 The Fingering Forum
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Author: CY
Date: 2004-08-13 21:20
Hi everyone!
I am very interested in starting to learn a new woodwind instrument. At this stage, I am not sure which is the best instrument to pick.
In addition to being able to play in a band, I also want it to sound good during solo.
However, I am a bit concerned about my lung capacity - I'm quite a small size person, and maybe not able to produce enough sound if the instrument's too large...
At the moment, I'm considering the clarinet, saxophone, and oboe. Which one is easier to pick up, and sound good as a solo?
Thank you people, hope this is not too many questions at one time!
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Author: Ember
Date: 2004-08-13 21:46
Sax is easier but clarinet is better if you don't have a band. Oboe... well it's my love but it's difficult... you have to give oboe your entire life :D
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Author: Derek
Date: 2004-08-13 22:46
I would say start out with either clarinet, sax, or flute. The sax is probably the easiest in the beginning but it isn't that difficult to start with flute or clarinet either (after all elementary school students can do it, why not u?). If you're worried about lung capacity due to your physical size, there are exercises you can do to improve their strength. For example, learning to breathe from the diaphram etc. However, i wouldn't let this discourage you; i've seen and heard many great woodwind players with very small proportions. As for which sounds the best for solo, this depends on what type of music you would like to play. All are equally capable of playing gorgeous solos. However, if you like jazz then perhaps pick the saxophone and if you prefer more classical types then look into clarinet and flute (but no1 says u have to play certain types of music with their respective instrument). Well those are my humble thoughts, i'll stop ranting on now. Best of luck to you. -Derek
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Author: Oboe
Date: 2004-08-14 10:23
Oboe isn't the easiest instrument to pick up, but it's wonderful, and if you have a chance you should try to take it up...the outcome is well worth it and it sounds very nice during solos
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Author: CY
Date: 2004-08-14 10:50
Dear all,
Thank you very much for all your advice.
I'm thinking of hiring the instrument - for about 1/2 to 1 year and see how it's like before buying one.
I've had a heard and look of those instruments, and I think my choice goes to the sax
BUt there are so many types to pick - like the Sax altro, suprano....and etc.
what are the things to consider when selecting the type of instrument?
thanks! :D
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Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2004-08-14 16:33
the beginner instruments to pick are alto sax, soprano flute and clarinet and just oboe. alto flute and bass flute are rarely if ever used. tenor and lower saxs are big and you usually work your way down. soprano sax is a jazz instrument. i play one, and as of now haven't seen a concert piece written for it. lower clarinets are the same as saxs, they require larger lung capacity. but you'll notice after playing an instrument that your lung capacity will increase quickly. after a year or so of playing, you could take up a lower instrument. hope this helps.
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Author: Ember
Date: 2004-08-15 12:32
I started with soprano sax because I was too small :D then when I grew up I passed to alto sax, wich is simpler (for the intonation etc), and then to oboe.
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Author: JfW
Date: 2004-08-16 15:47
The saxophone has the easiest initial learning curve, but it has technical challenges that are more frustrating on the intermediate level than with the clarinet (In my opinion).
The clarinet would be the cheapest instrument to aquire and the most resistant to damage/leakage, if that matters at all.
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Author: Barb
Date: 2004-08-19 00:22
Well, things with the saxophone are the upkeep since it is delicate which is suprising by its appearance, but techinical challenges do involve dynamics, such as to play piano, the clarinet's techinical challenges lean more on the side of the breaks but both have the challenge of the well rounded sound, personaly I find tuning on the clarinet easier since it rarely goes sharp, more on the flat side, but saxophones, could go both ways not to mention the octave jumps that may occur but that just involves slower moving air or faster.
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Author: ry_150
Date: 2004-08-23 04:08
ok, i play flute, clarinet, alto sax and oboe....here is my say:flute is a very nice instrument once u get the just of it. although, if u like 2 continue on in2 higher levels, the flute often gets very flashy and requires very fast fingers, and it also gets quite high, and the fingerings are all very different and requires and good airstream. flute is a very nice choice once u get the basics and the fingerings down pat. clarinet.....it requires more air support than flute, and it has a big range, which is very nice. sax.... its my personal fav....it has a beautiful sound, and the fingerings are not difficult at all, the high and lower notes require a little bit of work, but there easy enough once u got them down pat....and the oboe, its i very nice instrument also.....the major concerns with the oboe is 1. getting it so that it doesnt sound like a duck and 2. intonation....tuning is all over the place, but wen u find the kind of reed that suits u, it gets better, also it takes a little while 2 get used 2 the shape of the mouth thats required to play the oboe. my advice is go with your strengths....it makes it alot easier in the end!
well, hope this big thing helps!
bye, ryan
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Author: joyce
Date: 2004-08-25 04:23
the one that was easier for me was clarinet ot is easier to pick up and if u learn it well enough ull be able to play a solo
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Author: Alex
Date: 2004-08-27 00:20
Here's my opinion. Start with the sax. The sax fingerings are almost literally just lifting and closing the same keys in order over and over. I guess you can say the same about the flute, but not as much. But it's a lot harder to do technical things on the sax. It will also teach you to fill your instrument, something I've found isn't too big an issue with the flute or clarinet. The flute is great. It sounds great in jazz. The fingers aren't too hard. It will teach you to blow through your instrument and keep up your air flow. Haven't had much experience on the clarinet. It's easier as far as technical mechanics. Start with alto sax, then flute or clarinet, the move on to things like oboe, basoon, tenor, or baritone sax.
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Author: san
Date: 2004-09-08 12:30
Hi! If you are rally intrested in woodwind why don't you try clarinet. I also was a clarinet player, at first it was diffcult but as time passes I found that clarinet among the woodwind is the easier as it is quite the same as recorder. Don't be scare of not enough air as it can be practice, hope that u will choose clarinet !When u have chossen one, plz tell me about it, I wish to know.( Not busybody)
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Author: Flo
Date: 2004-09-26 23:11
Clarinet is very easy to pick up if you already know an instrument. The clarinet once you get good sounds really nice for solos. Sax is fun but isn't very good for solos. I'm not sure about the oboe.
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