 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Nick Ballarini
Date: 2001-02-14 03:15
Keyboard player would like to expand his horizons and learn this instrument. Does anyone have fingering chart and/or tips for learning C Melody Saxophone?
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-02-15 07:04
I am not familiar with this particular saxophone, but all saxophones are transposing instruments. This means that saxophone players pretend that their instrument is a sax in the key of C. A particular fingering is called C and it is the same fingering on all saxophones. They leave it up to the music publishers to sort out the details so that the correct sounds come out.
What this means is that all saxophones use the same fingering chart, which you will find here at http://www.wfg.sneezy.org/
The only difference in fingering between the different models is one or two notes more or less at the two ends of the range.
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Author: cthymius
Date: 2001-02-27 23:28
Don't, it is an out of tune nightmare. The fingerings are all the same for all saxes. Check fingering guide in this web site
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Author: Jason
Date: 2001-03-11 14:05
Nick
Don't be put off by people who don't understand the saxophone.
In answer to your question. The C-Melody is the same fingering as all saxes.
In answer to your other would be advisers.
The C-Melody is the only one of the family that does not transpose, thus the name.
The sound of the instrument is not as refined as the modern horns because these instruments were discontinued in the early '40's. The instruments were better pre WW2, but the mouthpieces were not. There are many modern alternatives to try. An old trick is to cut a quarter of an inch from the shank of a tenor mouthpiece (the difference in length should put the harmonics back into tune). You may need to build your tenon cork up slightly with some paper to make the tenor piece fit. Try a normal tenor mouthpiece first, you'll notice the differece straight away.
I hope this helps.
Persevere, it is definately worth it.
Jason.
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Author: Cher Sallee
Date: 2001-05-16 15:18
I just recently picked up a C Melody Sax at a yardsale. I am looking for a place to take is for a "check-up." I live in the Sacramento area. Any suggestions?
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Author: Joe Burks
Date: 2001-10-22 16:48
The fingering is the same as for an alto sax. I have found that a bass clarinet reed works well (if you have tried to buy reeds and been told that they don't make them anymore...) Tuning is ok. I have an old Martin "Low Tone" that plays beautifully. I think that the "tuning problems" are due to a players natural instinct to hear a particular note with a given fingering and the C melody is a M2 off. Also, an historical note - there are two families of saxes - a Bflat/Eflat one for marching band and a C/F one for stage band. The 'C Melody' and 'F mezzo-soprano' are all that are left from the latter family - actually they are the tenor and alto from the stage band family.
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Author: Erik Ramos
Date: 2005-03-25 02:37
Hello there
I too have just bought A C-Melody Sax A Buescher and I had it redone it came out great. I live in Southern California and I had it redone at A shop in Fullerton. It cost me $325.00 for an Overhaul thats cheap. Looked arround and could not find a better deal I also had my alto overhaled and turnout great as well. The name of the shope is Anglin's music look for it on Yahoo yellow pages.
Good Luck
Erik R
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