched last summer from Alto to tenor. And I must say, I'm so glad I did. In the beginning I really struggled with C1 and B1, it took me so much air and everything. But now I hit them as easily as I do a G1 or whatever. Personally, I think the sound is much nicer. But I still like the Alto, not to play though. But alot of my friends still play the Alto and I still like to hear them play. |
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