Introduction Ancient newbie!

[eb424]

Thank you. As for opinion of the sax, poor Eddie found my impersonation of a strangled duck a little unnerving but that’s more me than the sax!

Yeah but from now on youll be forever known as honking Andrew Walker for all the right reasons of course..

 

[Woodpad]

Welcome honking Andrew Walker. Beside ducks there are a lot of different animals.

 

[mizmar]

I’ve been listening to rock/pop with an ear to the sax since I was a kid listening to Bobby Keys with the Rolling Stones.

As I remarked to cappers, when he signed in,

I reckon having a head full of music is the best place to start.

Make it 2 for 2

 

[Andrew Walker]

Yeah but from now on youll be forever known as honking Andrew Walker for all the right reasons of course..

Well I can’t deny it!

 

[Woodpad]

Well I can’t deny it!

Not here.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Welcome to the café, Andre!

Congrats on buying a YTS-25 ! Great choice - both the tenor sax and the YTS-25.

I've been playing tenor sax (at the ripe old age of 70) in a Blues/Rock band for the past 18 months and loving it. In our repertoire, 95% of original songs with a 'horn section' have a tenor sax player.

Mike

'Baker Street' (Gerry Rafferty) and 'Will You' (Hazel O'Connor) were played on alto sax!

 

[thomsax]

Welcome.

It's great to read names like Bobby Keys and Clarenece Clemons. Players who did huge impact on Rocksax players over the years. I'm sure you will have lots on fun playing on your YTS 25. I played one for some years and they are very good. But I missed my old saxes ..... .

 

[Andrew Walker]

Welcome to the café, Andre!

Congrats on buying a YTS-25 ! Great choice - both the tenor sax and the YTS-25.

I've been playing tenor sax (at the ripe old age of 70) in a Blues/Rock band for the past 18 months and loving it. In our repertoire, 95% of original songs with a 'horn section' have a tenor sax player.

Mike

'Baker Street' (Gerry Rafferty) and 'Will You' (Hazel O'Connor) were played on alto sax!

I was torn between the alto and tenor but elected for the tenor as it seems slightly more prevalent in rock. My sax hero, Clarence Clemons was predominantly tenor but if I ever master the tenor, an alto is a ‘must have’ just to play Will You!

 

[Ghr9204]

My sax hero, Clarence Clemons was predominantly tenor but if I ever master the tenor, an alto is a ‘must have’ just to play Will You!

In due time, in due time. One day whilst visiting a music store, you see an alto in its lonesomeness that is crying out for attention. You say, "Come to Papa!" You play it, it feels so welcomed in your hands.

You negotiate a fair price that is accepted, are handed the adoption papers, and you take it home.

It may happen sooner than not! 😉

 

[eb424]

I was torn between the alto and tenor but elected for the tenor as it seems slightly more prevalent in rock. My sax hero, Clarence Clemons was predominantly tenor but if I ever master the tenor, an alto is a ‘must have’ just to play Will You!

well funy you should say....I have an immaculate overhauled YAS 32 up for sale...lol

 

[Andrew Walker]

well funy you should say....I have an immaculate overhauled YAS 32 up for sale...lol

Well I will have to stick to murdering geese on that YTS25 I got from you for now!

 

[eb424]

Well I will have to stick to murdering geese on that YTS25 I got from you for now!

Lol did you get what you wanted from the music shop...honedt this is grea sorry i couldnt find it for you..

https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9781780038575/blowout-sax-a-revolutionary-approach-to-playing-the-saxophone-for-beginners/used

 

[Andrew Walker]

In due time, in due time. One day whilst visiting a music store, you see an alto in its lonesomeness that is crying out for attention. You say, "Come to Papa!" You play it, it feels so welcomed in your hands.

You negotiate a fair price that is accepted, are handed the adoption papers, and you take it home.

It may happen sooner than not! 😉

Ha haIt will know I am weak as well.

Lol did you get what you wanted from the music shop...

i did apart from the fact I told them tenor sax and they sold me a pull through cleaner for an alto! I didn’t realise until I got home. I’ll save it for the alto I eventually will get!

 

[Ghr9204]

Ha ha It will know I am weak as well.

There's a time and place for everything. As you gain more experience on the tenor, that knowledge will apply to the alto. It is in a different voicing range, but fingerings are still the same. Mouthpiece and reed are a touch smaller, but all the basics with the tenor apply to the alto.

The US military bands only have 1 specialty, Saxophonist. They expect one to play any of the SATB saxes as needed or required for the job. (Of course they will give someone a little time to get comfortable with a change. Most are able to come up to speed quickly. I have more stories to tell, best for another time. 😉 )

I started out with the clarinet (6th grade, 1965) then alto in high school (played oboe senior year), played clarinet and tenor in my first band (264th Army Band, Honolulu) full time out of high school. Later moved to reservist bands as a weekend warrior, branched to bari in the 1980's. Amazingly I found that I actually had a better ear for the bari's lower notes.

5 months before retiring from my engineering job (2012), I acquired a straight soprano. Found the haunting sound from it irresistable. In the range of the clarinet but it is a beautiful solo instrument. This year I had it serviced. It is ready to continue its legacy.

Learn to play the tenor well. Then when you pickup an alto, it will be that much easier to transition. Think of it as a life long journey.

Good luck!

 

[skeller047]

Andrew I think you made the right choice, especially as you are attuned to rock music.

Please don’t neglect the other wonderful rock and soul saxophonists - Jr. Walker, Grover Washington, the great Maceo Parker and the King - King Curtis!

Surf this site, ask questions and make comments - we are all here to help each other.

 

[eb424]

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[thomsax]

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[eb424]

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[Pete Thomas]

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[eb424]

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