[Sax Master Guru]

Hello all!

So I'm new to sax, I got an alto. I'm a professional guitarist and a bit of a theory nut, I also play piano/synths bass and drums.

Can someone please tell me why the notes coming out of my sax are a M2 higher than they are supposed to be? (I finger E and the pitch that comes out is an F#, according to my guitar and my keyboard anyway.. finger a G, the pitch that comes out is an A.. etc)

I can't imagine it's SUPPOSED to be this way.. If so, how confusing.. Someone educate me please and thank you

 

[daigle65]

.....I can't imagine it's SUPPOSED to be this way..

I've got bad news for you...it is supposed to be that way.

Saxophones are transposing instruments, the alto is in Eb, this means when you play a C, it's actually an Eb in concert pitch.
But from you're description you have a tenor or soprano in Bb.

 

[bandmommy]

No, it's an alto.
If it were a Bb tenor or soprano the note fingered would have to be a 'B' to match pitch with an 'A' on the keyboard.

 

[daigle65]

Yeah I got confused (time for bed) but either way it doesn't work....You're probably tuned way flat (mouthpiece not pushed in enough). When you finger G on alto you're supposed to get Bb in concert pitch, not A.

 

[Sax Master Guru]

Interesting.. Could you elaborate on this? What is the point of it.. why wouldn't they just name the notes what they really are? When/how does this get in the way.. I feel like I have been thinking one way for the last 15 years of studying music, and I am suddenly going to have to start thinking in a different way. I think I just don't fully understand yet

 

[daigle65]

As a new member, the search function will be your best friend. Happy reading!

 

[Steve Stockham]

That's the only reasonable assumption. How far is your mouthpiece pushed in on the neck cork?

 

[bandmommy]

Don't think for now. Just play.
Learn the instrument and your scales. Maybe do a little reading about transposing key signatures.
All of this is good for keeping your brain young.

 

[Enviroguy]

Here's the rule:

Transpose C to Eb instrument = Up 9 half steps or down 3.

To play a concert C on alto, play an A

To play a concert B on alto, play a G#

To play a concert A on alto, play a F#

And so on:

 

[bandmommy]

Our community band tunes to Bb so I play a G.
Are you good and confused yet!

 

[Sax Master Guru]

Our community band tunes to Bb so I play a G.
Are you good and confused yet!

On the contrary, you guys have cleared this up nicely. I still don't fully understand WHY it makes sense to call a sound an "A" when it is clearly not anywhere close to 440hz pitch, but I understand the transposing aspect now. I have never played an instrument like this though, so I guess I have a lot to learn. I will ask my teacher tomorrow

 

[LuisR]

I believe it's to make the instrument read better. If you write for the instrument higher (or lower) than it sounds, it removes those pesky ledger lines.

 

[EllSyd]

I think it's to simplify reading when switching between the various saxes - tenor, alto, baritone, soprano etc. See an A written, finger an A - same fingering on all saxes. Of course on a Bb sax, it will be a G concert, on an Eb sax a C concert. Whoever writes the charts just have to take that into account.

It would be very confusing to have to remember different fingerings for the different saxes.

 

[MartinMusicMan]

This has been explained in other threads. Use search. Also, a couple of responses so far have got one of the reasons - to keep the written music on the staff.

If you want to play along with other instruments in C, like guitar, keyboard, bass, you're going to have to learn to transpose. If you're playing alto and the guitar is playing in the key of E, you have to play in the key C#. You have to go down 3 half steps. So if you're playing your E on the alto, the guitar should be playing G - 3 half steps up.

 

[January8472]

From what I understand the reasoning behind WHY saxophones (or any instrument that is not concert pitch) are made that way is because of the time period in which they were created. Its very strange and confusing. We were discussing it in our theory class just the other day xD

 

[Dave Dolson]

The whole concept of transposing instruments is an initial mystery to those who play concert-pitch instruments (piano, strings, etc.). Like Ellsyd wrote, all saxophones have the same note-fingerings (e.g., a middle C on any saxophone is usually played with L2 down) so regardless of whether you have a Bb, Eb, C, or F pitched saxophone when someone says play a saxophone's C, that's what you do. If they ask you to play a concert C, then you must sound the note on your horn that corresponds to a piano's C, and that has been pretty well covered above. Many instruments are transposing but those who play concert pitch instruments usually don't give it a thought until they try to play something different.

As far as what YOUR alto is sounding, your description leads me (and others above) to conclude you haven't placed the mouthpiece properly on the cork, thus you are not in tune with normal tuning standards. Most saxophones require the mouthpiece to be shoved onto the cork so most of the cork is covered. This will naturally vary with the cork-sizes on the neck.

But now that you know what fingering sounds what note, you can tune up to a known source (like a tuned piano or a tuner) and find that when you finger a saxophone G, a piano's Bb will be heard. Once you come to grips with the whole transposing concept, it will become second nature to you. DAVE.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Have a look here:

http://tamingthesaxophone.com/saxophone-transposition.html

This should explain some more, in addition to the excellent replies above.

 

[RootyTootoot]

You're all over-complicating this.

Place your present saxophone in the trash can, Mr Guru, then place an ad on here reading: "Wanted: Non-Transposing Saxophone". Then prepare for lots of private messages from eager c-melodists (search: C melody saxophone) looking to unload their horns on you. :twisted::mrgreen:

 

[dubrosa22]

I'm new to sax

Nice username 'Sax Master Guru'!

 

[Pete Thomas]

From what I understand the reasoning behind WHY saxophones (or any instrument that is not concert pitch) are made that way is because of the time period in which they were created. Its very strange and confusing. We were discussing it in our theory class just the other day xD

I doubt that's the reason. New instruments invented these days are sill transposing.

It may be that the tradition started with brass instruments, that had different necks fitted to play in different keys. It makes perfect sense that the player should not have to learn new fingerings for each key.