 The Fingering Forum
|
Author: Carol
Date: 2004-03-10 11:14
Need help to see if I was completely crazy in buying a new Bb Soprano Sax without having played sax before!
I am a clarinet player and have always wanted to play the soprano sax. Are there any correlations between these instruments?
The local music store has not been helpful in leading me to any fingering charts; this is the first website I've located any, but I still have so many questions. The store has strongly recommended I get lessons but I'm the kind that likes to try and figure it our myself before I take that route. Also, if you could tell by my email address, I've got a lot on my plate right now and don't want to have to spend the money or the time (the three boys are under 5).
Is the Bb soprano sax different from others?
Can I learn the fingerings from the charts listed?
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JfW
Date: 2004-03-10 16:31
-----------------------------------------------------------
Need help to see if I was completely crazy in buying a new Bb Soprano Sax without having played sax before!
-----------------------------------------------------------
You probably were, especially if you didnt have a sax player along to assist. Salesmen have been known not to represent the truth.
---------------------------------------------------------
I am a clarinet player and have always wanted to play the soprano sax. Are there any correlations between these instruments?
---------------------------------------------------------
Yes, but it's safer to assume there isn't. The embrochure requires different technique. much less pinching at the corners with a smile and more support with the side of the mouth against the mouthpiece. Fingerings translate in some areas, some others they don't. The clarinet's fingering system is complex and, in my opinion, braindead, while the sax'es is much more straight-forward and orthoganal. Plus, the sax doesn't burden you to conform your finger position to it's open holes, so it gives you much more leeway for comfort.
----------------------------------------------------------
Is the Bb soprano sax different from others?
----------------------------------------------------------
Basic fingerings are identical, the only differences would be some optional keys. Low Bb through high F, they all finger the same.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2004-03-10 22:06
i'd disagree with JfW. you need a tighter embouchure all around, just saying because i play both clarinet and soprano sax. between D and B on the clarion register on the clarinet is the same as the sax's. the soprano sax is difficult because of the embouchure and tuning. the soprano sax is usually sharp all the time. it takes control of your embouchure. all sax's fingering charts are the same except for the extreme high notes. each sax has it's own likes and dislikes when it comes to altissimo notes. I wouldn't say your crazy to buy a soprano sax without ever playing it before, it's a neat challenge. a private instructor would be able to show you different techniques and give one-on-one attention. hope this helps.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johnsonfromwisconsin
Date: 2004-03-11 03:00
-----------------------------------------------------------
i'd disagree with JfW. you need a tighter embouchure all around
----------------------------------------------------------
Then you're doing clarinet embrochure or saxophone embrochure wrong, or both.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2004-03-11 22:03
i'd like to not argue, but from clarient to soprano sax, you do need a tighter embouchure, it's a smaller mouthpiece. i'm not saying squeeze the reed so hard it can't vibrate, still loose enough to produce a warm sound.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Carol
Date: 2004-03-21 22:17
Thanks so much for the feedback!!!
Will take each into thought - I'm ready for the challenge!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: benny
Date: 2004-03-31 07:50
I am a beginer andI only know how to play B A C G, so I need some sheets that has the notes and how to do the fingering.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GregVail.com
Date: 2004-04-01 18:06
You will find the sax to be very easy to play in relation to Clarinet. It was developed much later and employes newer technology so all the key work is esay to use.
Saxophone also is a different bore so the Register Key is an Octave key on Sax. A G is a G. Very easy - no real "break."
The hardest thing is getting used to a different angle and tension in the mouth. It goes in more straight and is a looser tension.
The fingerings are all the same on all the saxes so once you get one going, they all finger the same.
Have fun with it. Since the key is Bb you can use any of your Clarinet music that does not go below Bb below the staff.
GregVail.com
Sax Player
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: eric
Date: 2004-04-16 16:42
I learned sax by myself and some help from a book. Its really not that hard; and if your only beginning, dont worry about all the really technical side and 'trying to relate between the two instruments'. Its easier to just learn it as a new instrument
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WILLIE
Date: 2005-04-06 16:28
YOU KNOW THIS IS A COINSIDENSE I ALSO PLAY THE CLARINET BUT I JUST PICKED IT UP ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO IT WAS GIVEN TO ME AND I REALIZED HEY I CAN PLAY THIS THING AND WE STARTED A QUARTET, A TENOR TWO ALTOS AND A CLARINET . SO I FELT LIKE AN ODDBALL AND WENT AHEAD AND BOUGHT A SOPRANO SAX SO NOW IM TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT AS WELL SO THANKS FOR ANY HELP I CAN GET THERE ALSO . I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MOUTH BUT HELL I CAN ONLY PLAY NEARER TO THEE OH LORD ON THE SAX , YES WE PLAY AT CHURCH NOT A JAZZ QUARTET. BUT I CANT FIND ANY SHARPS .PLEASE HELP
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
