Baritone BC

[BrianL]

Just when I thought I could play all the instruments I could possibly handle (Sax, flute, bassoon, trombone), my high school band director comes to me and says he needs me to learn a new instrument this summer.

Baritone. A marching baritone to be precise.

Has anyone played this instrument? How hard is it going to be to make the switch (and note, I'm primarily an alto sax player)?

[thesmartpenguin]

I'm in the same predicament so... *bump*

[SaxPlayer1004]

not overtly difficult. look up a tuba fingering chart, chill with a tuner. it won't mess up your jaws too much, and marching brass is so much more fun than marching woodwinds. then you can do DCI. newho it's a fairly simple concept once you know the partials. Bb F Bb D F Bb. and second valve lowers the pitch half a step, first valve a whole step, and third valve and step and a half. First valve is your index finger btw.

[hgrail]

Enjoy it. It's not hard to pick up and talk about PROJECTION!!

I played sax in mband in college - after getting my Holton tenor wet 1 too many times I told the band director I would only march with a school horn.

I got a nice 4 valve baritone to march with - relatively easy to pick up - and nice to be heard!
John

[mikwat1]

if you can play trombone, this is no problem. exact same thing only with valves instead of a slide.
Trombone slide position Baritone Fingering
1st no valves
2nd 2nd valve
3 1st valve
4 1&2 or 3 valve
5 2&3 valves
6 1&3 valves
7 all valves

Thats it basically, all the partials are the same. Have fun.