 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-15 19:46
I have been learning the clarinet for about a year and have a feeling that I would like to play the tenor saxaphone as well;
1. Is this a daft thing to do?
2. Should I concentrate on the clarinet, which certainly requires a lot of improvement?
3. Will the tenor sax be really easy to play after the clarinet?
4. Will the tenor sax be impossible to play after the clarinet?
5. Will I just get more confused?
6 Is my wife correct that I shouldn't be wasting my (our) money?
So should I stop this dreaming right now or should I save up for a sax?
Martyn
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-04-15 20:00
#6 no comment; really no comment!
#1 it is not, many do/done this
#2 it is personal preference
#3 in some ways yes, it others no. Fingering is very similar and simpler, but embouchure and voicing is different. Also sax requires more air support
#4 The biggest challenges would be to get low notes and good sound and extra time you need to practice
PS. sax is louder then CL, so it will be more to bear for your neighbors/family
Post Edited (2014-04-15 20:03)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-04-15 20:08
I played both through high school and my first year in college. I sold my tenor to buy a bass clarinet when I decided I wanted to be an orchestra player, which I did become. It's only a problem in some peoples mind. When you play one you don't think about the other. Two different instruments but similar in many ways. Go for it, enjoy.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-04-15 20:19
1. No, not daft at all. Tenor sax is a great double for the clarinetist--it's a B-flat instrument, same as the clarinet. If you ever pick up the bass clarinet in the future, already having played the tenor sax will make that transition easier.
2. If you're not playing in an ensemble, this is a moot point. Play whatever instrument tickles your fancy at the moment. If your goal is to get into an ensemble as a clarinetist, if would be most time-efficient to accomplish that goal first before taking up the saxophone.
3. This is one of the easiest doubles among the woodwind instruments. You should have few difficulties.
4. Absolutely not. You could take up any member of the saxophone family and switch between it and the clarinet whenever you'd like.
5. If you didn't find the clarinet confusing, the sax won't be, either.
6. A good saxophone is an investment for a lifetime of musical pleasure. Good used tenor saxophones capable of lasting a person's lifetime start at around $700 here in the states. If you get 30, 40, or 50 years of use out of your tenor sax, your annual cost is practically nil, isn't it?
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-04-15 21:05
I agree with the rest that there shouldn't be any problem. The one thing to expect is that the tenor is significantly heavier than a clarinet and a good deal of weight ends up being supported by your neck. If you have any spinal issues (I forget how old you are) you may need to find ways to make your tenor and your spine more compatible.
No issues at all in terms of confusion. Lots of clarinet players double on sax.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-04-15 21:16
While I started on sax before clarinet, I studied clarinet under an excellent teacher which was beneficial. I was doing plenty of sax playing anyway but wanted to get my clarinet playing up to scratch which I felt was more important to me at the time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-04-16 15:44
Mart: If you can find a sax that can cook as good as your wife can then I'd say go for it.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-16 17:22
Thanks Bob,
It's more in the blowing department that I am looking to broaden my experiences ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2014-04-16 19:05
I had 7 years of sax lessons before getting 2 years of clarinet lessons, and that was over 50 years ago, so I am not about to tell anyone how to learn to play an instrument.
How does the fact that Funfly has "been learning the clarinet for about a year" factor into the answer for his question? If he is not yet comfortable going over the Bb-A break, once he starts playing sax (which does not have that problem) he may never touch the clarinet again.
And a question for Funfly: If you are taking clarinet lessons, what does your teacher say about you learning sax at this stage of your development?
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-16 20:07
"And a question for Funfly: If you are taking clarinet lessons, what does your teacher say about you learning sax at this stage of your development?"
I'm going to ask her tonight! I love the clarinet but I know that at my age and with my poor stamina I will never get to a 'performance' level. My teacher also teaches sax so might give a sensible answer.
I actually have little difficulty with the break although I do sometimes have difficulty with finger placement around the C (see my posting on 'triplets').
This is something that I know will improve with experience and I am practicing this quite a bit.
My clarinet practice is limited by my stamina and this is one area that would put me off trying the sax as I am told that it takes a lot more puff, so it might not be practical for me.
I had this sort of discussion when I considered buying a good clarinet and trading my plastic one in. Even though I am a novice I never regretted doing this as I feel that I have something of beauty and value in my Yamaha and it's up to me to do it justice.
Thanks for your comments.
Martyn
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2014-04-17 02:10
One real advantage of sax over clarinet is finger placement. All sax holes are covered by pads; if any part of a finger can push down on any part of the pad, the hole is closed.
Neither alto nor tenor sax take that much more air, and both would take a more relaxed bite on the mouthpiece than on a clarinet. Saxophones are larger than a clarinet, but the diameter at the output of the mouthpiece is about the same as a clarinet. A bass clarinet has a larger mouthpiece diameter; it takes significantly more air.
You might want to scale down to an alto sax. At my height (5'9"), I can rest the horn on the chair between my legs and play it comfortably; no weight on my neck. If you need to support a sax with a strap, harnesses are available which distribute the weight over both shoulders, rather than the neck.
I have always felt that the saxophone is easier to play than the clarinet (because of simpler fingerings and no open holes), and the clarinet is easier to play well than the sax (because of more alternative fingerings). If your objective is to learn to play an instrument; I'd recommend alto sax. You already know 80% of sax fingerings.
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-17 02:45
I'm off tomorrow to look at saxes. I plan to try both alto and tenor ones to see which I like. My feelings tend towards a tenor sax as I am more into blues and a more 'laid back' style but will see how they play.
Even my clarinet tutor told me to go for it ![[up]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley24.gif)
OMG - what am I doing?
Martyn ![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
Martyn Thatcher Mature Student Cheshire U.K.
Clarinet - Yamaha SE Custom
Alto Sax - Yamaha YAS 480
Guitar - Yamaha FG 375-S
Post Edited (2014-04-17 02:47)
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Author: MSK
Date: 2014-04-17 05:19
6. If taking up the sax is your most expensive or reckless hobby, your wife is lucky
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2014-04-17 08:01
I play flute, and am learning clarinet and Alto sax. I may have issues, but I find the sax embouchure tough on the inside of my lower lip, limiting how much I can play. I find sax easier to finger, but takes more air volume. I do have some interference with fingerings amount the instruments.
My biggest problem is practice time. If I set aside either sax or clarinet for more than a few days, technique and voicing gets bad. I work full time and don't have time to practice both nearly every day, so it's very frustrating. I just can't progress on both.
Clarinet seems the harder of the two, especially fingerings accuraccy. Failing to seal holes causes squeaks. The biggest problems on sax are low and high notes and voicing.
If you have the time, go for it.
Jim
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: sax panther
Date: 2014-04-17 16:21
Go for it! Clarinet and sax is a very useable combination if you want to get gigs (pit band, big band, latin, jazz etc), and they're similar enough so that you won't get constantly confused swapping between them. I regularly do gigs where I'm changing tune to tune between clarinet, alto sax and baritone sax and it's never a problem. If you find the difference in size and shape of the mouthpiece a bit strange, you can get clarinet mouthpieces which have the beak angle a bit more like a sax piece, like the vandoren profile 88s or a Ralph Morgan.
I think you're doing it the right way round - getting comfortable on clarinet and then starting on sax. When I've spoken to people who have gone the other way round, they said that it was confusing having a register key that moved you up a 12th, rather than a simple octave key on the sax.
Regarding size, I don't think this would be a problem. I'm only 5'7" and have no problem playing long gigs with a baritone. The only downside to gigging on the bari is that I can't travel there on my motorbike!
Good luck, whether you go with alto or tenor you'll have a lot of fun!
Mike
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-17 19:42
Surprised myself today after I had virtually decided that the Tenor sax would be the one for me, when I tried it and it frightened me to death. It's a bit too 'meaty' for me if you understand what I mean ![[hot]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/hot.gif) .
Tried the Alto sax and found it to be perfect for me so have decided to buy that one. Just in the process of negotiating a price so may not get it in my hands until next week.
Quite different from the clarinet innit but I can now understand why clarinet players also play the sax.
Martyn Thatcher Mature Student Cheshire U.K.
Clarinet - Yamaha SE Custom
Alto Sax - Yamaha YAS 480
Guitar - Yamaha FG 375-S
Post Edited (2014-04-17 19:59)
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