what key

[luther66]

Hi i practise the tenor sax,when i want to purchase backing tracks do the tracks need to be in Bb (Bb tenor).I have over 35,000 backing tracks in my library for my singing proffesion, if i wanted to use these to play my tenor too instead of voice would i need to change key to Bb.(these 35.000 titles are on a master hard drive, if you would like one there £170.00 and brand new,retail at £450.00)

[V1812470]

You wouldn't need to transpose the key of the tracks, however the key that you play them on the tenor saxophone would have to be changed. To transpose the music you play on tenor sax (pitched in Bb) to the music being played in concert pitch, you'd have to play down a perfect 2nd (so if the key is C concert, you'd play it in Bb (two flats) on the tenor sax). Hope that helps.

[gary]

I'm afraid that's reversed. You play one full step above the concert pitch (two 1/2 steps). Actually, it is a 9th, that is a major second and then an octave, but just think one step above and play it in whatever register of the horn is most comfortable.

So. If it is in C concert, the tenor sax key is its D.
Bb concert is C on tenor.

[Dave dix]

Gary is correct ,what ever different keys your tracks are in you just play a full tone above to be in the correct key on tenor
Dave

[luther66]

Thanks for that im not really well educated on this but i think i understand.If i play a backing track and it sounds out of key to the sax then i just go up or down an octave correct?or easier still put it in the key of Bb then it will match the tenor exactly.Sorry guys i dont want to go into a music lesson and i suppose ill ask my teacher on monday but hey thats what this forums for isnt it.

[AlistairD]

No, I think what Gary is saying is that you play up a TONE not an Octave. e.g. C to D. You can play up an octave and a TONE but it should sound fine just up a TONE.

[luther66]

Ok i need to speak to my teacher i dont know how you can go up a tone when a sax is only in one tone,well as far as i can hear anyway.Lets put it another way if you buy sheet music scores you have to purchase them for the tenor sax so obviously the sax is in the key of Bb, so if i sing a song you can change your voice for different keys but a song for a tenor voice is no good for a baritone voice because the range of the song is too high.Iknow that a sax is a transpose instrument but its knowing how to transpose.Thanks for the info ill come back next week and tell you what i learned,
luther

[Dave dix]

The sax is not in one tone.
First you find out what key the individual tracks are in as they will all be different keys. Once you have found out then you can play the sax to them
EG If the track is concert C you play tenor saxophone D scale , C# you play D# D you play E etc.
The reason that you do this is for written music and the only way to be able to play in a concert pitch is to buy a concert C melody saxophone. If you was playing an alto or baritone saxophone you would play the note A to sound the same as concert C.
Dave

[JL]

luther, as Dave points out the saxophone is not limited to one key (or "tone"). It can be played in any of the 12 keys. What I think is confusing you is the term "Bb tenor sax." This does NOT mean the tenor can only be played in the key of Bb. It simply means it is a transposing instrument and when you play a "C" on the tenor sax you are actually playing a concert Bb. So if someone plays a Bb on the piano, you must play a C on the tenor to match it. This also means if someone plays in the key of Bb (based on a Bb major scale) on the piano, you play in the key of C on the tenor to match the piano key (also known as "concert" key).

Make sense? Your teacher should be able to sort this out for you. It's not a big deal, but it is important.

[V1812470]

oops, yes, you have to read UP a major second, not read down one. My mistake. Sorry for any confusion I made there. I wasn't thinking.

[luther66]

Thanks jl for that im beggining to understand now.Ithink its because all my scores are for the tenor sax so i have never had to transpose.Ill give it a go tomorrow using a different score sheet.
Thanks
Luther