Learning on a Tenor Sax

[jmt]

I really like the DVD, and I think that I am coming along well for a student with 5 months of experience. I am learning mostly on my own. I get human instructions every now and then. Mostly, I am focused on learning to read music in a basic way.

I know the fingering is the same for a texor and alto sax, so no problems there.

I'm pretty sure the techniques, tips, tricks, and practice methods on the DVD apply to the tenor as well.

I am pretty sure the scales are the same. Am I right?

About the songs. I think there is an issue there. If I read the music sheet as a E and play a E, then see a F sharp and play an F sharp, etc., am I playing out of tune? Someone told me to not worry at this point in my training as long as I am not playing with someone else.

My question is, even though the DVD is loaded with good info, should I avoid the songs completely? I have found other song books specifically for the Tenor Sax, so I do not have a lack of material.

I've read about transposing? songs, and I think for me to do it is out my window of expertise at this time . I assume that's what I need to do to bring those songs into my world. I have enough challenges without learning something new. I want to keep it simple for now.

Any help that can be explained in simple terms would be appreciated. I see that the extra pages has some new resources that might help me.

I just don't want to learn any bad habits in this stage of my training.

Thanks.
Joe

 

[Pete Thomas]

I will transpose the songs for tenor some time and post them here, may not be able to do it until the end of the month though.

The scales are the same, the only problems will be when playing with someone else or the playalongs - you either need music already transposed for tenor or be able to do it yourself.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I have started transposing the tunes, some are up there on the extra pages for alto & tenor.

 

[jmt]

Thanks alot Pete. You're the best!

 

[kay]

Hi everyone.

I've been learning on the tenor sax since September and there's been times when i've nearly chucked it out the window!!

I found this web site a while ago and have found it invaluable to my learning. It's so nice to know there's other people having the same difficulties as me, I feel as though I know you all personally 🙂 .

So it's time for me to say Hi Everyone. Now i've plucked up the courage to join you'll probably get fed up with me!!

All us beginners will get there in the end.

Kay 😛

 

[Rogerb]

One month, Kay???
Give yourself break... I have been at it since January, and am just beginning to feel I am occasionally making a reasonable sound.

I assume you are considerably younger, so should progress a bit faster, although of course it depends how much practice time you put in 😀

(I don't do enough!)

 

[Bobby G]

Hi Kay from Colchester (nice), welcome to the forum from Welwyn Herts.

I hope you resist the urge to chuck your sax out of the window, or at least try a few things before you do. It may be that the sax needs a little bit of setting up (even new ones can need this), which can be done by a tech at not too great a cost. Or you may be blowing on a reed that is slightly too hard, most people start on a 1.5 or 2. Also, if you are getting strange noises, try taking a little more mouthpiece into your mouth - one tip I read is that it's a bit like sucking your thumb 🙂 and try not to bite, which is quite difficult when you first start as you need to build up those lip-muscles.

It's a bit like learning to drive, in that early on you have to think about every little thing, but as you progress it becomes like second nature and you can concentrate more on producing music.

I give you the full benefit of my 2-and-a-half years playing experience! :erm:

Good luck, relax and enjoy it!

Cheers, Bob

 

[saxismyaxe]

Kay,
I've been playing for 30+ years, and there are times I STILL feel like chucking my horns out of the window.....it goes with the territory. Welcome to the Forums by the way!

 

[Bobby G]

Saxismyaxe wrote:
Kay,
I've been playing for 30+ years, and there are times I STILL feel like chucking my horns out of the window.....it goes with the territory. Welcome to the Forums by the way!

You're right there, Michael! Some days some things just will not work 😡

But another day you'll surprise yourself and find something you thought you couldn't do comes just like that

Cheers, Bob

 

[kay]

Hi guys

Thanks for all your lovely comments. Suppose i'm impatient and i'm frustrated cos it's a lot harder than it looks :x But i'll get there.

In answer to your question Roger, i'm 34 with 3 kids, a hubby and a dog to look after as well as working part time. So no, I don't practice as often as i'd like too cos there's just not enough hours in the day :S

Please keep your words of encouragement coming.

Thanks everyone

Kay :laugh:

 

[spike]

. . . there's been times when i've nearly chucked it out the window!!

This is my OUT, I'm OUTING, I've been at it for forty years now and ten years ago I did throw my tenor off a second floor balcony. A very expensive tantrum it turned out to be and not to be recommended. Fortunately it went back to the factory and came back better than new but the bill was rather painful. Don't do it - it's not cool! If you channel that energy into your practice sessions the results are far more rewarding and profitable to say the least.
gruss - spike

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hi Kay and welcome.

can't you get the hubby and dog to look after themselves?