Intonation My voice my Sax

[Dr G]

Tenor.

Now learn how to fill your horn reliably and generate a full tone. You have a good basis for a solid sound.

Sure, you can play ballads on an alto, but most tend to sound whiny and needy.

+1 to Wade's comments regarding articulation. Learn how to start a note with intention.

 

[eb424]

Obviously, in the hands of a master such as Johnny Hodges, it's a piece of cake. I was referring more to the mere mortals of the saxophone such as me. Maybe I'm the only one. I'm a pretty good player but I don't sound great on a ballad.

Don't play on a ballad, it must be hard to balance..;-)

 

[greenstripe]

My teacher recons it's actually better to play both tenor and alto in my case. Even if I'm concentrating on one I find it constructive to play the other once or twice per week - to keep my embouchure in check and not develop bad habits - squeezing too hard on alto and maintaining strength on tenor

 

[jbtsax]

I feel like someone needs to step up and support playing ballads on the alto. These are some I enjoy listening to:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNt6G53yyjQ&list=OLAK5uy_kqWeozysVtuLkLkiEWPa6Elbcb-kO-WDM


At the other end of the sound spectrum is this:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aYmkHMjGZI

 

[GCinCT]

There are many great recordings of ballads on alto. I just think it’s harder to do. Only my opinion.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I find that each horn adds something to the others. I play sop, alto, tenor, baritone and clarinet.
Playing them all makes me appreciate which one I'm playing.
I find alto easiest, but only because I've played it the most. Baritone is the most fun. Tenor is frustrating for me. I can't make it moan and sing like it should.

I can't imagine not having all four saxophones. I could happily never play clarinet again but it's required for the genre I play.
Why stick to one? It's the music that's important.
So many instruments to choose from. Currently looking at Bass and nino.
Stop worrying tenor or alto. Get yourself a baritone. Don't play "a" saxophone. Play saxophone. 😉

 

[GCinCT]

Let me amend this. I personally have trouble sounding good playing a ballad on alto. My tone just doesn’t seem to suit it. It’s pretty bright and a little edgy. I completely disagree with whiny and reedy applying to a majority of alto ballads.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Kiri Ke Tanowa forgives you for saying altos are whiney. 😉

 

[GCinCT]

Kiri Ke Tanowa forgives you for saying altos are whiney. 😉

Forgives who? I didn’t say that.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Forgives who? I didn’t say that.

She's a soprano anyway. 🙂

 

[Jeanette]

Thank you for all your words of advice , a bit about me I am 100 % or dont bother doing , in all i do ,
Im a ex pro sportsman’s so am dedicated and single minded therefore I think its there where I’m struggling as it’s all tenor or all alto if not both suffer as they only ly getting half my attention. I remember my days when I was competing as a heavyweight boxer , my trainer would say run 4 miles I would run 5 . He,d say train 5days a week I would train 6. So folks thats why I asked the question which one I to devout myself too I have played everyday for 7 years for minimum of an hour a day and have enjoyed every second of it. I thought perhaps fTom your expert eyes and ears someone could say actually that one suits you better , good guidance from experienced players in any field a massive helping hand 🙂))

I admire your dedication and determination but perhaps what you can take from this is you don't have to choose. If you are going to stick to one choose the one you enjoy most.

But I would caution against selling the other.....


Jx

 

[mizmar]

I guess people develop in different ways. I pottered on Alto and Tenor for a while. For some reason, I don't know, the tenor was the first on which I had that feeling of being in the zone (flow? You're a sportsman, you know) on... That's a bit addictive, so I've gravitated much more to the tenor. I know I should (for my own reasons) and could spend enough time alto to get that as well. But when you're doing something for personal enjoyment rather than for someone else, you do pick the thing that delivers.

 

[turf3]

Well, OP, if you think it's a good idea to focus on one saxophone voice, that's perfectly justifiable.

However, I've never seen any evidence that one's preferred saxophone voice has anything to do with their physical makeup or the pitch of their singing/speaking voice. So just set that idea aside, and decide which one you like best.

 

[Punchysax]

After 2 days of playing both i feel more comfortable , relaxed and at home with my Alto. It actually felt like a soldier picking up his trusty old rifle. So there it is i will play my Selmer 1955 mk 6 Alto daily and get the Conn 10m out now and then when i fancy something different thanks for all your wisdom.

 

[Wade Cornell]

Kiri Ke Tanowa forgives you for saying altos are whiney. 😉

If you mean Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, she has always been a soprano.

 

[Colin the Bear]

If you mean Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, she has always been a soprano.

Post #30

 

[Dr G]

After 2 days of playing both i feel more comfortable , relaxed and at home with my Alto. It actually felt like a soldier picking up his trusty old rifle. So there it is i will play my Selmer 1955 mk 6 Alto daily and get the Conn 10m out now and then when i fancy something different thanks for all your wisdom.

Hmmm, maybe what you really need is a more Selmer-like tenor….

I am a lifelong tenor player (>50 years of tenor), and I, too, rather not play Conns.

 

[GCinCT]

After 2 days of playing both i feel more comfortable , relaxed and at home with my Alto. It actually felt like a soldier picking up his trusty old rifle. So there it is i will play my Selmer 1955 mk 6 Alto daily and get the Conn 10m out now and then when i fancy something different thanks for all your wisdom.

That’s great! Your soldier with a rifle analogy is a good one. It’s how I feel when I pick up an alto. It’s like an extension of my body. Have lots of fun!

 

[Colin the Bear]

If you're playing sharp, remove the bayonet. 😎

 

[thomsax]

Thank you for all your words of advice , a bit about me I am 100 % or dont bother doing , in all i do ,
Im a ex pro sportsman’s so am dedicated and single minded therefore I think its there where I’m struggling as it’s all tenor or all alto if not both suffer as they only ly getting half my attention. I remember my days when I was competing as a heavyweight boxer , my trainer would say run 4 miles I would run 5 . He,d say train 5days a week I would train 6. So folks thats why I asked the question which one I to devout myself too I have played everyday for 7 years for minimum of an hour a day and have enjoyed every second of it. I thought perhaps fTom your expert eyes and ears someone could say actually that one suits you better , good guidance from experienced players in any field a massive helping hand 🙂))

I play the saxophone in the same way as I played football and ice-hockey; intensively and with lots of heart. Comfort and to play effortless is not what I'm searching for. I love Rock-R&B- and soul sax. You sounds good on both alto and tenor. But I think the tenor sounds a little bit better in my ears.