alto vs tenor sax sound

Sound and Range Saxophone. The alto sax is the most common saxophone to play with the other options being a tenor saxophone (larger than an alto) or a soprano saxophone (smaller than an alto). The tenor has a great rasp to it, especially in the higher register. Both of these are the principal differences; any tune you’ll play around the alto, you can play around the tenor through the voicing is different. However, we must put a lot of things into consideration if we are to make a professional decision on which of the two is better for a beginner. The main thing is to get the accessories for both instruments because they come in handy for a beginner. You can also read our very detailed and comprehensive post on all the Saxophone Types both new and old, you will get a better understanding of the sax family musical instruments and see which one suits your needs best. Which Saxophone Do You Prefer? What is a Saxophone 3. I am over 40 and my lifelong dream has been to learn to play saxophone. However, it falls into the category of woodwind instruments since it has a single-reed mouthpiece. Besides the look, the tonality is relatively quickly the principal difference between an alto and tenor sax. And I have large hands, so for me, the alto feels like I am pushing my palms along a little, whereas the tenor provides my hands a little more distance, more pleasing. While the alto and tenor saxophone both use the same note fingerings (apart from some of the altissimo notes), because of their difference in size, they actually have very different ranges. As a whole, the V16 family is my go-to for a classic, versatile jazz sound. amzn_assoc_linkid = "0413ccf6ce937c3c361f15107f17cb28"; It’s lighter and simple to handle compared to tenor sax. fidlarmusic.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. The alto and tenor saxophones have been favorites among musicians, composers, and listeners. Another distinction between both is the alto sax’s neck pops up while the tenor sax bends back again. We’ve pointed out that the tenor and alto sax are alike in various ways that you can undoubtedly tell by merely looking at them. As a student of this tool, you need to learn all of the note registers for the two tools to transpose into the necessary vital functions. We have pointed out that the tenor and alto sax are similar in many ways that one can easily tell by just looking at them. They have precisely the very same fingerings. I managed to get alto saxophone from my friend the other day and now excited to practice. Knowing how to perform with an alto saxophone; about understanding that the embouchure makes it simpler to grasp bigger saxophones. These similarities are quite visible, and one can easily tell by just looking at the two instruments. Learning how to play the saxophone predicated on celebrity makes one consider additional alternatives like the tenor sax. Do you like listening to the lower, darker tones of tenor sax, or would you want to obey the more prominent, brighter tones of the alto? Tenor Sax Transposing Because the alto sax is an E flat instrument and the tenor sax is a B flat instrument, the voicing is completely different, so as far as transposing goes, they are very different instruments. Differences Between Alto Sax and Tenor Sax that Each Beginner Must-know. Considering size in the brass instrument family, we know that size affects the sound. However, as we mentioned before, their size impacts the tones that they produce. The mouthpiece holds the reed and is the point on the saxophone where the sound is produced. Each saxophone player would understand that one big gap between the alto and tenor sax is their dimension. One might assume these differences are minute, while some might regard them as significant. They brought the alto and tenor sax into the mainstream, due to their dexterity and fame. This means that sheet music on the key of C would sound like E-flat on alto sax. Professionals such as Charlie Parker (alto sax player) and John Coltrane (tenor sax player) did well to make these two saxophones become very popular today. The bargain is that almost all sorts of saxophones are employed in most kinds of music. The saxophone is a woodwind instrument which means that it uses a reed in the mouthpiece. Cannonball Adderley could definitely play the blues, but yes, the tenor is usually used more for rock and blues. They’re created for one another! Your email address will not be published. The alto saxophone is more prominent compared to the tenor saxophone. Saxophones have a wide variety of mouthpieces available, made of an equally wide variety of materials, and each can provide a distinct sound, responsiveness and timbre. The alto sax keys are closer together since the saxophone is smaller. This is not a like-for-like remake of the 1954 classic; it’s a little heavier and aims to capture it’s round, centred sound whilst incorporating top-of-the-range modern keywork and intonation. Side by Side Comparison – Saxophone vs Trumpet 5. It’s performed more by adults, due to its higher weight. A more compact tool is a lot easier to manage concerning weight and simplicity of studying dynamics and may make learning to get a novice simpler. My first try sounded exactly like the first example. The fingerings in which you put your hands on the keys to get a C in alto sax, for example, is the specific same fingering for your C tenor. There’s not any doubt that an alto sax is an ideal alternative for smaller novice sax players of this tool. Summary. If you already play the alto saxophone, handling the tenor saxophone could not be more straightforward. This means that you can try transposing your tenor sax to E-flat to play a piece of sheet music written for alto sax and vice versa. But alto can be have a sweet sound and is usually better for classical music and there are some great jazz alto players too. #5 — Alto Sax vs. Nevertheless, the size difference makes an identical note on the Alto Saxophone sound higher than that of played on a Tenor Saxophone. So, once you have decided on the size of your instrument and the type of music you want to play (which is important due to the sound output – the Alto being an octave lower) all that’s left for you do is start making great music. Here’s the URL to the sheet music if you would like to play with the item. The alto and tenor sax are equally transposing instruments (a transposing instrument is a tool where the notice that’s written is different from the notice that audio, for instance: a C onto a Bb instrument will seem as a Bb based on the device ). The keys in an alto sax are somewhat closer together than the keys on tenor sax. On the other hand, the significant differences in these accessories are their dimensions. Beginner sax players find it easier to handle the alto sax than tenor sax, due to their smaller lung capacity and experience playing the instruments. It’s compact and easy to handle, so perfect for younger players. But in case you’ve opted to begin the saxophone to play with some jazz and discover the audio so characteristic of those tenor sax giants, then do it! Both the alto and tenor sax are transposing instruments, meaning neither of them sound the same as the piano and other concert pitch instruments. The alto saxophone is more prominent compared to the tenor saxophone. It’s uncommon, but somebody starts learning the saxophone with a tenor, as controlling the method is more challenging. Generally in quartet or classical work, the alto is supposed to sound like Mule or Rascher, the Baritone like a Cello, the Soprano like a turbocharged oboe played into a sock drawer, but there really is no frame of reference for the tenor. The alto and tenor sax are both transposing instruments (a transposing instrument is an instrument where the note that is written is different from the note that sound, as an example: a C on a Bb instrument will sound like a Bb – depending on the instrument) and they produce sounds that are different from the piano and other concert pitch instruments. The alto saxophone (the bigger variant ) is, as I understand it, quite near the female voice. Tenor sax is bigger than alto but another really popular choice for a beginner player. Since they have small hands, it would be easier to move around the instrument and would require less energy to play. Therefore, if you’ve got little hands, it may be a tiny bit more comfortable that you play alto (or at least to begin with this ). One major difference that a lot of people won’t notice is their difference in the note register. I like the tenor sax’s sound more, possibly because the tenor feels somewhat deeper, lusher, thinner, and lower to the alto feel sharper, brighter, somewhat greater, even edgier. I really want to sound like Paul Desmond on "Take Five" - you know, that "smoky jazz bar" type of sound. This doesn’t follow that jazz song is restricted to the tenor sax. Many novices may have settled on a genre that they prefer playing and may have difficulty picking a saxophone predicated on that genre they would like to learn. While the two saxophones are usually showcased in professional groups and orchestras and possess a similar music role, they’re also somewhat unique in character. - YouTube This is one of the major reasons why the alto sax has the upper hand over the tenor sax. The tenor and alto sax need accessories just like every other brass instrument. Considering size at the brass instrument family, we know that size affects the sound. Beginner sax players find it a lot easier to deal with the alto sax than tenor sax because of their smaller lung capacity and expertise playing with the tools. These gaps also involve the handling of their tools. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One more thing that you need to consider is the one you enjoy the best. We Have A Great Offer For You + The Chance To Win A $100 Cash Card, C-1 SGR by Schecter Beginner Electric Guitar, Epiphone Les Paul SPECIAL-II Electric Guitar – Vintage Sunburst, Ibanez 4 String Bass Guitar – Sunburst GSRM20BS, Best 38 inch Beginner Acoustic Guitar Starter Kit, Fender FA-100 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Rise Full Size 6-Ply Drum Set By Sawtooth, Soprano Saxophone: Mendini by Cecilio Saxophone, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ALTO AND TENOR SAX. It’s lighter and simple to handle compared to tenor sax. The same goes for alto and bari sax. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "howtogetr0f35-20"; Concerts and Players The alto is usually the first type of sax learned by players and is most used in orchestras and marching bands, since the smaller size and weight are easier on students. On the contrary, jazz songs employ every sort of saxophone and aren’t confined to a particular kind. When played, covering the gap regulates the resonating air column frequency by shortening the tube length. The fingering positions on each type of saxophone are the same, so you’ll never have to worry about learning new notes, only the sound and size will be different. Professional musicians, such as John Coltrane (tenor) and Charlie Parker (alto), have attracted the two forms of saxophones to the mainstream. The tenor sax requires more atmosphere than the Alto. This is why playing the alto saxophone to sheet music written for a tenor saxophone would seem completely off. 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