What would you like to try? (bass, punk, Berlin, quote)

mrinitialman · 06-22-2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Jane

Harp and Saxophone

Anyone know anything about playing sax? I want to learn this summer, thinking about taking lessons. Anything I should know about it? Is it very difficult to play? What type is best to learn on? Alto?

Pick a saxophone you like the sound of. If you like fairly high, alto or soprano is your best bet. Tenor is somewhere in the middle, baritone is nice for low-end stuff.

Sax is actually very easy to learn. Difficult to master, though, just so you know. Just make sure to get a good one. Reputable companies are: Yamaha, Keilworth (Mostly pro instruments from these guys) Selmer, Selmer Paris, Jupiter, King.

Sweet Jane · 06-23-2005, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrinitialman

Pick a saxophone you like the sound of. If you like fairly high, alto or soprano is your best bet. Tenor is somewhere in the middle, baritone is nice for low-end stuff.

Sax is actually very easy to learn. Difficult to master, though, just so you know. Just make sure to get a good one. Reputable companies are: Yamaha, Keilworth (Mostly pro instruments from these guys) Selmer, Selmer Paris, Jupiter, King.

Cheers man.

Phoned up today, seems nowhere in the city does sax lessons, it'll involve a fair bit of travelling for each lesson but I figure it'll be worth it. I'm gonna have a couple lessons then if I take to it will be looking to buy one, your advice should come in pretty useful.

hookers with machineguns · 06-23-2005, 04:25 PM

Jaynie, I think sax can be self-taught, especially if you are already familiar with another woodwind instrument. If not, the only difficulty probably lies in the mouth positioning. The notes you can learn on your own easily with one book. Last time I tried to play, I couldn't hold a note for a very long because of my smokers lungs. You really gotta put a lot of push into hitting notes compared to other woodwinds.
Btw, did you decide which kind of sax you were interested in? Personally I like the alto sound.

Sweet Jane · 06-23-2005, 06:07 PM

Aww thanks Hookers, I didn't know you'd tried sax before. I'd pretty much decided on alto yeah, I like the sound, and I was an alto singer too and I noticed what I could sing was much more versatile than soprano or baritone, so was hoping it would work that way with the saxophone. I may be wrong but my fuzzy logic seemed to make sense.

I'm not experienced with any other such instruments but my best mate played clarinet for years so she'll be around, I just worry about the expense of buying one and then finding it's not for you. The sax teacher from out in the sticks suggested I rent one, which is my new plan. Hookers if you have any sax music or any good webites PM me, thanks hun.

anticipation · 06-24-2005, 10:45 AM

the big guitar that mariachis use, and the zylophone

Reg Hacquer · 07-19-2005, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastor of muppets

a ****ing BBBb octacontrabass clarinet

An Anthony Braxton wannabe? ;-)

Reg Hacquer · 07-19-2005, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrinitialman

Pick a saxophone you like the sound of. If you like fairly high, alto or soprano is your best bet. Tenor is somewhere in the middle, baritone is nice for low-end stuff.

Sax is actually very easy to learn. Difficult to master, though, just so you know. Just make sure to get a good one. Reputable companies are: Yamaha, Keilworth (Mostly pro instruments from these guys) Selmer, Selmer Paris, Jupiter, King.

Would like to respectfully offer my counter-opinion... Alto is definitely the horn to start on, followed by tenor. Can't imagine any compelling reason to start on bari (too big, physically demanding on beginners). A bad idea to start on soprano--it's just too squirrelly a horn, and you surely won't score any points from family/roommates!

Mr. I-man is correct about saxophone being easy to learn, hard to master. About getting an actual horn--Yamaha is far and away the best choice for a beginner horn. As for pro horns, I'd put Selmer (Paris) at the beginning of that list without question. Pre-1977 pro model Selmers are the gold standard by which all other saxes are judged.

Kindest regards,

Reg Hacquer · 07-19-2005, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrinitialman

What kind of instrument would you like to try playing?

Personally, I would like to try a 4-valve sousaphone, which Jupiter makes.

Without question, bass guitar! ... with inspiration by James Jamerson (house bassist for Motown while they still were in Motown) and Jaco Pastorius of Weather Report. More gigs to be had, and you have a lot more control over the band and the groove.

Key listening/viewing resources:

What's Going On, by Marvin Ga ye; James Jamerson is the unsung hero on this landmark recording. The story is that he came home from the initial recording session for the title single and told his wife that he had just played on a history-making song.
Shadows And Light (DVD) by Joni Mitchell; her backup band on this live concert video is perhaps the most stellar jazz all-star collection since the Massey Hall concert with Bird and Diz. Jaco Pastorius' stage demeanor is a good deal more sedate than on his later appearances with Weather Report and as a leader, but his grooves and technique carry the music with the unstoppable power of a Mack truck and the agility of an X Games' motocross racer. WOW.

Annalysia · 08-07-2005, 04:35 PM

I personally would love to play bassoon and alto flute beforeI finish highschool. I also really want to play acoustic guitar and piano.

mrinitialman · 08-18-2005, 12:44 PM

I started learning on baritone. Then again, I was already 16 years old.

I'd like to have a bass saxophone one day

06-23-2005, 04:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
hookers with machineguns Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,753	Jaynie, I think sax can be self-taught, especially if you are already familiar with another woodwind instrument. If not, the only difficulty probably lies in the mouth positioning. The notes you can learn on your own easily with one book. Last time I tried to play, I couldn't hold a note for a very long because of my smokers lungs. You really gotta put a lot of push into hitting notes compared to other woodwinds. Btw, did you decide which kind of sax you were interested in? Personally I like the alto sound. __________________ LASTFM

06-23-2005, 06:07 PM	#24 (permalink)
Sweet Jane Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 547	Aww thanks Hookers, I didn't know you'd tried sax before. I'd pretty much decided on alto yeah, I like the sound, and I was an alto singer too and I noticed what I could sing was much more versatile than soprano or baritone, so was hoping it would work that way with the saxophone. I may be wrong but my fuzzy logic seemed to make sense. I'm not experienced with any other such instruments but my best mate played clarinet for years so she'll be around, I just worry about the expense of buying one and then finding it's not for you. The sax teacher from out in the sticks suggested I rent one, which is my new plan. Hookers if you have any sax music or any good webites PM me, thanks hun. __________________ Calvin: "Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbes: "I'm not sure that man needs the help."

08-18-2005, 12:44 PM	#30 (permalink)
mrinitialman Groupie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: At the corner of WALK and DONT WALK Posts: 14	I started learning on baritone. Then again, I was already 16 years old. I'd like to have a bass saxophone one day __________________ J.D.W.P.X.M.V.D.K. Mr. Initial Man. Any Questions?

06-24-2005, 10:45 AM	#25 (permalink)
anticipation Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,565	the big guitar that mariachis use, and the zylophone

08-07-2005, 04:35 PM	#29 (permalink)
Annalysia Groupie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saint Augustine Posts: 5	I personally would love to play bassoon and alto flute beforeI finish highschool. I also really want to play acoustic guitar and piano.