What music do I need to play soprano sax?
Alphii
Posts: 1
I want to learn to play soprano sax but all my music books are for alto or don't say which sax they are for. Will they work when I am playing alone or do I need music written for tenor? I am not knowledgable enough to transpose.
Post edited by Alphii on
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Kenny G comes to mind. He plays mostly soprano sax on his albums. I am sure there are books out there for his stuff.
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well most soprano saxes are done in the key of b flat so that means you could probably use a tenor sax book if you wanted which has the same key.. you could use an alto sax book as well by yourself, however it'll be in a different key than what is intended so it might sound a bit off especially if you play it in a group, but it should be fine by yourself. If you want to play it in the proper key but still use the alto book you can also transpose it.. there should be plenty of websites that can help you with that if you feel comfortable enough with sheet music to do it. I know you don't currently know how but it might be fun to figure out.. its been awhile since i've done much transposing myself though.
I'm an alto and Bari sax player myself.Main 2ch -
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Having been in Jazz and big bands for a good portion of my life I can tell you there is a reason why you don't see that many soprano saxes, they have a very penetrating sound that does not work well in an ensemble setting. They are also a real chore to play in anything close to matching the tuning the rest of the players. An Alto Sax is so much more versatile. I am a brass man, trombone, trumpet, Euphonium, etc and I play the flutes, I have a nice Selmer Omega with a "B" foot joint, and a Muramatsu Alto flute, which is my favorite. I don't play the Saxophone, a Saxhorne yes
but that is a different creature. I love the sound of a Bari Sax, and the grunt of a Bass Sax, I once listened to a contra-bass Sax which gave me goose bumps it's sound was elemental, because of the design of this particular instrument the player was up on a specially made step ladder with a adjustable seat. He told me he had to be real careful how he keyed the lower pads because if you got too energetic they sounded like the lids on a kitchen trash can softly opening and closing, indeed those pads where about the size of the lids on a large German Beer Stine Radio Station W7ITC -
Wayne Shorter, Tom Scott. Those guys seem to get the least objectionable sounds out of the soprano sax.
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George Grand wrote: »Wayne Shorter, Tom Scott. Those guys seem to get the least objectionable sounds out of the soprano sax.
I can't stand Kenny "G" He is a soloist for good reason.
The best Soprano Sax player I know of is Paul Winter. Get Sun Singer 1983 in this recording you can hear what a Soprano Sax played by a master of the instrument can sound like. Track 3 Dolphin Morning is incredible. Sun Singer is available from Amazon, iTunes etc While you are at it get Whales Alive 1986, this album is a religious experience and an inspiration for Star Trek IV. Another is Earthbeat 1987 track 1, Kurski Funk .Radio Station W7ITC -
well most soprano saxes are done in the key of b flat so that means you could probably use a tenor sax book if you wanted which has the same key.. you could use an alto sax book as well by yourself, however it'll be in a different key than what is intended so it might sound a bit off especially if you play it in a group, but it should be fine by yourself. If you want to play it in the proper key but still use the alto book you can also transpose it.. there should be plenty of websites that can help you with that if you feel comfortable enough with sheet music to do it. I know you don't currently know how but it might be fun to figure out.. its been awhile since i've done much transposing myself though.
I'm an alto and Bari sax player myself.
Not that familiar with the fingering on a soprano sax. If it's in b flat, does that mean it's pretty much the same fingering (or similar) as a clarinet?
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The SS keys the same as all of the other Saxophones, and like the others has numerous alternate keying for a given note. Because of the ice pick sound and the built in atonality of the instrument it is even more important you know all of the alternate keyings because you actually have to decide as you are playing it which keying for a given note will be closer in tune with the others in the group. The Soprano Sax is a very difficult instrument to play well. When you hear somebody like Paul Winter playing in harmony with the rest of a band you know you are hearing somebody with a true mastery of the instrument.Radio Station W7ITC
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I want to learn to play soprano sax but all my music books are for alto or don't say which sax they are for. Will they work when I am playing alone or do I need music written for tenor? I am not knowledgable enough to transpose.
The soprano saxophone is a difficult instrument to master. It would be easy to become discouraged after choosing this as an introductory instrument to saxophones. I recommend spending two years learning how to play alto saxophone, then picking up the soprano after you develop some proficiency on the instrument and learn to control your airstream. The soprano sax is my secondary instrument after the tenor sax.
Be mindful that, just as everyone has a particular speaking or singing voice, everyone will have a particular "voice" when playing a wind instrument. No matter how well you learn to play, you may never sound anywhere close to the sound of whoever inspired you to take up soprano. A lot of excellent alto and tenor sax players avoid the soprano because they sound shrill and piercing when playing it. The soprano can also be very fatiguing on the arm.
Najee and the late George Howard are two of the better sounding soprano sax players who have a rich and sweet sound.
There is not a lot of soprano sax sheet music available due to the relative rarity of the instrument. When I find a song I want to learn, I transcribe the notes. There are also music transcription services.
If you don't already have one, I recommend studying with a good teacher for at least a year to help you avoid developing bad habits.
Good luck with your studies.Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country! -
You all are providing serious answers to a spammer. Check the profile page. Seriously, who would join the Polk Audio forum to ask such a question??
Reported user Alphii. -
mdaudioguy wrote: »You all are providing serious answers to a spammer. Check the profile page. Seriously, who would join the Polk Audio forum to ask such a question??
Reported user Alphii.
I see what you mean. and now that you have pointed it out it is a rather odd question to ask on a speaker forumRadio Station W7ITC
