Hardest sax to master

[CMelodyMan]

In your personal opinion, what is the hardest saxophone to master?(soprillo, alto, tenor, bari, contrabass etc...) From the saxes I've tried SATB and c melody, it would probably be the soprano.

[Martin Williams]

I have played the sopranino, aka the great destroyer, and could personally not mind never seeing one again

[iplaydasax]

As i mainly play soprano and alto i would have to say the baritone - you need some lungs to blow one of those i cant imagine what a contrabass would need to get a decent note out of it. :shock:

[gary]

I play soprano, alto and tenor and I would say generally and only in context of all three, the only problems I have is with intonation in the alto's upper register.

[CMelodyMan]

In your personal opinion, what is the hardest saxophone to master?(soprillo, alto, tenor, bari, contrabass etc...) From the saxes I've tried SATB and c melody, it would probably be the soprano.

I'm going to take back what I said about the soprano. The other day I played one at BrookMays Music, and it wasn't hard to play at all. I only squeeked like 5 times during the 30 or so minutes I played on it. 8-)

[Bernards20040]

Either of mine :?
ask anyone who has ever tried them

[Alto Giant]

OF those horns I play (SAB) I'd say the soprano....

[Pete Thomas]

Don't play the saxophone,let it play you!
-Charlie Parker-

When did he say that? If he did he must have been out of his head!

I would never give that kind of advice, you need to control that instrument so that it becomes an extension of you. Never ever let the instrument be the master or you have nothing to say.

[Brendan Muse]

Hardest sax to master? The Contrabass.

First, you've got to hunt it down. Throw a few spears into it, that sort of thing.

Then, you need to tie it up.

And finally, you need to figure out how to play it without suffering an aneurism.

[dirty]

coming from the background of a clarinetist/bass clarinetist, my answer would have to be the alto. It's just weird. I love it though. Soprano is so much like a clarinet (especially the airstream) that I've never had much trouble. I'd like to get into soprano playing sometime, but I've just been having too much fun working downwards (bass clarinet, tenor sax, bari).

[Alto Giant]

When did he say that? If he did he must have been out of his head!

I would never give that kind of advice, you need to control that instrument so that it becomes an extension of you. Never ever let the instrument be the master or you have nothing to say.

a)You don't believe he said this??Well, click http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charliepar125540.html

b)What kind of music do you usually play


C) what has this to do with this topic????8-)

And he used to say a lot of strange things like: learn the changes and then forget them...ever heard of the per cent of magic in a jazz solo???:D

[Alto Giant]

coming from the background of a clarinetist/bass clarinetist, my answer would have to be the alto. It's just weird. I love it though. Soprano is so much like a clarinet (especially the airstream) that I've never had much trouble. I'd like to get into soprano playing sometime, but I've just been having too much fun working downwards (bass clarinet, tenor sax, bari).

The alto???It's just easy for you to play the soprano but you've problems playing the alto??strange.....;)

[Pete Thomas]

a)You don't believe he said this??Well, click http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/charliepar125540.html

b)What kind of music do you usually play


C) what has this to do with this topic????8-)

And he used to say a lot of strange things like: learn the changes and then forget them...ever heard of the per cent of magic in a jazz solo???:D

I didn't say I don't believe Charlie Parker said " Don't play the saxophone,let it play you!", he may well have done, however I followed that link and there was nothing there to make me feel it is the authentic word of Charlie Parker. It might be or it might just be another myth. How do you know the source you quote is reliable?

I get the feeling (correct me if I'm wrong) that your answer is a tad aggressive. If not then I apologise for reading it that way. I was just asking a question, not trying to prove a point one way or another.

(b) I mostly play jazz and R & B, but what has that got to do with this topic?

(c) I was just quoting part of a message in the thread, however it was in a signature on a message so I apologise for going off topic. I just thought it was quite interesting.

I'd agree with "learn the changes and then forget them...". No, I've never heard of the "per cent of magic in jazz" but I think I know what it means.

If you want to continue this discussion, maybe best to take it to a new thread or privately.

[Martin Williams]

Hardest sax to master? The Contrabass.

First, you've got to hunt it down. Throw a few spears into it, that sort of thing.

Then, you need to tie it up.

And finally, you need to figure out how to play it without suffering an aneurism.


Nice. In my expirience, the larger the horn is, the easier it has been for me to play. The smaller, well you get the idea!

Martin Williams

[CircaRevival]

I've only played alto and tenor, and I would say alto was the harder one. The altissimo just doesn't do it for me on my alto.

[singlereed]

I have found tenor hardest to master, but that might be because I have spent far more time on soprano and alto. The bari is always a breeze, I can leave it for weeks and it always seems to play itself. But tenor I think is hardest to get an even scale and I have yet to get the harmonics properly sorted. I suppose sop is perhaps the hardest with whicg to get instant gratification but it has suited me and I feel I am pretty competent on it.

[CMelodyMan]

I'm exactly the same way on bari! I can not practice it for months, and then play as well as I did if I had been practicing it everyday. I used to think tenor was hard, but I borrowed my school's tenor a few days ago, and I've been playing on it, and it's not too hard, alhough it is a lot different from alto.

[TenTenTooter]

Thats how I am with Bari to. This summer, between work and rebuilding my mental/emotional capacity the only time I ever touched a horn was at work and the only time I ever played one was for about a munute or so to test it and make sure its in proper playing condition. Last week I had a Jazz camp at school to go to. Picked up my Bari, put the pouthpiece on, and off I went!

My experiences are with Alto/Tenor/Bari/Bass. Of those I would say the Bass, just because of all the crazy fingerings you have to figure out to play the damn thing somewhere close to in tune, but of the standard 3 I'd say Tenor. Took me the longest to get a proper Tenor emboucher and be able to sound half way decent

[rhyssaxfan]

you need to control that instrument so that it becomes an extension of you.

Which is why I LOVE a Selmer Mark VI. man I have only ever played one, and only played it for about ten minutes until the shop keeper grabbed it out of my hands. But as soon as I started playing I got the best sound I've ever played, a sound I'd been trying to get for years. anyway, with the mark VI it felt like the sax was an extention from me. it was awesome. I didnt stop talking about that sax for days on end. still dont. unfortunetly a few thousand dollars out of my parents prise range. you never know, we might meet again :cry: some day....

er, yes. I've only ever played Soprano, alto and Bari (never played a tenor). But I've found Bari really really easy. but alto is slightly easier, probably only because I've played so much more.

my two cents

[paulwl]

I've played 'em all at one time or another. The hardest for me? The contrabass.

[CrazyMusician]

Personally, and maybe this is because my main horn is Bari, I find the smaller horns to be the hardest. I have a very difficult time playing a soprano in tune throughout the whole horn and yet have no problems on my bari....

[SAXISMYAXE]

The hardest to MASTER, and not just play competently are in my opinion the two at either extreme within the family: the Sopranino and Bass. The Sopranino because it is but by the grace of God whether you will play in tune from one day to the next with it (without sterlizing everyone within ear shot of it!), and the Bass because it is about as nimble as an A1 Abrams in the Indy 500.
I've only played a Contrabass a few times, so mastery of that particular instrument is well beyond my experience level with it, but I can only imagine....

[jboulton]

Well, I have played all but the Whadyacall it? Soprino? I have been playing for over fifty years and own a lot of sax's. I play MKVI's mostly and found no trouble with a soprano of that genure, but I bought a Selmer series 3 and wound up selling as I had a hell of time with it. Seemed to centerd and couldn't get the bends I require when playing. I had a little of that problem trying out the new series Tenors. It was corrected with a different mouthpiece. I'm playing a series two tenor now with no problems using my ancient Berg 160/0.
I remember having a problem with the contra bass back in 66, was playing with the Stan Kenton band doing his Neophonic Jazz series. It was a latency issue! Note took a while getting out of horn. lol... It seemed to after playing the bari and switching for that concert... The issue is players vrs horn, vrs mouthpiece. Just gotta match em up... So little time, so much to accomplish
JIm:treble: 8-)

[Sadie]

Hardest sax to master? The Contrabass.

First, you've got to hunt it down. Throw a few spears into it, that sort of thing.

Then, you need to tie it up.

And finally, you need to figure out how to play it without suffering an aneurism.

:lol: Oh dear, so true. I'll have to get my spears ready for contrabass season someday and go hunting. Bring on the aneurisms!

-Sadie

[Dr G]

Hardest to play? The one that has all the leaks, a poor mouthpiece, and chipped reeds. It's usually a student horn that has been marched hard and put away without any care. That's the toughest for me to play.

[Randall]

G, amen and amen.

[TMadness1013]

For a horn that is set up perfectly, I've gotta go with the bass. Intonation on the two basses I've played has been a real beast.

[thundersax]

I've played alto, tenor and bari. Mainly played tenor for years, sometimes bari for a pit band here and there (dont have one of my own). My emboucher is pretty well set for tenor, when I try to play an alto (which I havent regularly since like the 5th grade (and that was a looooong time ago) I sound like the 5th grade all over again.

[1stchair]

I play soprano, alto and tenor and I would say generally and only in context of all three, the only problems I have is with intonation in the alto's upper register.

Have the same probelm...

On Tenor I can play all the up to a High F# and have a good sounding in tune tone. I mainly play alto and once I get to a C I start going really sharp so I'm really always adjusting on alto.

[jaysne]

I played a contrabass once. I liken it to playing an oil furnace.

[Sasquatch]

If I ever happen to master one, I'll then be able to tell which the easiest was. Based on my experience with bari, my gut feeling is that the bigger the horn gets, the harder it is to play.

[MSH4]

I'm fascinated that there are so many different answers to this question.
I have only just begun to try out the soprano and tenor saxes --- but I definitely find the smaller (alto & soprano) horns easier. The tenor is very difficult for me, and the one time I tried a baritone I couldn't even make a sound. It seems weird that some of you have posted with the exact opposite experience.

[kcp]

I find sop, tenor and bari very easy - Alto saxes don't like me :(

[Chaos Master]

i've played SATB and soprano's definately been the hardest. i haven't played much bari but it seems to be the easiest for me. alto was 2nd easiest and tenor the 2nd hardest. but soprano's definitely worth the effort of learning. it's so much more fun to play than the others :D

[jacobeid]

Soprano was the second horn I picked up and it felt pretty natural. Obviously had to work out a few technique things but not too bad really. Tenor hates me. I can't get a half-decent sound for the life of me. I actually really like my sound on clarinet, but I need to actually learn how to play the damn thing. Piano is also quite challenging right now.

[rebellion117]

I play bari and soprano (soprano's my doubling horn), and I've played alto, tenor, and bass here and there. For me, the hardest to master is the soprano - it's hard to get it to sound like anything but a duck (how Sidney Bechet ever did it is beyond me), and your chances of keeping it in tune are about as good as hitting a hair with a stone from 500m (ok, so it's not really that bad, but you get my point).

[baylistenor]

Tenor..is hard enough for me...to fill it top(esp) to bottom and have the sound and intonation consistent.Then to be able to phrase comfortably and get the notes out how you want ,em without the tone and intonation going.You feel it in the hands,arms,back the next day.You use more of the hand to make phrases.Alto more like end of fingers.
Swimming helps.

[mysaxisofasilvershine]

The four standard ones (The Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone) are all fairly easy in my opinion, but it's the ones that take it to the extreme that I have difficulty with (the Sopranillo and Sopranino along with the contrabass). I think the easiest is the Alto, though.

[semipro]

My answer is the one I am holding in my hand at the time. Mastering any instrument is a beast. Hopefully one day I will master one.

[king koeller]

In my experience, the soprano is the most tricky, in terms of pitch and the much tighter embouchure.
Alto and tenor feel so natural, and the Bari is so much fun, and expressive!

[jmathesonjr]

I would have to vote for tenor. This is just me personally saying that. I have played alto, tenor, and baritone. I play baritone exclusively. I tried tenor and felt like it was sort of like the baritone but not quite. I felt like it demanded a different way of hold the horn, that the embouchure was slightly different and not just in size, the angle of the mouthpice into my mouth was different, and then when I played a note it was just too weird to reconcil the fingering with the sound.

I love the sound of a well played tenor. I truly hate playing them.

[Mark_vi]

In my opinion, so far i have played satb and messed around on the sopranino and after playing clarinet i would say that no one is easier to master, they all have their difficulties. The sopranoand sopranino have the worst intonation problems, the alto takes a lot of work to get a good sound, the tenor feels different than all the rest, and the bari, well I would say that was the easiest for me, I have played contra alto and contrabass clarinets before so filling the sax was no problem, I would say the altissimo on most (and i say most because i finaly found a good sounding bari for altisimo, my ybs62) it just goes to h*ll after the high c even many baris sound like a dying animal in that range, but deffinitely not all of them!!! And from what i hear the bass is a little devil all of it's own!!! But a beautiful beast at that!!!

[kasax63]

I think Tenor is the easiest to play, but the hardest to master!8-)

[Radjammin]

I am voting Alto is the hardest. When someone sounds bad on a Tenor they still have that smooth sound. When someone sounds bad on a Soprano they still have that uniqueu soprano sound.

When someone sounds bad on an Alto, they just sound bad.

[mitchell]

well, i only play tenor, but one of my best friends play bari. she let me play once and it was very, very easy. i could play from the low A all the way up to an F without any problems. but i couldn't really get high on my friends alto.

[eRock08]

I've played Alto and Bari. But not enought to decide on one. how big are the people who say bigger insturments are easier? Im just wondering if being physically bigger makes the larger insterments easier. Or vice versa.

I know I have small hands and could still work around most of the bari, but thats not to hard.

[Yeshua]

For me, I have played my 7 years of band on Bari, so that is a peace of cake, so the size of person I don't think matters too much since I played it when I was about 13 years old (that is just for eRock08).

I have played the Soprano, Alto, C-Melody, Tenor, and Bari and I would have to say the hardest is my C-melody, but that is partly because it just can't be controlled as it seems to me. Other then that the next would be soprano (mainly because of my bari sized mouth lol)

Can't wait to try the other 9+ sax's...hopefully....then I'll update...in a few years...lol....

[JazzplayerL9]

I've played Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bari...and I can play Sop, Alto, and Bari with no problems at all. Give me a Tenor and for some reason it's just in-between the comfort areas my lungs and mouth are used to...and I sound HORRIBLE. Of course, it's been 4-5 years since I touched a Tenor for that reason...maybe I should try again because I love its range.

[stevesklar]

for me that larger the horn the harder to play .. well, a bad back has alot to do with it .. and being short.

[benedictbranca]

To be honest I only play Tenor, Alto and Soprano! But to be fair, I feel once I spend a little time on each they are all equally hard to master! The problem I find comes with all of them and that is switching between them and still maintaining that master level which you get to after concentrating on any particular one! Basically, they are all equal for me and the difficulty comes when I switch which is pretty obvious I guess come to think of it!

[Little Sax]

Not including Soprillo, F-Mezzo, Conn-o-sax, or anything bigger than a Bari (for lack of personal experience), the sopranino takes the cake hands down. When I purchased mine (18 months ago or so) I thought it would be a snap to transition to since Bb Sop is my favorite horn to play. Wow was I wrong... On soprano, correct intonation is basically second nature, but on a 'nino it's like starting all over again.

[mo'betta]

Coming from the point of view of an alto player and jazz musician, I have played everything from a B-flat soprano to a B-flat bass sax, and even played a C-melody saxophone and C-melody soprano many years ago. I think there may be a subtle, but important difference between how hard it may be to physically control a horn as far as wind, intonation, and dexterity, as compared to truly mastering a horn, as in being able to really express the various unique aspects or true nature of that instrument, and to fully express your ideas or intent.

I think the alto is the most challenging horn, as far as really communicating the sound or your ideas, and connecting with an audience.

I’ve known many alto/tenor players who have played both horns throughout their 40-50 year music careers and most of them have said the alto is a horn you have to really stay right on top of, basically, “no slacking, or laying back in the cut”…lol. The tenor has always been associated with the resonance of the human voice, that’s why it’s so popular, and really connects to the listener so easily. I know many alto/tenor players in Jazz especially who focused on the tenor later in their career because it just had more of an easily acceptable sound and was much easier to be expressive on. I think it might have something to do with playing a B-flat horn in one sense (when I think about the popularity of some well-known “pop” soprano players). Even the more popular alto players (again, as far as “pop” music) seem to use mouthpieces and horns that give them more of a bright resonant and brassy tone, almost a sweet sound.

If you’re not into pushing that easy-listening “pop sound” you really have to be very convincing on an alto to connect with the listener, both in skill and intonation.

[Artakserksis]

I've started learning sax with a soprano saxophone, which I find pretty easy to play. Then I moved to alto and tenor, and in my opinion alto is a bit more difficult...I don't know, maybe I'm just more used to tenor, but I think I cannot play alto as easily as tenor.

[allthewoodwinds]

What is it with sax players? What's the hardest to play? Pick up the instrument and blow. My gosh, I've never heard of so many people making a big deal out of nothing. It's almost as if some of you want to embrace obstacles and difficulties with your instruments. Some of you must be saxophone masochists.

Geez, in church I play soprano to baritone sax, flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe and all the percussion instruments - with no honking squeaking or hyperventilating. And "hello out there!" - I don't practice everyday. Do you people ever relax and learn to enjoy life? Do any of you sleep with your saxes? Do you worship and talk to your saxes. Are your saxes more important than your wives or girlfriends. Get a life, and enjoy it for a few minutes - if you can.

You people are unbelievable. What a waste of time worrying about insignificant things, when you could die tomorrow; and you can't take your Mark VI with you. Someone else will be playing it after you're corpse has rotted and decomposed. Bet you'll lose sleep over that.

Oh man, If I can get some of these guys here at work to get away from their network analyzers, show them this whole SOTW business, they'll really laugh it up. :

[hakukani]

Once I master one of them, I'll let you know.;)

[markVIinNorway]

Soprano is difficult.... intonation in the upper register is a struggle, but I've only played soprano for a few months,,,

[bluesaxgirl]

Bari for me. I wish I could experience the contra. It's hard for me to play well with bari because of the air supply it needs. I could just imagine the contra. It's harder to keep tone good on alto though. You are always having to think and change your embouchure for different registers.

[brasscane]

As Roland Kirk said: "I have difficulty with the alto when I take the soprano and tenor out of my mouth." :D

[qazmom]

I own all soprano, c-melody, tenor, bari, and bass sax. Bass is certainly the hardest due to air to support it, lack of the Bis Bb key, and how spread out the keys are. Modern baritone saxophones are the easiest, taking very little air, and having the keys at a comfortable area. Then tenor, c-melody, and soprano. Vintage baritone saxes are not easy to play because they are hard to control. Sopranos are tricky when it comes to playing in tune and just getting notes out. tenor and c-melody are pretty easy to play. Bass is the hardest to master, definitely.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I think Soprano is the most difficult to play. Bari is difficult from an air perspective but I can get a pretty good Bari tone even after not playing it for months. Soprano is something that I have to keep on top of and play often or my sound concept take a while to get where I want it.

[Bar-Ron]

I would say Bass.

wind

intonation

mechanics

weight

wind

Did I say wind?
It takes a good amount of wind durability, intonation and dexterity and embouchure control of a whole different nature than any other Sax.:shock:

[bluesaxgirl]

Out of alto and bari....I would say alto. Its harder to get a nice even tone especially in the upper register...so I could imagine soprano. Or sopranino.
*edit* On 7/26/07

Wait, I just came back to this thread to read my posts. On the last one I said bari.
How things could change in a matter of a month? :\

[BlackSaxJeff]

The soprano has been the hardest for me to learn. I'm an alto guy, and soprano just isn't natural to me. I tend to overblow, making it difficult to have a good tone. Oh well, I just keep practicing.

[llamaSax]

I mainly play tenor. Here and there I play an alto, but tenor is WAAAAAAAY easier for me than the alto, even when I was starting out. I love tenor!

[magical pig]

Tenor must be the hardest to MASTER as everyone seems to think it's not. Why work on an instrument and really get into it when it's so easy to just blow and move your fingers up & down?
Moreover, tenor being sort of the king of saxophone in most styles featuring saxes, one gets used to how it's supposed to sound, licks and so on. It means though it seems easier to approach because of cultural background, it will more difficult to be personal and creative with it than with the contrabass for instance.

Victor.

[silvin]

Considering the fact that I do not really master any (as Lacy masters soprano, Garbarek masters tenor and Kenny Garrett masters alto), I will say the one that seems easier for me: and it 's the alto, even if I only play it for a few monthes. Soprano is difficult for high notes and intonation, tenor is difficult for sound quality.

[pc1234]

For me, it's alto. I play SATB, and have spent by far the largest amount of time on alto, but I am still searching for the right sound on it, whereas I have just seemed to click with the others.

[Saxplayer67]

Tenor. Probably because I don't get chance to practice it much, my bottom notes disappear and my top ones are sharp. So used to playing alto, I guess. Conversely, I found it easy to get to grips with my straight sop. I think going from alto to sop is easy.

[Jazz House]

Tenor must be the hardest to MASTER as everyone seems to think it's not. Why work on an instrument and really get into it when it's so easy to just blow and move your fingers up & down?
Moreover, tenor being sort of the king of saxophone in most styles featuring saxes, one gets used to how it's supposed to sound, licks and so on. It means though it seems easier to approach because of cultural background, it will more difficult to be personal and creative with it than with the contrabass for instance.

Victor.

I would have never thought of that ever!!

SOPRILLO!!!! I cannot play it, never have but it must be a tough one to master, if anyone has accomplished that yet!

[Sigmund451]

Id have to say: The horn Im holding at any given point in time 8-)

[jrvinson45]

I find the alto is very demanding for staying in tune. You need to listen to yourself all the time and never take anything for granted. The newer horns seem to be better in tune across the range of the instrument than the vintage horns, but the tolerance between in tune and horrible is a fine line on alto.

[RootyTootoot]

For me (of the "big three", i've never played bari) soprano without any doubt at all. I'm always confused by that thing you hear that clarinet players have an easier time on soprano. I don't feel like i've ever properly come to terms with it and I keep intending to get rid of mine. Then I'll listen to some Coltrane or Shorter and think, yeah well maybe if i had a *decent* soprano (I've got a student Jupiter). Such thinking's delusional, of course. I just need some serious time practising the instrument. Trouble is, when push comes to shove, I love playing my other horns but i just find soprano too much of a chore..

[RootyTootoot]

What is it with sax players? What's the hardest to play? Pick up the instrument and blow. My gosh, I've never heard of so many people making a big deal out of nothing. It's almost as if some of you want to embrace obstacles and difficulties with your instruments. Some of you must be saxophone masochists.

Geez, in church I play soprano to baritone sax, flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe and all the percussion instruments - with no honking squeaking or hyperventilating. And "hello out there!" - I don't practice everyday. Do you people ever relax and learn to enjoy life? Do any of you sleep with your saxes? Do you worship and talk to your saxes. Are your saxes more important than your wives or girlfriends. Get a life, and enjoy it for a few minutes - if you can.

You people are unbelievable. What a waste of time worrying about insignificant things, when you could die tomorrow; and you can't take your Mark VI with you. Someone else will be playing it after you're corpse has rotted and decomposed. Bet you'll lose sleep over that.

Oh man, If I can get some of these guys here at work to get away from their network analyzers, show them this whole SOTW business, they'll really laugh it up. : Hello out there!!!! I'm glad I don't attend your church, my friend, for the following reasons: 1. I suspect the music is very, very bad. 2. You seem to have an unhealthy fascination with death and decay. 3. You sound like a right idiot. And I generally like idiots. But not this time. And the bit where you're hoping so passionately to attract the attention of some of "the guys at work" to share your giggles.. It's just very, very sad indeed.

[jrvinson45]

Hello out there!!!! I'm glad I don't attend your church, my friend, for the following reasons: 1. I suspect the music is very, very bad. 2. You seem to have an unhealthy fascination with death and decay. 3. You sound like a right idiot. And I generally like idiots. But not this time. And the bit where you're hoping so passionately to attract the attention of some of "the guys at work" to share your giggles.. It's just very, very sad indeed.
Whoa. Calm down a minute... if you take out the second to last paragraph and just read the gist of what has been said, there is a very valid point here. This isn't a treatise on rot and decay, rather an observation that the whole thread is really making mountains of molehills. I concur that some saxes are easier to play than others, but don't really agree that any of them are insurmountable to play with relative ease once you've gotten accustomed to each one's idiosyncrasies. I'm not to hip to metaphors that conjure visions of death and decay either... must be a South San Francisco thing.;)

[RootyTootoot]

Whoa. Calm down a minute... if you take out the second to last paragraph and just read the gist of what has been said, there is a very valid point here. This isn't a treatise on rot and decay, rather an observation that the whole thread is really making mountains of molehills. I concur that some saxes are easier to play than others, but don't really agree that any of them are insurmountable to play with relative ease once you've gotten accustomed to each one's idiosyncrasies. I'm not to hip to metaphors that conjure visions of death and decay either... must be a South San Francisco thing.;) No, mate. With respect to you (of which I have a lot :) ), the comment isn't as innocent as you want to make it. The gist is that anyone who spends much time on SOTW is a figure of fun for this chappie - read the last sentence again. I admit I was being a bit of a cross patch, though. Sorry if you found that grating.. And now back to saxophones..

[jrvinson45]

No, mate. With respect to you (of which I have a lot :) ), the comment isn't as innocent as you want to make it. The gist is that anyone who spends much time on SOTW is a figure of fun for this chappie - read the last sentence again. I admit I was being a bit of a cross patch, though. Sorry if you found that grating.. And now back to saxophones..
RTT,
I don't know if grating was the right word. I just thought I saw two exchanges that were going to wind up generating some bile where it needn't. I took the shot in your direction because whereas some people don't have much of a sense of humor, you usually display an abundance and seemed to have taken the previous post almost personally. All of us who had posted in this thread had reason to take the same umbrage, I was just trying to pull you back from the dark side. Use the farce, Luke. Take care buddy.

[harmonizerNJ]

My main instrument is the alto. I played the bari for about 6 years during my school years, and was quite comfortable with it. I have played the soprano since 1994.....er, perhaps I should say it has played me.

For me, the soprano is without a doubt the most difficult. But the different sounds it allows makes it worth the effort.

[cmelodysax]

........in church I play soprano to baritone sax, flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe and all the percussion instruments - with no honking squeaking or hyperventilating......

I'd just love to see a rack holding that lot :) - I'm assuming you don't play them all together, Roland Kirk style ?

'Course, you can't really claim to be "allthewoodwinds" without adding a bassoon to your accomplishments...:?

[NickW]

Oh man, If I can get some of these guys here at work to get away from their network analyzers, show them this whole SOTW business, they'll really laugh it up. :

Yeah, the cool guys who have to be dragged away from network analyzers will look at us nerds and thank god they have such interesting lives. you fool.

Who do you think gets more chicks. A network analyzer or a (good) saxophonist? so you and your acne covered workmates can laugh about this. fact is you wish you could play the sax well.

[RootyTootoot]

Who do you think gets more chicks. A network analyzer or a (good) saxophonist? It's probably the network analyzer. Believe me. ;)

[cmelodysax]

Certainly earn more playing a network analyser ! And get a better car. I did both....

In fact, an awful lot of computer techs are/were musicians. A case of "going from the sublime, to the ridiculous..."

And (to get back on topic), it was the only time I could afford to walk into a London dealer and say "I'll take the Martin Magna alto..." to add to the family. I just knew I should have bought the Low-A MkVI alto as well, but I didn't as it was a wimp compared to the Martin, such is life :(

Can you imagine having a Low-A MkVI alto as a backup alto ? I was that close... Sorry about rambling, call it a "senior moment", OK now.