 The Fingering Forum
|
Author: Doug Kellis
Date: 2004-06-05 04:41
It has ben years since I played but I am trying to pick up the saxophone again. I have one that has been in the family forever, it is a c-melody however and I am trying to re-figure the fingering of it. If anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate some feedback.
thanks
Doug K.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eoin McAuley (Gnomon)
Date: 2004-06-05 22:24
Look at the fingering charts on this site. The fingering for the C-melody is exactly the same as for any other saxophone.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Doug Kellis
Date: 2004-06-05 23:59
I figured that however the notes are not the same and like I said it has been so long since I played. I thought that when I played everything open on a regular alto sax that I played e-flat, however the finger chart shows that this would play a c-sharp/d-flat. So I am somewhat lost, I figure if I can get the open position figured out (I am assuming it is "c") then I can transpose the rest of the fingering chart to reflect this.
Thanks for the quick response.
Doug Kellis
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Carolyn
Date: 2004-06-06 19:50
For saxophone, a written C on a piece of music is fingered exactly the same way no matter what sax you're playing. Transposing has nothing to do with changing fingerings.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Doug Kellis
Date: 2004-06-08 02:02
So I guess I am really lost now. Are you telling me that if I blow through my c-melody sax with no keys closed I will play a C#?? I do not see how that works. I tought the basic tone that it will produce would be a simple C. Isn't the E-flat saxophone based on the key of E-flat??
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2004-06-08 03:06
sorry, all saxophones have the same note name for the same fingering. an open fingerings will give you a C# on any saxophone. they are called Bb, Eb, C, etc based on concert pitch. a fingering chart for Bb tenor will give you the same fingerings for a C tenor. although, you cannot play the same music, because those two instruments are in different pitches, and would not fit in with the rest of the ensamble. hope this helps.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Carolyn
Date: 2004-06-08 17:49
What the Eb and Bb mean when it comes to other saxophones is that if you play a fingered C on any saxophone (and when I say this, all C's on all saxophones are the same fingering, middle left finger down), The actual pitch that comes out of the instrument will be Eb, Bb, C, etc.
For an Eb alto or bari saxophone, when you play a fingered C, it will actually sound as an Eb. A tenor or soprano saxophone playing a fingered C will sound in concert pitch as a Bb, and so on. Because you have a C melody sax, if you finger a C, you are REALLY playing a concert pitch C.
This helps so that someone can change back and forth between saxophones without having to change fingering from one saxophone to the next. What changes is the sheet music. Because you have a C sax, you probably won't be able to find much music for it.
If you're just playing by yourself, you can play music written for ANY saxophone (or any other treble clef instrument for that matter), but if you're going to play with a group, you'll need to play flute music.
Hopefully this has cleared some things up for you. If you have any questions, ask! I'm sure we'll be able to help you
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Doug Kellis
Date: 2004-06-09 01:46
Theboy_2 and Carolyn,
Thank you very much this does clear everything up. I really do appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me, I did feel pretty lost there but thank you. Now I can enjoy myself and hopefully get back into playing. Thanks again
Doug K.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ElPasoJoe
Date: 2004-07-27 18:53
C-Melody Sax! Great! I have an old Martin Lo-Tone and it plays wonderfully. I use bass clarinet reeds and they seem to work with the stock mouthpiece - silver faced hard rubber, or so it would appear. I got it (the sax) because I play flute and all my fake books are in c. Try playing the flute parts so you won't have to transpose the written B flat tenor sax parts...
Enjoy!
Joe
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
