[Urdaddoobie]

All the time i see on this forum cats who play tenor primarily, strongly double alto (sometimes those two are switched) and then tertiary-ily (I made that word up) soprano and bari.
When I started playing I came from bass clarinet as a young concert band kid into my first year of jazz playing bari. That was logically probably not a great move but I clawed my ass up through an incredibly busted horn AND never even playing a saxophone before, to beating out the upperclassman in a chair test in a couple of months.
I’ve enjoyed every single second of playing the big horn and even at my lowest moments where I feel not good about myself I know I’m improving quite well in the grand scheme of things.
I have no want to play anything else. Even in my bass clarinet playing I just don’t really want to anymore. The biggest thing about playing multiple instruments for me is that you have to split up your time, and I hate that. I guess I feel very hyper fixated and laser focused. Is that okay? I know I’ll miss out on a lot of paying gigs when I’m older because I only offer one very specific saxophonic (I made that word up too) service, but does that make me a bad reedman? Is it supposed to be an integral part of the sax experience to play all the saxes, and even many other woodwinds?
Thanks for reading another essay, I love the barebones truth and community this website offers! : D

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

I have no want to play anything else.

Then don't. You don't need validation here to play only baritone. Enjoy the big horn.

 

[nvilletele]

Do what makes you happy. Nothing wrong with playing only bari.

If you want to make money playing sax, I suppose it will help to be a doubler and play multiple saxes, but all other things equal, just play what you love.

 

[LostConn]

There's nothing wrong with being a baritone saxophone player rather than a "reedman." Avoid the labels and the concerns about living up to others' expectations, and you'll be fine.

 

[swperry1]

Not at all. Play what you want to play.

 

[KasperKat]

Unless you're professional just stick with one horn. I thought about selling my alto and soprano because i don't really play any of them - And if i should begin using them both, on a regular basis i'm sure my tenor sound would suffer.

 

[gregcagle]

Your path sounds like mine, except 50 years ago . I have never had much interest in the other saxes. I can play them all reasonably well, and soprano clarinet, and flute, but my primary instruments are bari and bass clarinet and always have been. It's limited my opportunities over time, but it's what I like and what I'm good at. It's a specific role and mindset, and not everyone can live there.

 

[ralph lh]

Of course not. Play what you enjoy. There are lots of examples of players who concentrated on bari - think Mulligan for example [ok infrequently on sop]. Life is short. Enjoy sax.

 

[Dana in Philly]

Play what you like man. Bari sings!

 

[Zasterz]

I probably know more pros who focus on one horn only than play several. (Or at least know an equal number of each type of musician.) It’s certainly a popular way to go. Totally depends on the person and their approach to music. Always remember this is an art and deeply individual. Follow your bliss!

 

[reeddoubler]

If it makes you feel better, a lot of people figure if you play bari you are just a bari player. While I play all the woodwinds and saxes, since I played bari for three years with Buddy Rich, lots of folks think that’s all I do!

 

[Dr G]

I can tell when a sub shows up whether they can play bari or just own one.

 

[etc-etc]

Play the baritone. If/once you get the inkling to play a different saxophone, you will be in a good shape to do that, embouchure and voicing differences notwithstanding. You might get the inkling to play the bass saxophone, too.

 

[BariClocktower]

Ex French Horn/trumpet player here. (I have a bar now) I have always loved that baritone sound and have never even thought of playing any other sax. Nope, no thank you.
I DID hold an alto sax for a few seconds in a music shop. I just started laughing because it seems so tiny. Easy to tote around I suppose.

 

[etc-etc]

The second octave of Eb baritone is quite similar to the first octave of Eb alto anyways.

 

[Zasterz]

Play the baritone. If/once you get the inkling to play a different saxophone, you will be in a good shape to do that, embouchure and voicing differences notwithstanding. You might get the inkling to play the bass saxophone, too.

Or the bass (upright/electric) for that matter. I can think of a few bass players I know who play bari too rather than guitar, which you might think they would want to.

 

[jthole]

You’ve got bari fever. Enjoy it!

 

[BH9]

Bari NEEDS a specialist, man. Tear it up!

 

[pontius]

Often in life, it's good to limit and simplify. Enjoy one horn.

 

[noelpaz]

I should have started to own and play baritone 30 years ago (just started last year around March ), Every sax player is a closet baritone player. But do not sell your alto or tenor, even if you have multiple baritones