What note does a soprano saxophone tune to?

Learning soprano saxophone?

• I want to learn how to play soprano saxophone, but not sure how to go about it. I found a great soprano for cheap that I might be getting as soon as I get more information on learning it. I do not have previous saxophone playing experience. People tell me that I should learn on an alto or tenor first, but I really just want to learn on soprano. They say that I won't be able to get my embouchure right, but really, I don't think it will make that much of a difference. I actually think it will be easier to get my embouchure right because I won't have to fight the urge to go back to the embouchure of an alto or tenor. I have been playing the flute for around 6 1/2 years now. Will this help me at all? And I am not sure how to word this next question, so bare with me. Are the notes the same on soprano as an alto? Like, if I were to use an alto book to learn soprano, would the fingerings, notes, and placement of notes be the same or no? And what do you suggest if not? I know the fingerings are probably the same. I also know that a c on the staff is in the same position as it would be for flute, so I know the names of the notes, at least. But what note would I have to play on soprano sax to say hit a c natural on flute to make it sound the same? And what about alto? If I play a c natural on alto, what note would I have to play to get the same note on flute and soprano sax? Thanks for the help and any advice would be lovely :)

• Answer:

  Hi. I'm not sure why people would say the embouchure would be difficult on a soprano; i played all the saxes, clarinet, flute and some other instruments and never had a problem with the embouchure once I learned and developed it. Anyway, there are a few things to address: For all of the saxophones the fingerings for written music is the same, but they play in different keys. By this I mean that if you have music written for your sax, and you see, say, a "G," you finger it the same way on each one. Unlike flute, however (a C instrument), saxophones are transposing instruments. Sopranos and tenors are Bb, while alto and bari are Eb. (Standard clarinets are Bb, as well.) In short, this means that when you play a Bb on a soprano sax on an Eb on also, they sound a C. Music is typically transposed for each instrument when written, so you play the notes you see and everything matches, but if you only have a C chart available or, say, want to play your flute music on soprano and have it sound in the right key, then you just play one note above what you are seeing (see a C and finger a D). With alto you play down a minor third (see a C and finger an A). Here's a chart I found: ( http://www.saxontheweb.net/Transposition.html ). That can be a little confusing, but I hope it makes sense. But now for the more fun part. As I said, all the fingerings are the same for all saxophones, and they are very similar to both the flute and clarinet. So while the embouchure will be pretty new and different, you'll likely adopt to the fingerings quickly. So, yes, your experience playing flute will be a tremendous help. (For me, experience learning one instrument always helps with the others in some way). I think the biggest problem is that there are few band charts which include parts for soprano saxophone. Even in a typical jazz band, arrangements are written for altos, tenors and a bari. When a soprano is used, one of the players switches (same with clarinets and flutes). So, that may be the objection. Also, while I was in music school, many of us played soprano sax, but they were not our primary instruments. That's not to say it can't be done; it's just not common. So, the generally speaking, it's more practical to learn saxophone with an alto or possibly tenor and then also play soprano, but the instrument that you love playing is the one on which you keep practicing. If you love the sound of the soprano and want to play it, and don't care for learning the others, then I recommend getting one and learning to play it. Just remember that you won't have nearly as many chances to play it in standard concert or jazz band arrangements. But if you eventually have both a soprano as well as an alto a tenor, as well as your flute, you'll have a lot of chances to play. I hope all this helps.