Introduction Hopeless Hopeful

[JBMouse]

Just joined to use the forum to clarify any issues I have with my just aquired saxophone. I started to learn the clarinet when I was at school, aged 11yrs. I really wanted a sax so I could play rock like Lord Rockinghams Xl, but ended up playing like Acker Bilk, there's a clue to my age! Never really mastered the clarinet, aching cheeks unable to hold the embouchure for long. Now in my 70's I can afford a used alto sax (still would prefer a baritone) but not sure if I can master that any better than the clarinet! Still got my fallback Strat and Gibson though.

 

[Pete Thomas]

so I could play rock like Lord Rockinghams Xl

Mr Anecdote just tapped me on the shoulder. Red Price, tenor player with Lord Rockingham, once told me: "we tuned one tenor flat and one sharp, one baritone flat and one sharp." And then with perfect comic timing: "that's how we got that f***ing horrible sound."

Welcome to the Caf.

 

[Vetinari]

Welcome. Only real difference with a baritone is the weight and the need for plenty of air.

 

[JBMouse]

Thanks, but what I really meant was that I don't know if I can master any sax better than my dismal failings on the clarinet. Plenty of air is something I suspect I will not achieve.

 

[mizmar]

It's an established fact that any attempt at Stranger on the Shaw on sax will cause the sax to disintegrate.

You may or may not succeed but will, in all likelihood, enjoy trying.
Sticking around here for a little support will probably help also.

 

[Jimmymack]

Get a tenor. Trust me, I remember Acker Bilk.

 

[skeller047]

My first professional gig, at the age of 13, was a $5 bill for playing Stranger on the Shore at a 7th grade sock hop. I suppose that was the start of my descent into madness…

Welcome @JBMouse ! Good luck with your explorations on alto. Find a good solid mouthpiece that will help you play with ease; a Vandoren V16 size A5 or a D’Addario Select Jazz size 5 would be a good place to start. Use a Rico 2.5 or 3, or a D’Addario Select Jazz 2M. These are free-blowing mouthpieces that are made well and play freely top to bottom.

Don’t worry overmuch about air, just make sure you have good solid support from your abdomen. One of the best tenor players I ever worked with was a small slight man (5’9”, he probably weighed 160 lbs) who smoked like a chimney. But he had a nice freeblowing mouthpiece (an original Level-Aire) and used 2.5 Rico reeds. He could blend in a section, play beautiful soft foo-foo subtone, and roar like a lion on that thing.

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome to the café and to sax.

Have fun, enjoy the journey

Jx

 

[Digger2054]

Welcome to the Cafe...

Only a very select few master the sax, and even they probably don't feel like they have mastered it 🤣 It a journey that's for sure 👍

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Print me and hang in your practice area.
Will inspire or haunt.
Great choice is Alto Sax.

 

[Pete Thomas]

"we tuned one tenor flat and one sharp, one baritone flat and one sharp."

Just trying to imagine the same for clarinets. Then I remembered the wind band at college.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Just joined to use the forum to clarify any issues I have with my just aquired saxophone. I started to learn the clarinet when I was at school, aged 11yrs. I really wanted a sax so I could play rock like Lord Rockinghams Xl, but ended up playing like Acker Bilk, there's a clue to my age! Never really mastered the clarinet, aching cheeks unable to hold the embouchure for long. Now in my 70's I can afford a used alto sax (still would prefer a baritone) but not sure if I can master that any better than the clarinet! Still got my fallback Strat and Gibson though.

Welcome to the cafe, @JBMouse!

I really hope you learn to play whatever sax your hear is set on!

Once, some 25 years ago, when I was still learning to play sax at a musical school, I asked my tutor what the difference was between playing clarinet and sax. His reply was: well, you really need to learn to play clarinet. A saxophone? You can just hold it in the wind and it'll play itself!

So I'm sure that your early 'clarinet' years will help you in learning to play sax

Mike

 

[Pete Thomas]

Now in my 70's I can afford a used alto sax (still would prefer a baritone) but not sure if I can master that any better than the clarinet!

Yes you can. Go for the baritone.

 

[LostCircuits]

Acker Bilk! I haven't heard that name since Kindergarten. Ooops, my vintage shows LOL

Here is an anecdote for you, somebody once told me: If you run into somebody who tried flute, gave up after a few months, tried flute again and gave up after a few months, and finally tried again, only to finally give up after 3 months forever, you'll know for sure it was a Bundy.

I don't know the equivalent for clarinets but I have seen probably 2 dozens that would fit that bill.

So don't repeat the mistakes that your parents (and mine, too) made and get a decent instrument, bari is a lot of fun and in many ways much easier than tenor or alto, there is no peer pressure to get up to 300 bpm, you can comfortably sit in with any band playing a few base lines until you feel you want to elevate your playing and really let loose.

And well, if you start getting those dance moves like Leo P, you might find a Grace to go along with it.

 

[mizmar]

And well, if you start getting those dance moves like Leo P, you might find a Grace to go along with it.

A distinct possibility...

Now in my 70's

 

[Tenor Viol]

My understanding from those I know who play clarinet is that sax is easier to get on with - which is not the same as saying that it's 'easy'. It helps that the sax overblows at the octave and not the 12th

 

[eb424]

Hi @JBMouse welcome aboard..whatever you want to learn there is great help at hand here