Helpful tips

Are alto and tenor sax notes the same?

Are alto and tenor sax notes the same?

The difference between the score and the actual sound Tenor saxophones are tuned to B♭, and alto saxophones are tuned to E♭, but when playing the same note on a score, the fingerings are the same.

How do you transpose tenor sax to alto sax?

So to go from Bb tenor saxophone to Eb alto saxophone notes, you go up a perfect fifth (or down a perfect fourth). C on tenor sax up a fifth makes it a G on alto sax. This note is a concert Bb, a concert Bb is C on tenor and G on alto. C on alto sax down a fifth gets you to F on tenor sax.

Does alto sax transpose up or down?

Yes an alto is in Eb and a tenor is in Bb so your Eb on alto sounds the same pitch as C on a piano. This is because they are what is commonly called a “transposing instrument”. This is a feature of many, but not all, woodwind and brass instruments.

Is it easier to learn alto or tenor sax?

The short answer—there is not that much of a difference between the alto sax and the tenor sax playing-wise. They are both equally as easy or hard for beginners to play although the alto is, arguably, a bit easier, fingering-wise.

What two keys do the saxophone family alternate between?

As only three percent of Sax’s surviving production were pitched in F and C, and as contemporary composers used the E♭ alto and B♭ bass saxophone freely in orchestral music, it is almost certain that Sax experimented to find the most suitable keys for these instruments, settling upon instruments alternating between E♭ …

How does an alto sax transpose?

So, for example, to transpose alto sax : When you play a B on your alto sax, it sounds like a D on a piano. When you play a D on your alto sax, it sounds like a F on a piano. When you play a D#/Eb on your alto sax, it sounds like a F#/Gb on a piano.

How hard is the alto sax compared to the tenor sax?

The short answer—there is not that much of a difference between the alto sax and the tenor sax playing-wise. They are both equally as easy or hard for beginners to play although the alto is, arguably, a bit easier, fingering-wise.

How can I Make my saxophone notes sound better?

Be patient if you cannot make the saxophone notes sound clearly and evenly at first. Experiment with the pressure from your jaw until you find the right amount to make the saxophone notes sound correctly.

What should I learn in my first saxophone lessons?

Playing Your First Saxophone Notes One of the most important aspects learned in your first saxophone lessons is the ability to produce a strong, even tone. This largely depends on the position of the mouth and lips, the amount of pressure used, and the way the air is directed through the instrument.

How do you play G on the saxophone?

Place your fingers in position for a G note as shown in the diagram above and blow a steady stream of air into the mouthpiece until the saxophone notes sounds. Be patient if you cannot make the saxophone notes sound clearly and evenly at first.