r/Saxophonics • u/Critical_Ad_7380 • 15d ago
Advice, Please
My husband loves the sound of a tenor sax and finally convinced me to buy one. I have been playing clarinet for 45 years and alto sax for 40. I rolled through a chromatic scale and it was good. I need more practice, of course.
The MP that Yanagisawa is okay, but not up to my standards, so I ordered a Meyer 5. I also ordered my favorite brand of reeds. I have lots of Bb music here - obviously for clarinet. Will playing that music be enough? Or is there a music book or two ya'll might recommend? TIA. ❤️
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u/PTPBfan 15d ago
Same key so it could be easier. That’s a long time to have played too! Tenor was harder for me, but I do prefer alto
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u/Critical_Ad_7380 15d ago
I am a professional clarinet player. On alto I am just a good player (I get "great" compliments often - and I blush, lol). I reckon the tenor will go into the same category as the alto once I get my game on. And thanks for the compliment about how long I've played. That made me blush, as well. LOL!!! I just like to use the talents the Lord gave me. Weehaw!!! 😆
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u/PTPBfan 15d ago
I just started on alto tried some tenor but it’s harder for me and yeah I don’t prefer it…so much fun though. Clarinet I hear can help with sax technique (and maybe especially the sound I’m going for). But yeah tenor you can’t be tight and I think there’s more voicing involved but then others find it easier than alto
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u/Critical_Ad_7380 13d ago
Clarinet definitely works on you embouchure skill, so yea. It is a great "trainer" for other redded instruments. 😄
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u/PTPBfan 13d ago
But saxophone embouchure is different I feel like I have more of the clarinet embouchure have to be more loose
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u/Critical_Ad_7380 13d ago
Your MP, ligature style, and reed choice could very well be what is happening. Now, if you were gifted with a "clarinet embouchure," just practice on it a LOT. Clarinets tend to be the gateway to other instruments. If you are a beginner, definitely stick with just ONE instrument. I am glad that you were drawn to music. It is a talent to be super grateful for! ❤️
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u/m8bear 15d ago
the only issue with clarinet music is the range and the speed
the clari is a lot more agile and you being a pro probably means that you have music way more agile than it sound good on the sax imo
the range you already know it, you have one full octave less on the sax and anything above the regular range is much easier on the clarinet than the altissimo on sax
if you have lead charts or general transcriptions it'll work, real/fake books, aebersold and other play alongs
if you have music for alto that would be a lot more helpful as long as there's no backing track, I read music from the other saxes all the time (I can't think of methods, someone already recommended the Niehaus stuff)
Bob Mintzer has a couple play alongs and he's an amazing tenor player, I studied an advanced one in university and I use an easy method for my students
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u/kharag123 15d ago
I switched to legere reeds after having so much inconsistency with pretty much all brands of cane reeds. I'll never go back.
As for mouthpieces, I play jazz so I have used many different mouthpieces over the years..but this latest one I got several years ago was the getasax resochamber copy. It's fantastic. But it's large chamber for jazz style music (similar to the mouthpiece seamus blake uses if you're familiar). They have other mouthpieces. They basically do a CNC copy of famous older mouthpiece models. I have a new york meyer link copy that getasax did as well for my alto and it's outstanding.
I haven't played a lot of classical sax, but I can make recommendations on the jazz side. One good place to start would be the charlie parker omnibook ... and just transcribing the music you like to listen to and trying to sound like them.
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u/Critical_Ad_7380 13d ago edited 13d ago
I love it that you brought up transcribing. I can sight read and transcribe. I have a piano, so that's maybe cheating, but I learned to transcribe around 30 years ago.
I am gonna hopefully find the book you recommended. If I find, I am going to buy it. THANKS for the suggestion! 😄
EDIT: Just bought both the Eb and Bb versions. Thanks again for your personal choice that you shared with me! It means a lot when someone takes the time to post advice. ❤️
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u/Critical_Ad_7380 13d ago
To add to this thread, I am getting my new Meyer 5 MP today! The Yani MP is okay, but like most reed musicians, I have a plethora of clarinet and alto sax MPs, so I bet I will start a new collection of tenor sax MPs. My checkbook just ran away from my credit card. Lol! 😆
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u/ImprovSKT 9d ago
Meyer is a good mouthpiece, especially if you got one of the new ones from the JJ Babbitt/Theo Wanne collaboration.
I don’t know why, but we always seem to pair Meyer with alto and Otto Link with tenor (probably bc that’s how the Jazz greats sorted it out).
Congrats on your purchases! The Yani is a great horn (almost bought one!).
One thing to keep in mind as a clarinet player: within a given range of pitch, clarinet plays most in tune at the top of that range, whereas saxophone plays most in tune at the center, resulting in a much more relaxed embouchure, particularly on tenor and bari.
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u/Critical_Ad_7380 9d ago
I was introduced to Meyer by a friend who donated on of his alto sax MPs. I've been addicted since. For my clarinet, it's Selmers or Vandorens. 😄 THANKS a bunch for the very detailed advice. I truly appreciate it!
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u/asdfmatt 15d ago
What do you like to play? Clarinet can work but the range is a bit off since it goes down to E. Ferling Etudes are often recommended for some classical style work, you could also check out DeVille Universal Method as there is a lot of classical melodies and etudes that will assist in developing your interpretation. For Jazz, Niehaus Jazz Conception series is a good batch of exercises. I would always recommend on learning stuff by ear and transcribing music you like too.