[BoilerUp]

Just starting out here and I must admit that I love the sound that comes from a soprano sax. Next in line would be the tenor. But, I've heard it's easier to learn on an alto. I like all of them of course, but the high sound of the alto doesn't fit my ear like the tenor does and the soprano seems to bridge both worlds for me. But I've heard the soprano is one hard nut to crack. Any thoughts? Ideas?

Again, I'm just starting out... call it a midlife crises. Hell, I should just go out and get a Porsche!

 

[rabbit]

Rent a Soprano, take a few lessons.

The wise approach in your situation.
You can change your mind, try/buy
a different horn, drop it altogether
cheaply.

I always like telling people to do what
their impulse tells them. Starting on
alto because it's "easier' is for youngsters.
That said, soprano represents the greatest
starting challenge.Tenor and soprano have key
transposition in common so that runs to your favor.

The Porsche sounds good too (literally), if you've got the bread.
Remember though, they put the motor at the wrong end in Porsches!

Best of luck & enjoy!

rabbit

 

[fballatore]

The Porsche sounds good too (literally), if you've got the bread. Remember though, they put the motor at the wrong end in Porsches!

What?!? Are you trying to say that I should be putting my mouthpiece on the other end of the soprano?

Serious answer next. As someone who is a couple of years ahead of you (I also considered a Porsche instead), I will tell you that I spent the better part of my first year and a half learning to play alto. I think that was a great move. When I picked up tenor about a year ago, it was harder to play than I thought, but it was made easier because of my experience on the alto. I think I would have had many more problems had I started out on tenor. Same thing with soprano when I picked that up recently. Even harder to play than the tenor. Had I started on soprano, I probably would have given up. (Nah, not really - I'm having so much fun with all my horns.)

Good luck,

Frank

 

[Agent27]

I've been playing for 16+ years and I STILL can't play soprano all that well. You can learn the fingering/notes and stuff but the soprano is the hardest sax to play in tune which is an incredibly important element in music.

 

[Cranky Bear]

Back when I was in grade 4, I started on alto for a year, and then switched to soprano. The thing with soprano, is that the tuning of the horn is difficult to keep consistent. I think that learning on other saxes to start gives the necessary experience needed to keep a soprano in tune. its like learning to crawl before you walk.

 

[AhCheung]

Sorry Boilerup but... I agree with the other posters.
there are several ways to go to Rome (=sop sax), and it was not built in one day.

reread what Frank said above... and when the time comes, get yourself a good modern sop. And if you think you are going to be able to reproduce a Kenny G-style tone on sop easily (or Dave Koz's, or Mindi Abair's, you get what I mean)... think twice, because these people have put lots and lots of hours of practice to be able to play open mouthpieces on sop. But get a (good) curved soprano instead of a straight one, you'll get closer.
Same as Frank and others, I started on alto, then tenor, then sop and now bari is my main challenge. But tenor has always be more challenging than sop for me.

Starting on sop is not impossible, it's just probably very frustrating and difficult to get a consistent tone & pitch.
Good luck in any case, welcome to the forum, and see what others have to say.

 

[gearaholic]

Another vote for starting on alto.

I've been playing sax for about 10 years. Soprano about 2 years, with a teacher the whole time, and still am not where I'd like to be. Soprano requires a well-developed embouchure, air stream, etc. These are important on all saxophones, but even minute variations have a greater effect on the soprano. I started on alto. While everyone is different, I found that baritone was quite easy to pick up, tenor almost as easy, and soprano impossible. Or at least darn close. You need to develop strong, flexible embouchure muscles and an efficient air stream before taking on soprano, IMHO. It could be the difference between you giving up on saxophone or enjoying it for the rest of your life. Good luck!

 

[BYOB]

Starting on alto just provides you with the experience to play soprano.

It'll help your tuning, fingering, and help you get used to playing with a reed. All of these add up to helping you develop a "feel" for the instrument. You can get a beginner alto for pretty cheap, though make sure that it plays well in tune.

 

[sycc]

TRUE STORY: My 9 year old daughter started on a conn 94M straight oprano at age 6. I held the bell for her(hard for a 6 year old to have wrist strength to hold up sax). She went to alto at age 7. She plays a Yani A-901 alto and ,instead of the Conn,now plays a Yani SC-991 curvie soprano. Modern sopranos play alot easier and in better pitch then there ancestors did. The Conn 94M was a easy blow for her as is the Yani SC. My super action 80 series II would be harder for her as it is more resistant. Depending on your soprano sax choice,it can be done!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Agent27]

I'll say that the easiest soprano I ever played was a Yani curvy. If I could afford to replace my current sop, that's probably what I would get.

 

[Jolle]

I vote for soprano. For a very simple reason : the beginning is hard, but you have immediately the feel for that one instrument. You don't have to buy a second horn if you don't want. Part of the problem of soprano is changing your embouchure from what you learned on other instruments. Been there (started on tenor, then soprano and bariton). You better be sure you like it though, you'll need a lot of determination. I needed a year to get a fairly acceptable sound out of my soprano, and I was playing tenor already.

If you want a more easy start, go for tenor instead of alto. You like it better, so why go on alto in the first place? That's one horn you didn't mention you want to play. Plenty of people start on tenor, it's not that difficult.

 

[Aardvark]

I started on tenor (in my 50s) and found it quite easy to get a nice sound. I chose tenor simply because I prefer its sound (on the whole) to the alto. After a year or so on tenor, I decided that I wanted to try soprano - inspired mainly by the sound of Jan Garbarek. Soprano is certainly more difficult and it's taken me some time to find a mouthpiece and reed setup that worked for me. I've just started lessons on the soprano and am beginning to make progress. I believe that learning music is a lot to do with motivation, which probably means that if you really want to play soprano, go for it! However, if that sounds just too scary right now, start on tenor (not alto) if that's a sound you like.

 

[Aardvark]

By the way, if you do decide to start on soprano, don't make the mistake I made and buy a student instrument. I struggled for some time with a student soprano (not one of the really cheap ones) and realized eventually that the horn was half of the problem. (The other half was me!) I treated myself to a used Selmer soprano and improved almost overnight. Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

 

[Saxplayer67]

I'll probably be flamed for this but I found it easy to go from alto to soprano, it's easy to play in tune and with good intonation. My problem is on tenor!

I hired a bent (curved) sop for my fiance last Christmas and although she didn't get as much time to practice as she wanted (due to a car accident whiplash injury soon after), despite never playing an instrument before, she got on well during my tuition.

 

[dagnabbit]

I'd agree with all the comments so far about the soprano being the hardest to play well and in tune. However, if you just don't enjoy the alto sound, I wouldn't bother with one. Playing any of the horns well is hard work, and I think you'd be less likely to stick with it if you're not playing the one that really interests you. I'd suggest trying a tenor or a curved soprano and just see how it goes. Good luck!

 

[bobisk]

I have been playing sax for -+15years and for the first time I learn sop, yes it's hard. My first sax was tenor, then tried to learned sop, could not get good intonation. My main sax now is alto, palyed since 1998. Then in 2004 I buy a curvy sop made in Taiwan, still could not get good sound. Then I read about mouthpiece exercise. Not because I don't know anything about that, but when I tried to play mouthpiece exercise just using sop mp, I get very rapid improvement. I can get good sound. Now I take a 10 minutes mp exercise every day. This is my experience, hope give help to you all sax player.

 

[bandmommy]

Can you play clarinet??? If so, the transition should be pretty easy. I do better on sop than alto and tenor. Horn angle and mouthpiece are VERY similar unless you go curvy. But for now, I'd go with the others and say start out on alto or tenor. But what do I know, I'M A CLARINETIST.

 

[RootyTootoot]

I'd agree with all the comments so far about the soprano being the hardest to play well and in tune. However, if you just don't enjoy the alto sound, I wouldn't bother with one. Playing any of the horns well is hard work, and I think you'd be less likely to stick with it if you're not playing the one that really interests you. I'd suggest trying a tenor or a curved soprano and just see how it goes. Good luck!

Spot on. The point about maybe trying a curvy soprano is a good one for various reasons. I would only add that in my opinion you may end up having to spend more to get a decent soprano intrument than you'd need to spend to get a decent tenor s/h.

 

[Lenny]

I've got an SX90II soprano and with a small opening Vandoran S15 & find it easy to play in tune, in fact much easier all around than my Mk VI tenor. I pretty much practise the tenor and then pull out the sop at gigs and it works pretty well - of course I put my time in a while ago in spades.

I agree to get a good soprano right away since that can help with intonation problems at the start. Yamaha might be a good starter as the intonation is good though I find them bright .

 

[ccsraj]

I am planning to buy a sax.which one would be better new or used one.can u quote rate for both.