Alto vs. tenor

[Bobby G]

We've had a thread on the proportion of female to male players, how about the proportion of alto players to tenor players?

Almost invariably, when I'm playing out, I am the only alto player, and there can be anything up to four or five tenor players - occasionally one of these will double on soprano, but a baritone sax, trombone or trumpet is a real rarity. I wonder why?

But then, most of the learners, and quite a few of the more experienced players seem to play alto, or at least to have started on alto. Although I also play sop and tenor, I consider myself primarily an alto player, it's the one I play most, and the one I 'practise' on most.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

I also play my alto the most, though I'm getting more and more into my tenor.

In the swing band I play in (I play baritone 😛 ) There are 6 altos and only 3 tenors with me the sole baritone player. 3 trombones (1 a bass trombone) and 4 trumpets.

I think overall it's fairly balanced out though you may find a gathering of one type in areas.

I think if anything Alto is the most common as nearly all the young generation begin learning on an alto saxophone, though many progress to a tenor and some also begin learning with a tenor.

 

[jambo]

But this thread also poses the controversal question....

WHICH is better, Alto or Tenor???

 

[lee_]

Although I double a lot on alto, I'm a tenorman at heart. Still there is nothing like a great alto player.

Observe the great Phil Woods, playing with a rock band (NRBQ)

 

[Tenor Sax]

The Sax is very moody. The choice is applicable to the mood. And is equal to the bass and the melody of the opposite sides.
:whistle: :whistle:

 

[Greywolf]

I don't even own an alto. Come to think of it I don't own a Ferrari, a coffee grinder, or a set of drain rods......


Have no use for any of them.

 

[tengu01]

I started as an alto player and I can make it sing.

I've been playing tenor for a couple of years. I doesn't sing as well just yet. Most of my favourite sax players seem to be tenor players.

Funk/R&B: Alto. More punch and cuts through

Trad Jazz: Tenor - Lusher, Deeper and smokier

Kind of like the difference between a cello and a violin. Different strokes for different folks 🙂

 

[Bobby G]

You're certainly right about alto cut and punch in r'n'b and funk contexts tengu, but blues players seem to prefer the gruffer tones of a tenor.

I caught a bit of Paul Jones blues programme last night on BBC R2, he was playing live with the Blues Band and other special guests like Maggie Bell, a great blues singer, and the excellent Zoot Money. Also in the band was a fine, fine tenor player, one of those who was great in his own right but who's style and ability felt like they were within my reach, I definitely felt inspired - I think in the New Year I'm gonna start looking for a bluesy, r'n'b type band to play in.

Tenor/alto equates to cello/violin? At times I prefer the bottom end on my alto, does that make me equivalent to a Viola player?

Cheers, Bob

 

[tengu01]

Hey there Bob,

Viola Saxophone equivalent: The sax player with a lousy alto top end who can't reach the bottom end of the tenor 🙂

(As you can't see me grinning Bob, this is just a bad joke, not an insult to your playing)

I hear what you say about the blues players looking for a bit more grit from the tenor. I am still working on trying to get a tenor sound I am happy with. You know that feeling when you have a perfect reed and a great mouthpiece and you're warmed up, the notes just POP out of your sax and you can feel it resonating under your fingers? I don't get that enough on the tenor.

As much as I like the bottom end of my alto, there is just something about the depth a tenor gives.

Additionally, I have big hands and there have been photos when my alto has looked a little like a toy. No mistakes with the tenor.

Feels like.........Saxophrenia

 

[Bobby G]

I'm getting a ok-to-good sound out of my tenor, but my smaller hands and expanding waistline mean that the alto fits me better, and I can make it sing or wail (on a good day), plus I can play it sitting in the car.

Maybe a C-mel is equivalent to a viola. I've never seen or heard one, but wouldn't it be a useful thing to have for playing with guitarists who want to do everything in E or A?

Cheers, Bob

 

[tengu01]

Good point.

I played in a band where the a lot of the tunes would be born from jamming with the bass and guitar players. Some obscene key signatures to navigate as an alto sax player.

>.<

 

[Bobby G]

I've actually got quite accustomed to playing in F#, C# and B on alto to accommodate guitarists, bless 'em.

Cheers, Bob

 

[tengu01]

True words. True words indeed

 

[Bobby G]

Going back a bit, to the saxophonist on last night's Paul Jones blues show on Radio 2, after a bit of digging around I can reveal it was Pee Wee Ellis. I like his playing, a lot! I will investigate more of him.

Cheers, Bob

 

[tengu01]

I'm trying to find some Red Prysock. I've heard he's good blues material too. Anyone got any recommendations?

 

[Bobby G]

There was something floating round in the Room about Prysock a while back, it may have been from Pete, or Spike....

 

[spike]

hi tengu
check out www.clubalibi.com you need to sign in and get a password then go to the jukebox with another password - which is easy to guess if you're a little richard fan - and check out the red prysock tracks, - "Hand Clappin' " is essential prysock, i got a red prysock, swingsation series album from verve which i can highly recommend.
gruss - spike

 

[Jules]

A good source of recording by older blues/jazz guys is here- http://www.redlick.co.uk/ provisional to the fact that a lot of it's on vinyl. I found a Best of Red Prysock there a couple of years ago, its on the Rhino Label and is great.
By the way- look on Amazon.co.uk or .com for 'Big Horn' a four Cd package wihch is basically a "best of" of Red Prysock, Willis Jackson, Big Jay McNeely, Earl Bostic and a load of others- all in one box (and it's cheap too!!). I never get in my car without a copy!!

 

[spike]

and since you mention big jay mcneely, there's a coupla vids on youtube right now of him & gary wiggins blowin the house down, put up by detroit gary himself.

redlick's a good link nacho - thanks - and they've got a copy of the prysock swingsation series album - used - for 6 brit pounds, first come first served.

 

[Jules]

that Big Jay McNeely footage on YouTube is.... well ... some serious honking (in fact, a pretty much text book example of honking!). great stuff...
RedLick is a great shop/site- dust off your turntables and pick up some great vinyl for foot sale prices (I always end up buying about 10 old LPs because they're so cheap)