Playing the saxophone Who started on tenor then switched to alto, or vice versa

[dexdex]

I started on clarinet, but tenor was the first saxophone I played, long before trying an alto.

 

[Sue]

Started on alto, then added soprano. Predominantly played alto but messed with tenor from time to time. Realised I loved the tenor more but still more comfortable on alto so that's what I play in swing band. Play tenor in a quartet.

I find tenor far more challenging but also more rewarding when it sounds lush.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Started on clarinet age 7. Got an alto age 14. Didn’t much enjoy it. Got a tenor age 16, enjoyed it less. Dabbled on soprano for a bit.

After college decided to try and play the sax properly. These days I rarely pick up the clarinet. Funnily enough I think I’d play it more if I was still playing chamber music.

Alto player from my early’20’s. Became an improved tenor player in my ‘40’s due to necessity.

Always been decent on soprano as I find it really similar to clarinet.

Alto 70%
Tenor 30%

Clarinet and soprano nominal.

 

[Wonko]

I love the sound of the tenor, so I started on tenor (when I was 37). I added a baritone when I was 56. The tenor is still my main instrument but I do enjoy the deep sound of the baritone from time to time.
Recently I started looking into the possibility of getting a (curved soprano).
I don't care too much for the sound of an alto, so I probably won't bother getting an alto. But you never know that I might stumble upon a 6m for a steal or something like that?
And if I win the lottery, I would reeeaaaly like to get me a bass sax.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Started on recorder. Added clarinet, then alto.
Tried tenor but couldn't get it.
Became aware of baritone, saw one I could afford and asked my Dad to cosign the finance.
Felt a gap and tried tenor again, struggled, persisted and made progress.
Oh dear. No sop. Struggled again, and again. Eventually found a mouthpiece that suited my chops and a sop that suited my mouthpiece.

I'm completely at home and comfortable on alto.
Baritone is my favourite but it's not always appropriate.

I play clarinet because it's expected but find it demanding.

I try to keep up with Tenor and Sop. They make a refreshing change.

I haven't voted. I didn't think I fit in one of the boxes. Story of my life.

I find each single reed instrument adds something to the technique on others. I find switching from Bari to sop needs focus but Bari to clarinet less so. Who knew?

 

[scotsman]

🙂🙂 Well, I actually started on jazz drums!! But was always the first to set up and last to leave. So I watched the sax players who seemed to saunter over, play then pack up the case and saunter away. Looked good to me so swapped a drum kit for my Buffet alto for a while before I heard Bobby Wellins on "Under Milk Wood" with the Stan Tracey quartet. Moved onto a 1936 Conn 10m and got the tenor bug but kept on playing the alto. These days I seem to play 50/50 depending on the tune and how I am feeling that evening. All great fun!! Regards..🙂🙂

 

[mizmar]

Started on recorder

If we're going right back, I started on triangle, having been demoted from xylophone.
Later, age 10 I leaned clarinet for a year... #low forward 45 years and, on a whim, I got an alto then a cheep tenor... Which I play mostly because I don't know how to make the alto sound mellow like some people can. And, later still, the reed flute.

 

[CliveMA]

I find each single reed instrument adds something to the technique on others.

+1

 

[turf3]

Fourth grade, piano. (For non-US people, 9 years old.)

Fifth grade, flute, standard classical training

Eleventh grade, alto sax. Two lessons from the professional who lived across the street. Never took another lesson. I gave myself a big bag of bad habits, had enormous holes in my knowledge and understanding, that I'm still working on more than 40 years later.

Maybe six months after I got the alto, I got a tenor, because the school jazz band needed a tenor player.

Within a few weeks after I got the tenor I started working out how to improvise, playing along with records.

Started playing gigs (low level stuff) not long after that. I wasn't any good, but I was fearless about standing up there and improvising solos, which put me well ahead of most teen players who were better, but were afraid. I was the poster child for Dunning-Krueger.

Twelfth grade I started playing baritone.

In college I played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone depending on what was needed.

Right after college I joined a band that needed a baritone player, bought a baritone, started seriously shedding it, and I've considered baritone my main saxophone voice ever since; even though I'm sure I've performed more actual hours, and earned more money, playing tenor and alto than baritone. But tenor was never "my voice". I'm a baritone player with a very strong double on alto, but tenor? Meh.

 

[ghostler]

Start out on Bb soprano clarinet in 6th grade (age 11), included oboe and alto sax in high school. Then on to tenor and bari after. In retirement, picked up a soprano sax and flute. So for me, it was first alto then tenor.

 

[Jeanette]

Played recorder in primary/ junior school then nothing till late 40s when I fell in love with sop.

Suffered with tennis elbow for a couple of years so bought an alto as it was better supported by neck strap.

Alto barely gets touched these days and not much time for sop.

Jx

 

[superpapaben]

I started on alto and stayed on it for a long time. One day I realised that the vast majority of my favourite sax players played tenor, so I eventually made the switch. I play a lot of bari these days too. I'd say I'm 65% tenor, 35% bari and don't touch my alto or soprano much at all anymore.

 

[sax panther]

Started on clarinet - wanted a sax, but was told by my parents they could only stretch to a clarinet - there wasn't the option of all the cheaper horns back then, the school advice was 'buy a buffet or Yamaha'.

Got my hands on an alto in my late teens, played it half heartedly in a band at university. Continued playing it in a small funk group and a Latin band after that, doing occasional gigs alongside the day job.

Then got a tenor and a bari at some point in my 30s and the gig offers suddenly exploded. now my gigs are probably 65% tenor, 30% bari and 5% spread across clarinet and alto. I still feel far more comfortable on clarinet, as that's the only one I've ever had lessons on so it's weird to be making a modest living as mostly a tenor player. Nobody has asked for a refund yet though.

 

[Hoosierken]

My first sax was an Indiana by Martin alto from the 50s and that is what I learned my fingerings on. Also the first sax that I repadded. I acquired a 1917 L&H Buescher stencil tenor that I repadded and fought with but I never have gotten it completely right. In the mean time I found an Indiana by Martin tenor that I repadded and played that almost exclusively for awhile and the alto never got out of its case. I got a couple of C melody Conns from Goodwill that had been painted. One turned out to be gold plated and the other become a donor sax. I have kept acquiring C mels and the two I actually use regularly are a 1923 Buescher and 1925 Holton. Nowadays I use the alto, tenor, and C mel regularly.

 

[Gendreau1]

Started on alto and switched to tenor. Quit for two years and started back last month.
Last week started experiencing pain in the left forearm and fingers. Quit playing for a week and the pain is going away.
Selling the new tenor sax on eBay. Never had this pain with previous tenor saxes.
Bought three used alto saxes: Mendini , Vito and Etude saxes.
Will keep one and sell the other saxes.

 

[ghostler]

Bought three used alto saxes: Mendini , Vito and Etude saxes.

Have you identified the maker of the Vito? One I have, an older tenor, appears to be by Jupiter.

Just curious, out of the 3, which one is your favourite, and why?

 

[atwl77]

Just recently got a tenor, after playing alto for about 2 years now. Can't really say it's a "switch", more like wanting to explore a different instrument and its sound while intending to be able to play both in the long term.

I'm still getting used to the new instrument after owning it for less than two weeks; but so far, it's been relatively easy to get used to except for a few areas that need a lot of practice (low D and below, for example).

 

[Gendreau1]

Have you identified the maker of the Vito? One I have, an older tenor, appears to be by Jupiter.

Just curious, out of the 3, which one is your favourite, and why?

The maker is probably Jupiter as it was made in Taiwan.
The Mendini comes tomorrow .Vito and Etude comes next week. Will do a comparison next week. The Etude is missing two key pearls so probably will flip it. Plan on keeping the case and mixing and matching accessories .

 

[ghostler]

My first sax was an Indiana by Martin alto from the 50s and that is what I learned my fingerings on. Also the first sax that I repadded. I acquired a 1917 L&H Buescher stencil tenor that I repadded and fought with but I never have gotten it completely right. In the mean time I found an Indiana by Martin tenor that I repadded and played that almost exclusively for awhile and the alto never got out of its case.

First sax I completely padded was the Vito Tenor, appears to be a Jupiter stencil. Because of its age when I bought it, all the pads were in need of replacement. That was abought 6 years ago.

Plays, but has a leak somewhere that has alluded me. Recently bought a better leak light, will sometime near future go through it again. Horn is built rather stout, has a beautiful timbre.

I have kept acquiring C mels and the two I actually use regularly are a 1923 Buescher and 1925 Holton. Nowadays I use the alto, tenor, and C mel regularly.

I think @PenelopeTX would like to hear of your experiences with the 1923 Buescher C mel tenor. She inherited her grandfather's one, in beautiful shape but may need some if not all pads replaced.

 

[ghostler]

The maker is probably Jupiter as it was made in Taiwan.

Then, you may have a good intermediate disguised as a beginner.

The Etude is missing two key pearls so probably will flip it. Plan on keeping the case and mixing and matching accessories .

I was missing the G key pearl on my Vito tenor. For a time to fill the void, I found a small fender washer the right diameter, attached it with some contact cement, which got me by in the Community Band. Then purchased a set of simulated (plastic) pearls for it on E-Bay for a reasonable price, which fixed the problem, paid less than $10 for them. Something as simple as that could correct a cosmetic defect helping you to earn more for it when you sell.