Saxophones Baritone first time

[Chas]

Hello Everybody
I am thinking of getting a baritone saxophone . I play alto saxophone. Apart from the obvious blowing more and it's bigger. How much does it differ. Is it still in e flat like the alto and how much lower is it ? And will I be still reading the same sheet music . Thanking you
Charlie

 

[Digger2054]

I tend to find the larger the horn, more voicing is required.

Yes you can play the same Eb music, but with it being lower can get lost if you play with backing tracks for alto.

 

[Chas]

I tend to find the larger the horn, more voicing is required.

Yes you can play the same Eb music, but with it being lower can get lost if you play with backing tracks for alto.

Thank you for info digger

 

[jonf]

It's an octave below alto.

To some degree, how different it feels will depend on your build. It's much heavier than an alto, and some people get neck or back problems from playing baritone. I like playing mine, and don't find it a problem, but I am fairly large, and I also have big, strong hands. Maybe see if you can have a go on one before you commit?

I think the baritone is great fun, and it feels very different to alto and tenor. Very funky and characterful.

 

[Chas]

It's an octave below alto.

To some degree, how different it feels will depend on your build. It's much heavier than an alto, and some people get neck or back problems from playing baritone. I like playing mine, and don't find it a problem, but I am fairly large, and I also have big, strong hands. Maybe see if you can have a go on one before you commit?

I think the baritone is great fun, and it feels very different to alto and tenor. Very funky and characterful.

Thanks for info jonf

 

[Tenor Viol]

I play bari - they're fun. They're in Eb same as an alto, but sound an octave lower. They are heavy and I had to find a suitable harness to remove weight off neck - and a jazzlab saxholder wasn't suitable (for me). Yes, they need air, but the embouchure is more relaxed

 

[Chas]

I play bari - they're fun. They're in Eb same as an alto, but sound an octave lower. They are heavy and I had to find a suitable harness to remove weight off neck - and a jazzlab saxholder wasn't suitable (for me). Yes, they need air, but the embouchure is more relaxed

Thanks for info tenor viol

 

[Ivan]

If you have bari yearnings, you might as well yield to them

Bari is less practical than alto, but fun

It's an itch worth scratching

 

[Vetinari]

I found that the keys are very similar to my alto for fingers but the hands are much further apart and the position it of the sax when playing is very different. Main thing for me was...get a bigger car.

 

[SaxBoss]

Baritone is fun.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Baritone sounds an octave down from alto.
Reads the same in treble clef.
Fingerings are the same.

Some have a peg to help with the weight.
Most are keyed down to A but low Bb are becoming popular again.

The main difference to playing the alto is the volume of air needed. Breathing needs more attention on Baritone. It's very easy to run out of air.

Reeds cost considerably more and mouthpieces are very expensive. Think £400ish for a new Selmer S80, although the Yamaha 5c is quite reasonable at around £60.

Stands are expensive but don't buy cheap. The momentum of a falling baritone will cause serious or fatal damage.

The case won't fit in most medium car boots. Mine travels on the rear seat.

Fun to play. Intonation is less of a problem than other smaller saxes. Hitting that low A still gives me chills.

 

[ghostler]

If you have bari yearnings, you might as well yield to them. Bari is less practical than alto, but fun. It's an itch worth scratching

Personally I have found the bari to be my favourite instrument out of the others. Back in the late 1980's I gave the bari a try and found I have a better ear for the lower notes, although I love them all, starting on clarinet in the mid 1960's.

I find it very versatile, it puts one down in the trombone range but does a decent job on the higher notes, too. I have both the low A, an Antigua Winds and low Bb, a Beaugnier Vito.

The low Bb is a touch lighter in weight. My body's build and weight handle it with a standard padded neckstrap with little to no effort. However, I've watched various videos of smaller and lighter weight females playing bari, and they seem to be doing it rather well without any sign of struggling or having breathing problems.

My mouthpiece I currently use is a Rico Royal Graftonite B5 (tip opening 2.54 mm or .100") and softer reeds, 1.5 - 2.0, which suites me fine.

As a solo instrument, it is a total blast as well as providing bottom end to a sax choir and woodwind sections. Delving into the lower end of the altissimo range does quite nicely in certain passages.

So, it is a matter of personal taste and preferences in regard to its versatility.