😍The soprano is beautiful, isn't it? If you want to learn the soprano sax (or any sax for that matter!), check out the SaxTuition Beginner Series course - available here: www.saxtuition.com/beginner-series
I am 12 and i play Soprano Sax. And At last someone talks about Soprano. I have played it for 5 years now. And i just at the 3rd year started to get the real Soprano sound. I'm so Happy. Soprano Sax ir like A drug for me love it. And knowing how to play it its realy easy to play other Sax. Like tennor. I realy love it. And i started or Soprano from year 1. Im proud that someone talks about it. I usualy play romantic or jazzy songs on it coz im A romantic.❤️
attention Ance ! il N'EXISTE PAS DE VRAIE SONORITE D'UN SAXOPHONE ......ce n'est qu'une simple convention imposée par les musiciens classiques et n'a aucune véritable valeur . Le vrai son est celui que tu préfères . Le mien , c'est celui de Sidney Bechet...le tien sera peut-être celui de Kenny G , par exemple , et que moi je déteste , hahaha !!! Nous avons tous nos préférences personnelles et il serait idiot de ne pas en tenir compte . Si c'est le son du soprano classique que tu préfères , joue avec le son classique , c'est ton choix . Cependant , si tu es un romantique , ce n'est sans doute pas le son qui te convient le mieux........CHERCHE-LE ET TU LE TROUVERAS , BONNE CHANCE !
I played alto sax in middle school, but have always had an interest in soprano sax, not because of Kenny G, but because I've always enjoyed the higher sounds. Even though it may have a different sound than the trumpet, a soprano sax player could always play the trumpet score if they wanted to without having to transpose.
After a 55 year hiatus, I decided to start playing music again. I was a Flutist in an earlier life, but I've always loved the sound of the Soprano. I've struggled with my embouchure with the Soprano as well as playing in tune in the early stages and after watching your video I understand why. Also playing a reed instrument is new ground because while a Flute is a woodwind, it doesn't use a reed, so that is also a challenge. But I'm determine to persevere.
i started as an alto payer in 6th grade and switched to tenor in 7th grade. I still play it now, but the high school I go to has a soprano, and i really enjoy playing it. not sure if i'll get any parts with it, but it is very enjoyable.
Soprano sax is growing in popularity in marching bands. In Kentucky, most medium to large bands have a soprano sax soloist. Im a freshman and I played soprano the whole show.
ici , en Europe occidentale , grâce à l'énorme succès remporté par Sidney Bechet dans les années 60 en France , le sax soprano est très à l'honneur et compte beaucoup d'amateurs . Sa popularité ne baisse pas , au contraire !!
you are 100 percent correct. i use my soprano for my Bb horn, i am a bari player. spent 4 summers playing 2nd clarinet parts in a community band to learn to play soprano.
I love the sound of this instrument whenever I’ve heard it play by professionals I’m a clarinetist and that background is helping me learn it! It’s a lot of fun
I always have loved listening to saxophone by JAN GARBAREK concerts and albums for last 35 years. He plays both alto and soprano but specialises in soprano. Now at the age 57 I have started learning alto sax and within few months I am quite comfortable as I am having the right teacher and lotta 2+2 hours practice each day with my background of everyday piano lessons for about one year in my youth. But still I innately long for soprano to play. Your video has stamped positively for my longing. Thank you so much.
I've been playing soprano since I was 14, at 40 I started on Alto and at 44 on Tenor, today I'm 47, and I play all three simultaneously. In the soprano, the air column has to be much bigger to sustain a note, so it is much more difficult, the tuning is also a bigger problem, and for that nothing better than a good saxophone, but above all the embouchure is very more difficult especially in the extreme regions, like the low notes and especially in the high ones, where the muscles of the embouchure have to be very well worked. For this nothing better than many scales and long notes. An excellent soprano performer in classical music is Jean Dennis Michat.
Even though the alto and soprano saxophones share the same fingering chart, they are two different instruments. That is, the embouchures are quite different between the two. I've played the alto saxophone for many years before I started to play the soprano sax. It took several months for me to get proficient with the soprano sax, especially playing in the lower register. For several weeks, my soprano sax sounded like a moose, a goose and a party favor. The soprano sax is quite heavy too. With my alto sax, I can rest the bell between my legs for comfort when playing. I don't have that option with the soprano sax. I much rather play my alto saxophone. On the other hand, it only took me a day or two to segue into the flugelhorn from the Bb trumpet. They, too, both share the same fingering chart. 😊🎵🎺🎷
I’ve been playing the Soprano since the 1970’s, and the love affair is still going hot and heavy. In so much the i bought a Curved Soprano, it’s dream to play. One thing that I’ve learned is that the Palm Keys on my straight Soprano are more difficult to operate, than the Palm keys on my Curved Soprano.
This was very helpful. I played alto and tenor in my youth. Now my 11 year old wants to play a saxophone in school band next year. You ate in agreement with pretty much every other person with a video about the Soprano sax. I appreciate, not only that you talked about the Soprano, but you're honesty. Thank you
I agree with your assessment of the soprano sax. I got my first one after about 8 years of playing alto and tenor sax. It is challenging to play well, the high notes go out of tune easily, and the low notes are hard to play with good tone. I prefer tenor, but I still pick up the soprano on occasion. A beginner would find alto or tenor quite a bit easier.
One of my favourite bands from way back in the day used soprano saxophone a lot. This was a jazz fusion band called Soft Machine. I love them but I think most people wouldn’t. 😃
Absolutely spot on. I bought a Sop 2 yrs ago. After 1 yr a colleague said his band was looking for a replacement Clari/Tenor player (divorce probs) so I took it along. It's a tin Clari, right? No, wrong! It sounded awful with the Trumpet lead. Embarrassing disaster. Tuning has never been a problem with me but it clashed pitch-wise. Following week I took the Tenor. So you are right, it is a SOLO instrument.
I actually do like Kenny G but that's because thats the kind of music my dad played when I was little. Now that I'm older I have grown to appreciate John Coltrane (which is completely different in style). I think there is a time and place for both . I used to play clarinet but have always wanted to try soprano sax. I also play guitar, bass and piano. Always eager to learn new instruments. Let's go.. love your YT channel
I am a classical organist. The soprano saxophone is the only saxophone that really appeals to me, but I find its sound to be quite magical. Thanks for your fine video.
As a Tenor player, I started playing soprano on 2017 and it got me a lot of different opportunities than tenor. It was a little harder to re-learn how to tune again, it's a very important thing to take on mind, but then all was perfect. Traveling I was able to practice tenor tunes on soprano and realizing than it's such a different thing. Here in Chile, Soprano sax is very related (? sorry about my english) to folk music and i'm actually on a latin american kind of orchestra. By my tenor tradition of jazz, its difficult to me to get out of Sidney Bechet or not falling in the free ways of 60s with, Shorter for example (and I don't like so much MFT of Coltrane), so I'm still looking for that hard bop soprano sax music but that, i'll keep looking. It's great to watch this video from who loves soprano as an interesting kind of sax that is very capable as the others on the family. Hope this redaction is undestable. Greetings from Calama, Chile.
Great video!! As Steve Lacy said it’s interesting how many timbres the soprano saxophone can emulate: the trumpet, flute , oboe.. etc. Also, you can play quarter tones on the saxophone and eastern music sounds awesome on the soprano with these techniques. You can also use extended techniques like flutter tongue alongside non-standard fingerings and truly it’s endless the colors achievable on soprano. Check Sam Newsome for recordings on these... hrs awesome soprano only sax player.
I mentioned Steve Lacy never thinking a young person would know him. Then, I saw your post. I went through a Steve Lacy period about 10 years ago and now I’m going to go find some of those references that you mentioned in print. I just got a “new” 1925 Conn and it’s puppy love. Thanks for your comment.
@@robkunkel8833 Steve Lacy’s book “findings” is where that’s from FYI! Congrats on your vintage horn!! I recently purchased a 1927 Pierret soprano that’s just pure silk toned. Take care
Thanks for the guide on the soprano. Coming from a background of playing several wind instruments, clarinet, harmonica, shakuhachi, contemplating the soprano sax. I am already used to listening carefully for pitch when playing my violin or shakuhachi. What I like about the harmonica and violin, is the ability to bend the pitch, which gets me thinking, soprano would be perfect for? Jazz and writing my own compositions is my happy place. Your thoughts?
Listen to Branford Marsalis' playing on Dream of the Blue Turtles (String solo album) and you will fall in love with the sound of soprano sax. He captured the feeling of joy so perfectly, it is impossible to not love. For that reason alone, I'm going to give it a try.
I love it! I played clarinet and tenor in college but I've really been enjoying working on soprano here at home and would love to write some solo tunes.
Hi! Thank you for your video. I've been playing the alto on and off since primary school and I've been getting back into it in uni. I don't really play in ensembles or anything anymore (probably can't keep up either haha), so I've been looking at getting a soprano to play some solo pieces.
I was a trumpet player in the US Army band, I dabbled in Alto sax years ago but decided to take a huge plunge. My soprano sax arrived today...god help me LOL
As a flute player I suspect I'd have less difficulty with embouchure and air support. I don't play sax, would like to, and really like the soprano... Oh so tempted!
From my perspective, flute and sax are very different. Maybe the flute experience would help but the two obviously blow very differently. You have to develop your embouchure for soprano. Flute is more turning the air hole as far as I can tell. I don't play the flute, but have tried to blow it.
Wonderful introduction to this instrument. Actually there are a view classical pieces, like Harrison Birtwistles The Triumph of Time, which use it quite effectively in the orchestra. There are also some nice melodic Soprano Sax parts in Taro Iwashiros score to Sinking of Japan.
The curved soprano also have a little bit of a warmer tone, at least I think so but it could just be the way the sound hits your ears instead of it going towards the ground you know. I have a curve soprano so maybe I'm biased lol
I love how you approach the Kenny G question. Funny, how little Soprano professional music was out there for the 25 years between Sidney Bechet and Kenny G. I see Mr. Lucet mentioned Steve Lacy. For many years in a row (circa 60s) Lacey won the Downbeat Best Soprano Sax award. That was far out music and he wrote a lot about music. I like your style. I subscribed!
It's funny I've seen tons of altos at my local jazz club and some tenors but I've never seen a soprano. I've decided I've done all I want to do on trumpet and am learning clarinet, and in the future want to get a soprano because ... I guess I'm just a Bb kind of guy!
Hi There is a guy who plays Soprano here on youtube. Sorry I cant remember his name . But if you put in Soprano My Love and I, youll find him. Its the most lovely tune ive heard on Soprano.
I have experience with alto and tenor sax, as well as clarinet, oboe, English horn, and bassoon. However, after hearing a sax quartet arrangement of the Presto from Vivaldi’s storm, I want to pick up the soprano. How hard would it be to do that, given my other woodwind experience? Would it be easier or harder than usual?
Dustin, if you can play the oboe in tune, you won’t have any trouble at all with the soprano! 😂 Your experience with double reed instruments will give you a huge leg up since you understand how the pressure and shape of your embouchure can affect the pitch. Most beginners find it difficult to come to terms with the fine adjustments needed to play the instrument in tune when they’re trying to tackle everything else (fingering, tonguing etc) but you should be very well prepared. Best of luck!
I don't know what usual means but soprano is not as difficult as people claim. Maybe the horn they are playing has leaks. I tuned mine by glueing cork cresents in some of the lower larger tone holes. You have to have an instrument were the lowest fundamental C plays in tune. That's all pads closed. Some saxes don't.
Hey David! I use a Shure Beta 98 clip on microphone, running into a Focusrite 2i2 audio interface. My camera is a Sony RX-100 mk 3. Hope that helps, I will certainly consider making a behind the scenes video in the future 👍
Hi Jay! Great question - I've never played them myself (actually never seen them played except for videos online) so I can't speak from personal experience. They are more in the realm of a 'novelty instrument' though due to their rarity.
Happy New Year to you it's my 1st time seeing a video and I find it very educational. I love the sound of your soprano saxophone I just would like to know the name brand you are using. I am in the market for buying one.
yep very true not easy to sound good .takes a lot of work .kgee inspired me ,discovered ,so many soprano musicians since then ,not your best sax to start on .
Hey Perrieux! Check out 2nd hand Yamaha saxes - they're quality instruments and very affordable. If you're looking for something brand new, the Jean-Paul AS-400 has excellent reviews and would also be a good starting point. Hope that helps!
oui / FAIS-TOI ACCOMPAGNER PAR UN PROFESSIONNEL OU UN BON SAXOPHONISTE QUE TU CONNAIS . Ne te laisse pas décourager par les prix énormes de certains instruments . C'est du snobisme pur et simple !!! Le mien est chinois et m'a coûté 350 euros . Il vaut bien les plus chers de chez nous et n'a toujours pas la moindre usure après 5 ans de pratique journalière.........
Hi. If you are young or small I think Alto. If you are a bigger guy the Tenor possibly a better choice - a bit heavier though. Go to a music shop and ask to try - you prob won't get a sound out - but see which size you like.
Great question! Obviously it would be non traditional, but I know a lot of sax players use the soprano as a substitute for the clarinet in a variety of different musical settings. They’re both pitched in Bb which also helps when it comes to reading the same sheet music.
Hi there Jeremy, I'm new here and I'm very impressed by your highly informative video. Thank you very much! I've just got a brand new Trevor James straight soprano sax. My husband bought it for me as a Christmas present at highly a regarded music shop which is about 20 minutes away from us. I've been playing alto saxophone since 1982, and also play piano, church organ, flute and clarinet. My hubby and I are very involved in our local parish church, and I help to lead the worship, usually on piano and organ, but also occasionally on flute. I'm planning to get the saxophones going with our music group in the New Year which will be so exciting!!!!!! Looking forward to getting started, but my husband says of course that I have to wait until Christmas Day!!!! Do you have a beginner's course for soprano? That would be very helpful please. Thank you very much! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Hi Carolyn, that’s very exciting! The Beginner Series isn’t specifically for the soprano but is intended for all saxophones. Good luck on soprano, it’s a lot of fun! You might find this video useful after you begin: ruclips.net/video/7NcsuplhpzA/видео.html
Great video, thank you. It was definitely enlightening to the difficulties which I'll be facing. I'm a classical musician and I play bassoon, would you have any advice that you'd be able to suggest? Keep up the awesome videos, I really enjoy watching.
Hey Gordon, as a bassoonist I’d say you’re exceptionally well prepared for soprano saxophone! I’m in awe of double reed players 👍 The embouchure will be a bit different, rather than the “double embouchure” you’re used to you’ll need to release the top lip a bit and most likely relax the bottom jaw slightly. Let me know how you go! - Jeremy
I have a soprano. I was advised to buy a tenor which I did, but regretted it. Just get a soprano. It's not as hard as people claim. You have to find the right mouthpiece and reeds. I think a lot of the sax tone comes from within your own mouth cavity.
Just bought a soprano as my first sax so will this help me if I purchase like if the tenor is the sound of the recording will it sound similar playing the soprano to follow along
Yes, the tenor and soprano are in the same key, but the soprano is higher (separated by an octave). You can still use the tenor demo tracks to play along with :)
I'm an adult multi-instrumentalist and I can play OK clarinet. Should I start with an alto sax, or should I go straight for soprano? (soprano is what I'm really interested in playing)
Hi Aaron! Alto will still be easier for you in terms of embouchure (as it is for everyone) but if you’ve already got some experience on the clarinet you should be in a great position to start soprano.
@@SaxTuition Thanks for the advice! I got my golden clarinet today, a Yamaha YSS 475 II! In addition to actual clarinet, I've also been practicing on a Venova for a couple months, and the YSS 475 is actually much easier to play, so I was pleasantly surprised! My intonation isn't always perfect, but it's not bad (I think the 4C helps). I'm going for a tone that's a bit more in the classical direction---more pure and smooth. I put a Légère 3 on the C4 and I like the sound so far, but any thoughts you have about getting nice pure, round tones, I'd be eager to know. Also, is your sax course easily adaptable to sop? I guess it should be mostly the same, just the recorded pitches won't match (of course, if you have recordings with tenor, that could work...) Let me know!
Should I switch to tenor, I found an aats 301 for 300 US dollars and really want to play it, should I switch, if so, how do I convince my parents to let me, as well, would you recommend that I play the aats 301 or a different beginner sax
Yeah very good point! Basically it comes down to using your whole throat to voice the notes, as if you were singing them. It's a little hard to explain in a comment, but there's a great video on RUclips about this topic here: ruclips.net/video/m8GyEJf9wIk/видео.html Hope that helps! - Jeremy
I've been playing soprano since I was 14, at 40 I started on Alto and at 44 on Tenor, today I'm 47, and I play all three simultaneously. In the soprano, the air column has to be much bigger to sustain a note, so it is much more difficult, the tuning is also a bigger problem, and for that nothing better than a good saxophone, but above all the embouchure is very more difficult especially in the extreme regions, like the low notes and especially in the high ones, where the muscles of the embouchure have to be very well worked. For this nothing better than many scales and long notes. An excellent soprano performer in classical music is Jean Dennis Michat.
Hey! I want start to learn to play Saxophone, But i don't know where to start... I like the sound on Soprano Saxophone, but people said that Soprano Sax is hard... Should i choose Alto Sax or i can choose the Soprano?
Hey Rafie! It is easier to start on the alto, but if you’re really committed it’s totally possible to start on soprano - it’ll just be harder to play in tune. Check out Lesson 1 of the Beginner Series if you don’t know where to start! ruclips.net/video/HMleowiZhk8/видео.html
Hi Randy, you might find the neck with the slight curve in it (like the one I'm holding in the video) a little more natural than the fully straight neck, but in my experience the difference is pretty small. My soprano actually came with both kinds of necks, so you can swap them out as you like. The fully curved soprano just feels like playing a mini alto!
Ive been an alto sax player for 4 years now as a freshman in my school band. I am in the process of ordering one and i have a selmer seastar mouthpiece for my alto. Can i not use that mouthpiece on soprano?
Hi Ben! No, you’ll have to get a separate soprano mouthpiece, the alto mouthpiece won’t fit unfortunately. Personally I like the Selmer Concept mouthpiece for soprano (what I play in the video). Here is a link in case you’re interested: amzn.to/2QDeF6k
Hi I have an Alto which I havent picked up for 3 years now. I would like to learn Soprano . I know it's a mine field out there as far as mouthpiece go. But I have a Ammoon horn,I want to play Smooth Jazz . What mp would you recommend Me start on please. I dont want to go too cheap ,but not to expensive also. I'm looking for a warm sound. Thanks
Dude you’re from Boston aren’t you? As soon as I heard you stay the word started or as we like to spell it stahted that leads me to believe that you’ve spent some time in Boston.
Greetings sir, am a Boys Brigade member in Uganda requesting you to help buy me a used soprano sax.. it’ll help me play at gigs to cater for my Med school studies
It’s been a while so maybe you already got an answer - but volume in this case doesn’t matter as much as decibel level. And these instruments were MADE for decibels. I live in a condo, and one day my neighbor on the floor above stopped me and told me he thought my playing was really nice. I never, ever play loudly in my house... That being said, you can muffle a soprano more easily than the other saxes by pushing the bell into a blanket or closet full of clothes. They can’t be muted like a trumpet - sound escapes the sax from open keys as well as the bell. You can buy a type of mute that encloses an alto, but I don’t think they make them for soprano. Or you can buy an (expensive) home practice booth or build your own. A. Sax just made these things to be heard!
I've been playin the alto sax for 2 years. I am nearly playin 20-25 different songs with few mistakes in most of them. I just bought a new soprano sax and going to start it this week. Is it gonna be so different? And would it be difficult to adapt? Love your videos by the way.
Hey Cemil! The hardest thing will be getting used to the embouchure and being able to play in tune, it's more sensitive than the alto. The next video I make will be on this very topic so stay tuned 😊
Sorry but for me the easiest sax to play is soprano.I started with an Aerophone than a soprano than an alto than a tenor.Mostly I used alto on stage.But now a days I returned to soprano ,It is still easy for me for ergonomics and better in tune.Maybe it is about my embochure but as a result soprano is the easiest sax I have played
Hey Heidi, the soprano sax mouthpiece is similar size to the clarinet and the fingerings are the same as tenor, so I’d say you’ll pick it up pretty quickly 😊
Hey Daniel! The embouchure is quite different to the recorder (because you're dealing with the reed), but the fingering is almost identical. So there'll be a bit of a learning curve, but you'll have a big head start 👍
Thank you for the introduction. I'm interested in soprano sax, however a bit overwhelmed with the brands. Do you have any recommended affordable brands for beginners?
I have been playing for 5 months I can suggest get a cheap sax with an expensive mouthpiece and try plasticover 2.5 reeds.what I learned in 5 months is listen and watch branford marsalis and observe the embochure .he is the best teacher.tight your lips and blow.it is hard but practice make difference
Hi Guntur! It's difficult to find beginner sopranos from reputable brands because most of them start at the intermediate / professional level, but I would look at the Keilwerth SX90 / ST90 - I think they are great value for money. Hope that helps 👍
After messing with various plastic reeds, I think it's best to go with traditional cane reeds. As everyone knows they have a life. They start out stiff. Break in and play great for a while and then become too soft. You have to have several reeds you are working with. The plastic reeds can seem good at first but they breakdown too and are quite expensive. I find cane reeds more forgiving in the long run.
I have been wanting to know about the soprano reed strengths and mouthpieces. I have been playing saxophone for about 1 and a half years, started on alto and I really want a soprano next year as I love the sound you can get from it. I currently play legere Signature 2.25 reeds with a Selmer S80 C** on my alto. If I got a soprano sax with the equivalent S80 C** soprano mouthpiece, would I need equivalent strength reeds to use on it? I looked at the Legere reed chart and their signature soprano reeds start a 2.0 which is between a 2.5 and 2.75 on alto, strengths I can't yet play on my alto and was wanting to know if th 2.0 reed would be too hard or not for me to play on or are the reed strengths different with a soprano sax? For a while I tried Legere Studio alto and then tenor reeds as I read that some alto players use tenor reeds for a bigger, more tenor like sound. With those I could play on a 2.25 alto reed but I had to go up to a 2.5 for the tenor reed as I found 2.25 a bit soft even though the reed chart says the equivalent tenor reed is a 2.25, despite the 2.5 feeling slightly softer than the 2.25 alto reed but the equivalent would be playing the tenor reed on a tenor sax, not an alto. When you mentioned bending notes on soprano easily, I noticed the same thing when I tried tenor reeds. It was easy to keep my alto in tune, but almost as easy to bend the note out of tune so had to be a bit firmer with my embouchure to keep my tuning in check.
Hey Dave! Unfortunately there's no real way of knowing until you get the soprano and try out a few reed sizes for yourself. It might be a good idea to get some Vandoren or Rico (D'Addario) reeds first and try a couple of sizes out before committing to the Legere, as I know there'll a bit more expensive (but will hopefully save you money in the long run.) As far as mouthpieces go, I really like the Selmer Paris Concept mouthpiece on soprano, as it's slightly larger and feels a bit more like an alto mouthpiece. It also rounds out the tone a little bit and takes some of the edge off, which is more of a personal preference. Let me know how you go! - Jeremy
I'm pretty new to soprano, only a few months of serious playing, and still have trouble just holding the thing and hitting notes higher than the high D. I play a 1 piece straight soprano and my thumb and shoulder are always sore after playing. Any tips for how to hold the horn without having this issue. Also any tips for how to hit those high notes? On tenor and alto, everything up and down those horns I can hit with ease but high notes on soprano are nearly impossible for me atm.
Hi Isabella! Yes it is a bit more difficult to play, mainly just getting used to the embouchure and tuning. All of the fingerings and techniques are the same though, so that's definitely a plus. The fact you've already started on tenor is a big advantage :)
Isabella Kloss the embouchure is different on soprano.... look into that on RUclips it’ll really help you transition (coming from someone who switched from tenor)
@@TitoSilversax thanks:) I want to stick with tenor as my main because I could never give it up I love it too much but I think soprano would be so cool to try!
Isabella Kloss yeah I understand. Embouchure is handled a little different on soprano so when you try it research how to do it. Soprano mouthpiece is way smaller so there’s a different approach, just for reference
Hi Robert - yes, some saxophones come equipped with a High F# key, which technically adds one extra note on the high register of the saxophone, although there's also an alternative fingering for it which you can use if you don't have that key on your saxophone. It's a nice thing to have, but it isn't a 'make or break' feature in my opinion :)
😍The soprano is beautiful, isn't it? If you want to learn the soprano sax (or any sax for that matter!), check out the SaxTuition Beginner Series course - available here: www.saxtuition.com/beginner-series
I am 12 and i play Soprano Sax. And At last someone talks about Soprano. I have played it for 5 years now. And i just at the 3rd year started to get the real Soprano sound. I'm so Happy. Soprano Sax ir like A drug for me love it. And knowing how to play it its realy easy to play other Sax. Like tennor. I realy love it. And i started or Soprano from year 1. Im proud that someone talks about it. I usualy play romantic or jazzy songs on it coz im A romantic.❤️
Awesome Ance! Great to hear a young musician doing so well with the soprano 🙌
Soprano curved is a sax with small size, so that you can be able to play it of you are early age.
attention Ance ! il N'EXISTE PAS DE VRAIE SONORITE D'UN SAXOPHONE ......ce n'est qu'une simple convention imposée par les musiciens classiques et n'a aucune véritable valeur . Le vrai son est celui que tu préfères . Le mien , c'est celui de Sidney Bechet...le tien sera peut-être celui de Kenny G , par exemple , et que moi je déteste , hahaha !!! Nous avons tous nos préférences personnelles et il serait idiot de ne pas en tenir compte . Si c'est le son du soprano classique que tu préfères , joue avec le son classique , c'est ton choix . Cependant , si tu es un romantique , ce n'est sans doute pas le son qui te convient le mieux........CHERCHE-LE ET TU LE TROUVERAS , BONNE CHANCE !
Tenor*
Same!! I started learning the embouchure at 5 1/2 years old but I left it for 2 years and in 1 year I gained back everything I lost and much more
I played alto sax in middle school, but have always had an interest in soprano sax, not because of Kenny G, but because I've always enjoyed the higher sounds. Even though it may have a different sound than the trumpet, a soprano sax player could always play the trumpet score if they wanted to without having to transpose.
Love my Soprano so much. It lends itself extremely well to Arabic music btw. Sax in general does, very underrated.
After a 55 year hiatus, I decided to start playing music again. I was a Flutist in an earlier life, but I've always loved the sound of the Soprano. I've struggled with my embouchure with the Soprano as well as playing in tune in the early stages and after watching your video I understand why. Also playing a reed instrument is new ground because while a Flute is a woodwind, it doesn't use a reed, so that is also a challenge. But I'm determine to persevere.
i started as an alto payer in 6th grade and switched to tenor in 7th grade. I still play it now, but the high school I go to has a soprano, and i really enjoy playing it. not sure if i'll get any parts with it, but it is very enjoyable.
Soprano sax is growing in popularity in marching bands. In Kentucky, most medium to large bands have a soprano sax soloist. Im a freshman and I played soprano the whole show.
ici , en Europe occidentale , grâce à l'énorme succès remporté par Sidney Bechet dans les années 60 en France , le sax soprano est très à l'honneur et compte beaucoup d'amateurs . Sa popularité ne baisse pas , au contraire !!
i’ve never seen a song with a soprano sax part so what part do you play.....
you are 100 percent correct. i use my soprano for my Bb horn, i am a bari player. spent 4 summers playing 2nd clarinet parts in a community band to learn to play soprano.
You play with a rare tone and sensitivity that does the instrument proud and you highlight the real challenge of the embrochure. Thank you.
I love the sound of this instrument whenever I’ve heard it play by professionals I’m a clarinetist and that background is helping me learn it! It’s a lot of fun
I always have loved listening to saxophone by JAN GARBAREK concerts and albums for last 35 years. He plays both alto and soprano but specialises in soprano. Now at the age 57 I have started learning alto sax and within few months I am quite comfortable as I am having the right teacher and lotta 2+2 hours practice each day with my background of everyday piano lessons for about one year in my youth. But still I innately long for soprano to play. Your video has stamped positively for my longing.
Thank you so much.
I've been playing soprano since I was 14, at 40 I started on Alto and at 44 on Tenor, today I'm 47, and I play all three simultaneously.
In the soprano, the air column has to be much bigger to sustain a note, so it is much more difficult, the tuning is also a bigger problem, and for that nothing better than a good saxophone, but above all the embouchure is very more difficult especially in the extreme regions, like the low notes and especially in the high ones, where the muscles of the embouchure have to be very well worked.
For this nothing better than many scales and long notes.
An excellent soprano performer in classical music is Jean Dennis Michat.
In the first 2 seconds, I was completely filled with joy. I clicked like and subscribe before even watching the video. Now I gotta watch the video.
Even though the alto and soprano saxophones share the same fingering chart, they are two different instruments. That is, the embouchures are quite different between the two. I've played the alto saxophone for many years before I started to play the soprano sax. It took several months for me to get proficient with the soprano sax, especially playing in the lower register. For several weeks, my soprano sax sounded like a moose, a goose and a party favor.
The soprano sax is quite heavy too. With my alto sax, I can rest the bell between my legs for comfort when playing. I don't have that option with the soprano sax. I much rather play my alto saxophone. On the other hand, it only took me a day or two to segue into the flugelhorn from the Bb trumpet. They, too, both share the same fingering chart. 😊🎵🎺🎷
We bought my new soprano sax only yesterday!! So excited, can't wait to get started playing it!!
I’ve been playing the Soprano since the 1970’s, and the love affair is still going hot and heavy. In so much the i bought a Curved Soprano, it’s dream to play. One thing that I’ve learned is that the Palm Keys on my straight Soprano are more difficult to operate, than the Palm keys on my Curved Soprano.
Oh yeah, my inspiration came from Ronnie Laws and Jay Beckenstein. Kenny G is very talented, but like you I just like his sound.
This was very helpful. I played alto and tenor in my youth. Now my 11 year old wants to play a saxophone in school band next year. You ate in agreement with pretty much every other person with a video about the Soprano sax. I appreciate, not only that you talked about the Soprano, but you're honesty. Thank you
I agree with your assessment of the soprano sax. I got my first one after about 8 years of playing alto and tenor sax. It is challenging to play well, the high notes go out of tune easily, and the low notes are hard to play with good tone. I prefer tenor, but I still pick up the soprano on occasion. A beginner would find alto or tenor quite a bit easier.
One of my favourite bands from way back in the day used soprano saxophone a lot. This was a jazz fusion band called Soft Machine. I love them but I think most people wouldn’t. 😃
Absolutely spot on. I bought a Sop 2 yrs ago. After 1 yr a colleague said his band was looking for a replacement Clari/Tenor player (divorce probs) so I took it along. It's a tin Clari, right? No, wrong! It sounded awful with the Trumpet lead. Embarrassing disaster. Tuning has never been a problem with me but it clashed pitch-wise. Following week I took the Tenor. So you are right, it is a SOLO instrument.
I actually do like Kenny G but that's because thats the kind of music my dad played when I was little. Now that I'm older I have grown to appreciate John Coltrane (which is completely different in style). I think there is a time and place for both . I used to play clarinet but have always wanted to try soprano sax. I also play guitar, bass and piano. Always eager to learn new instruments. Let's go.. love your YT channel
I am a classical organist. The soprano saxophone is the only saxophone that really appeals to me, but I find its sound to be quite magical. Thanks for your fine video.
As a Tenor player, I started playing soprano on 2017 and it got me a lot of different opportunities than tenor. It was a little harder to re-learn how to tune again, it's a very important thing to take on mind, but then all was perfect. Traveling I was able to practice tenor tunes on soprano and realizing than it's such a different thing. Here in Chile, Soprano sax is very related (? sorry about my english) to folk music and i'm actually on a latin american kind of orchestra.
By my tenor tradition of jazz, its difficult to me to get out of Sidney Bechet or not falling in the free ways of 60s with, Shorter for example (and I don't like so much MFT of Coltrane), so I'm still looking for that hard bop soprano sax music but that, i'll keep looking.
It's great to watch this video from who loves soprano as an interesting kind of sax that is very capable as the others on the family.
Hope this redaction is undestable.
Greetings from Calama, Chile.
Great video!! As Steve Lacy said it’s interesting how many timbres the soprano saxophone can emulate: the trumpet, flute , oboe.. etc. Also, you can play quarter tones on the saxophone and eastern music sounds awesome on the soprano with these techniques. You can also use extended techniques like flutter tongue alongside non-standard fingerings and truly it’s endless the colors achievable on soprano.
Check Sam Newsome for recordings on these... hrs awesome soprano only sax player.
Thank you for the comment man! Just checked out Sam Newsome.. Wow! Very hip! Got some Rahsaan Roland Kirk vibes.. Fantastic recommendation, thank you!
I mentioned Steve Lacy never thinking a young person would know him. Then, I saw your post. I went through a Steve Lacy period about 10 years ago and now I’m going to go find some of those references that you mentioned in print. I just got a “new” 1925 Conn and it’s puppy love. Thanks for your comment.
@@robkunkel8833 Steve Lacy’s book “findings” is where that’s from FYI! Congrats on your vintage horn!! I recently purchased a 1927 Pierret soprano that’s just pure silk toned. Take care
I love your positive attitude! Thanks for sparking my interest in the instrument.
Oh shoot at first glance I thought you were Seth McFarlane 😅
Anyways, nice video mate 😁
Well man, you are going to be the guilty when l buy my very first saxophone. THANKS. BLESSINGS
Thanks for the guide on the soprano. Coming from a background of playing several wind instruments, clarinet, harmonica, shakuhachi, contemplating the soprano sax. I am already used to listening carefully for pitch when playing my violin or shakuhachi. What I like about the harmonica and violin, is the ability to bend the pitch, which gets me thinking, soprano would be perfect for? Jazz and writing my own compositions is my happy place. Your thoughts?
I can play the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone. I never tried a soprano saxophone sadly yet.
Listen to Branford Marsalis' playing on Dream of the Blue Turtles (String solo album) and you will fall in love with the sound of soprano sax. He captured the feeling of joy so perfectly, it is impossible to not love. For that reason alone, I'm going to give it a try.
I really loved this video and I am a saxophonist and I play Tenor and Alto and yesterday bought a Soprano and yes I love it..,
That’s fantastic Veronica! I’m glad you enjoyed the video and good luck with the soprano, it really is a lot of fun to play isn’t it 😊
Oh it is and I am loving Il Silenzio, you should play it too 👌😊
If you want to play soprano, just get one. I would stay away from the curved ones unless they are top of the line.
Next year I'm going to try out for a alto sax😁
Wow, that was very informative! And your presentation was superb as well! Thank you!
I love it! I played clarinet and tenor in college but I've really been enjoying working on soprano here at home and would love to write some solo tunes.
Excellent thoughts. I ordered a Roy Benson soprano saxophone today. I hope it's a good instrument.
Hi! Thank you for your video. I've been playing the alto on and off since primary school and I've been getting back into it in uni. I don't really play in ensembles or anything anymore (probably can't keep up either haha), so I've been looking at getting a soprano to play some solo pieces.
I was a trumpet player in the US Army band, I dabbled in Alto sax years ago but decided to take a huge plunge. My soprano sax arrived today...god help me LOL
How is it going? I would like to get a soprano but only recently re-started after 35 years. Maybe a little later.
I liked start with soprano is possible? Or very hard? thanks
Nice presentation thanks 👍😎
Thanks for watching!
I was put on alto saxophone and learnt from scratch and I’m about to get me another one. I regret selling mine.
*Soprano sax isn't Doubler for Marion Meadows, but his main instrument, my mines as well*
I want to buy that saxophone. I love Kenny G music.
As a flute player I suspect I'd have less difficulty with embouchure and air support. I don't play sax, would like to, and really like the soprano... Oh so tempted!
You won’t regret it Bruce!
From my perspective, flute and sax are very different. Maybe the flute experience would help but the two obviously blow very differently. You have to develop your embouchure for soprano. Flute is more turning the air hole as far as I can tell. I don't play the flute, but have tried to blow it.
Flute player and same, but I'm a teenager and my parents likely won't let me play another instrument :grinning_face_with_sweat:
The sax and flute have pretty similar fingering at least.
Wonderful introduction to this instrument. Actually there are a view classical pieces, like Harrison Birtwistles The Triumph of Time, which use it quite effectively in the orchestra. There are also some nice melodic Soprano Sax parts in Taro Iwashiros score to Sinking of Japan.
Love the look and the sound am a clarinet player thinking of trying the soprano sax what do you think
Just get one. Sax is way easier than clarinet.
Beautiful information
The curved soprano also have a little bit of a warmer tone, at least I think so but it could just be the way the sound hits your ears instead of it going towards the ground you know. I have a curve soprano so maybe I'm biased lol
Love soprano saxophone
My favorite instrument ❤️
I have a clarinets and are thinking to go to a soprano would it still be kinda of easy
No
I love how you approach the Kenny G question. Funny, how little Soprano professional music was out there for the 25 years between Sidney Bechet and Kenny G. I see Mr. Lucet mentioned Steve Lacy. For many years in a row (circa 60s) Lacey won the Downbeat Best Soprano Sax award. That was far out music and he wrote a lot about music. I like your style. I subscribed!
Kenny G is the most financially successful instrumentalist on the planet. People make fun of him, but he's laughing all the way to the bank.
It's funny I've seen tons of altos at my local jazz club and some tenors but I've never seen a soprano. I've decided I've done all I want to do on trumpet and am learning clarinet, and in the future want to get a soprano because ... I guess I'm just a Bb kind of guy!
You can use all your trumpet music with the soprano.
Hi There is a guy who plays Soprano here on youtube. Sorry I cant remember his name . But if you put in Soprano My Love and I, youll find him. Its the most lovely tune ive heard on Soprano.
Soprano B flat clatinet. The soprano sax is also pitched in B flat. I'm a clarinet player
That was great but sir i find it difficult to play my supremo saxophone i don't know if it's from my mouthpieces.
I have experience with alto and tenor sax, as well as clarinet, oboe, English horn, and bassoon. However, after hearing a sax quartet arrangement of the Presto from Vivaldi’s storm, I want to pick up the soprano. How hard would it be to do that, given my other woodwind experience? Would it be easier or harder than usual?
Dustin, if you can play the oboe in tune, you won’t have any trouble at all with the soprano! 😂 Your experience with double reed instruments will give you a huge leg up since you understand how the pressure and shape of your embouchure can affect the pitch. Most beginners find it difficult to come to terms with the fine adjustments needed to play the instrument in tune when they’re trying to tackle everything else (fingering, tonguing etc) but you should be very well prepared. Best of luck!
Thanks!
I don't know what usual means but soprano is not as difficult as people claim. Maybe the horn they are playing has leaks. I tuned mine by glueing cork cresents in some of the lower larger tone holes. You have to have an instrument were the lowest fundamental C plays in tune. That's all pads closed. Some saxes don't.
"So, lets take a listen"
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Can you do video on your setup for recording soprano saxophone especially in this video
Hey David! I use a Shure Beta 98 clip on microphone, running into a Focusrite 2i2 audio interface. My camera is a Sony RX-100 mk 3. Hope that helps, I will certainly consider making a behind the scenes video in the future 👍
My favorite of all soprano sax players was George Howard. He some how took the sound to the next level.
Nice review of the soprano sax. Tell me, what is your opinion of the sopranino and the soprillo?
Hi Jay! Great question - I've never played them myself (actually never seen them played except for videos online) so I can't speak from personal experience. They are more in the realm of a 'novelty instrument' though due to their rarity.
Happy New Year to you it's my 1st time seeing a video and I find it very educational. I love the sound of your soprano saxophone I just would like to know the name brand you are using. I am in the market for buying one.
can't you attach an alto mouthpiece, some converter of sorts, altoish at one end, so as to avoid instability of intonation?
No unfortunately, such a thing doesn’t exist.. it’s better to just learn to play in tune through practice 👍
This man the bob ross of saxophone
I’ll start growing my hair out 😉
Perfect take!
If I’m a clarinet plater should I learn soprano sax 🧐
yep very true not easy to sound good .takes a lot of work .kgee inspired me ,discovered ,so many soprano musicians since then ,not your best sax to start on .
I love saxophone and would like to buy one Any recommendations ?
Hey Perrieux! Check out 2nd hand Yamaha saxes - they're quality instruments and very affordable. If you're looking for something brand new, the Jean-Paul AS-400 has excellent reviews and would also be a good starting point. Hope that helps!
oui / FAIS-TOI ACCOMPAGNER PAR UN PROFESSIONNEL OU UN BON SAXOPHONISTE QUE TU CONNAIS . Ne te laisse pas décourager par les prix énormes de certains instruments . C'est du snobisme pur et simple !!! Le mien est chinois et m'a coûté 350 euros . Il vaut bien les plus chers de chez nous et n'a toujours pas la moindre usure après 5 ans de pratique journalière.........
Hi. If you are young or small I think Alto. If you are a bigger guy the Tenor possibly a better choice - a bit heavier though. Go to a music shop and ask to try - you prob won't get a sound out - but see which size you like.
I started learning the soprano sax having learned to play the clarinet and flute. But I find it pretty hard to bend the tune.
What do you think about the soprano for klezmer? I played the alto in school and was thinking of getting back into music.
Great question! Obviously it would be non traditional, but I know a lot of sax players use the soprano as a substitute for the clarinet in a variety of different musical settings. They’re both pitched in Bb which also helps when it comes to reading the same sheet music.
It would kick ass for klezmer.
Hi there Jeremy, I'm new here and I'm very impressed by your highly informative video. Thank you very much! I've just got a brand new Trevor James straight soprano sax. My husband bought it for me as a Christmas present at highly a regarded music shop which is about 20 minutes away from us. I've been playing alto saxophone since 1982, and also play piano, church organ, flute and clarinet. My hubby and I are very involved in our local parish church, and I help to lead the worship, usually on piano and organ, but also occasionally on flute. I'm planning to get the saxophones going with our music group in the New Year which will be so exciting!!!!!! Looking forward to getting started, but my husband says of course that I have to wait until Christmas Day!!!! Do you have a beginner's course for soprano? That would be very helpful please. Thank you very much! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Hi Carolyn, that’s very exciting! The Beginner Series isn’t specifically for the soprano but is intended for all saxophones. Good luck on soprano, it’s a lot of fun! You might find this video useful after you begin: ruclips.net/video/7NcsuplhpzA/видео.html
Great video, thank you.
It was definitely enlightening to the difficulties which I'll be facing.
I'm a classical musician and I play bassoon, would you have any advice that you'd be able to suggest?
Keep up the awesome videos, I really enjoy watching.
Hey Gordon, as a bassoonist I’d say you’re exceptionally well prepared for soprano saxophone! I’m in awe of double reed players 👍
The embouchure will be a bit different, rather than the “double embouchure” you’re used to you’ll need to release the top lip a bit and most likely relax the bottom jaw slightly. Let me know how you go! - Jeremy
I have a soprano. I was advised to buy a tenor which I did, but regretted it. Just get a soprano. It's not as hard as people claim. You have to find the right mouthpiece and reeds. I think a lot of the sax tone comes from within your own mouth cavity.
Just bought a soprano as my first sax so will this help me if I purchase like if the tenor is the sound of the recording will it sound similar playing the soprano to follow along
Yes, the tenor and soprano are in the same key, but the soprano is higher (separated by an octave). You can still use the tenor demo tracks to play along with :)
Thanks!
Thanks a lot Daniel! You’re actually my first super thanks ever 🌟
I'm an adult multi-instrumentalist and I can play OK clarinet. Should I start with an alto sax, or should I go straight for soprano? (soprano is what I'm really interested in playing)
Hi Aaron! Alto will still be easier for you in terms of embouchure (as it is for everyone) but if you’ve already got some experience on the clarinet you should be in a great position to start soprano.
@@SaxTuition Thanks for the advice! I got my golden clarinet today, a Yamaha YSS 475 II! In addition to actual clarinet, I've also been practicing on a Venova for a couple months, and the YSS 475 is actually much easier to play, so I was pleasantly surprised! My intonation isn't always perfect, but it's not bad (I think the 4C helps). I'm going for a tone that's a bit more in the classical direction---more pure and smooth. I put a Légère 3 on the C4 and I like the sound so far, but any thoughts you have about getting nice pure, round tones, I'd be eager to know. Also, is your sax course easily adaptable to sop? I guess it should be mostly the same, just the recorded pitches won't match (of course, if you have recordings with tenor, that could work...)
Let me know!
Glad you went straight to soprano.
I have a soprano saxophone, is there the same lessons and figuring for a alto or tenor saxophone?
Hey Anthony - yes all the techniques are the same across soprano, alto and tenor 👍
Should I switch to tenor, I found an aats 301 for 300 US dollars and really want to play it, should I switch, if so, how do I convince my parents to let me, as well, would you recommend that I play the aats 301 or a different beginner sax
Tenor is an amazing instrument, imo you should, about your parents tho, I have no idea
I have noticed that notes above a high D are so much more difficult on soprano than alto or tenor. Any tips on those upper notes? Thanks so much!
Yeah very good point! Basically it comes down to using your whole throat to voice the notes, as if you were singing them. It's a little hard to explain in a comment, but there's a great video on RUclips about this topic here: ruclips.net/video/m8GyEJf9wIk/видео.html
Hope that helps! - Jeremy
I've been playing soprano since I was 14, at 40 I started on Alto and at 44 on Tenor, today I'm 47, and I play all three simultaneously.
In the soprano, the air column has to be much bigger to sustain a note, so it is much more difficult, the tuning is also a bigger problem, and for that nothing better than a good saxophone, but above all the embouchure is very more difficult especially in the extreme regions, like the low notes and especially in the high ones, where the muscles of the embouchure have to be very well worked.
For this nothing better than many scales and long notes.
An excellent soprano performer in classical music is Jean Dennis Michat.
Hey! I want start to learn to play Saxophone, But i don't know where to start... I like the sound on Soprano Saxophone, but people said that Soprano Sax is hard...
Should i choose Alto Sax or i can choose the Soprano?
Hey Rafie! It is easier to start on the alto, but if you’re really committed it’s totally possible to start on soprano - it’ll just be harder to play in tune. Check out Lesson 1 of the Beginner Series if you don’t know where to start! ruclips.net/video/HMleowiZhk8/видео.html
Alto sax fits in nicely with other musos in the band. Personally I would go for that.
Nice video Sir - what model is that Soprano?
Hey Benjamin, it’s a Keilwerth ST 90 III
How about the straight neck over the curved. Is the straight neck harder to reach the high palm key notes??
Hi Randy, you might find the neck with the slight curve in it (like the one I'm holding in the video) a little more natural than the fully straight neck, but in my experience the difference is pretty small. My soprano actually came with both kinds of necks, so you can swap them out as you like. The fully curved soprano just feels like playing a mini alto!
Ive been an alto sax player for 4 years now as a freshman in my school band. I am in the process of ordering one and i have a selmer seastar mouthpiece for my alto. Can i not use that mouthpiece on soprano?
Hi Ben! No, you’ll have to get a separate soprano mouthpiece, the alto mouthpiece won’t fit unfortunately. Personally I like the Selmer Concept mouthpiece for soprano (what I play in the video). Here is a link in case you’re interested: amzn.to/2QDeF6k
Personal experience--get something other than the C*.
thanks alot
No worries! Thanks for watching.
excellent
Hi I have an Alto which I havent picked up for 3 years now. I would like to learn Soprano . I know it's a mine field out there as far as mouthpiece go. But I have a Ammoon horn,I want to play Smooth Jazz . What mp would you recommend Me start on please. I dont want to go too cheap ,but not to expensive also. I'm looking for a warm sound. Thanks
Hey there! Personally I would recommend the Selmer Paris Concept or a hard rubber Otto Link mpc. Good luck on soprano!
Legend Jezza!!!!!
Dude you’re from Boston aren’t you? As soon as I heard you stay the word started or as we like to spell it stahted that leads me to believe that you’ve spent some time in Boston.
Hello! I have recently started with alto sax and was wondering if I could alternate it with the soprano, learn both at the same time
Yes, but Alto is an Eb concert instrument and Soprano is Bb. Soprano more closely matches tenor.
@@JoeLinux2000 thanks
How loud is it compared to an Alto? I can play my flue or acoustic guitar, in my small apartment, no problem, but my Alto Sax is just too loud.
Greetings sir, am a Boys Brigade member in Uganda requesting you to help buy me a used soprano sax.. it’ll help me play at gigs to cater for my Med school studies
It’s been a while so maybe you already got an answer - but volume in this case doesn’t matter as much as decibel level. And these instruments were MADE for decibels. I live in a condo, and one day my neighbor on the floor above stopped me and told me he thought my playing was really nice. I never, ever play loudly in my house...
That being said, you can muffle a soprano more easily than the other saxes by pushing the bell into a blanket or closet full of clothes. They can’t be muted like a trumpet - sound escapes the sax from open keys as well as the bell. You can buy a type of mute that encloses an alto, but I don’t think they make them for soprano. Or you can buy an (expensive) home practice booth or build your own.
A. Sax just made these things to be heard!
I've been playin the alto sax for 2 years. I am nearly playin 20-25 different songs with few mistakes in most of them. I just bought a new soprano sax and going to start it this week. Is it gonna be so different? And would it be difficult to adapt? Love your videos by the way.
Hey Cemil! The hardest thing will be getting used to the embouchure and being able to play in tune, it's more sensitive than the alto. The next video I make will be on this very topic so stay tuned 😊
Sorry but for me the easiest sax to play is soprano.I started with an Aerophone than a soprano than an alto than a tenor.Mostly I used alto on stage.But now a days I returned to soprano ,It is still easy for me for ergonomics and better in tune.Maybe it is about my embochure but as a result soprano is the easiest sax I have played
hi, i play clarinet and started playing tenor sax a while ago. would soprano be hard to learn?
Hey Heidi, the soprano sax mouthpiece is similar size to the clarinet and the fingerings are the same as tenor, so I’d say you’ll pick it up pretty quickly 😊
Very interesting video, but if I'm a recorder player, could I play it?
Hey Daniel! The embouchure is quite different to the recorder (because you're dealing with the reed), but the fingering is almost identical. So there'll be a bit of a learning curve, but you'll have a big head start 👍
I'd recommend getting a Nuvo Jsax which has a sop like embroucher and if you like it you can get a proper soprano sax
Thank you for the introduction. I'm interested in soprano sax, however a bit overwhelmed with the brands. Do you have any recommended affordable brands for beginners?
I have been playing for 5 months I can suggest get a cheap sax with an expensive mouthpiece and try plasticover 2.5 reeds.what I learned in 5 months is listen and watch branford marsalis and observe the embochure .he is the best teacher.tight your lips and blow.it is hard but practice make difference
Hi Guntur! It's difficult to find beginner sopranos from reputable brands because most of them start at the intermediate / professional level, but I would look at the Keilwerth SX90 / ST90 - I think they are great value for money. Hope that helps 👍
@@SaxTuition Hi... Thanks for your recommendation. I think it would not be difficult to find the brand here in the US. Good luck with your channel!!
After messing with various plastic reeds, I think it's best to go with traditional cane reeds. As everyone knows they have a life. They start out stiff. Break in and play great for a while and then become too soft. You have to have several reeds you are working with. The plastic reeds can seem good at first but they breakdown too and are quite expensive. I find cane reeds more forgiving in the long run.
Hey man! Great tone! What mp is that?
Thanks Mikey! It’s a Selmer Paris Concept 👍
I have been wanting to know about the soprano reed strengths and mouthpieces. I have been playing saxophone for about 1 and a half years, started on alto and I really want a soprano next year as I love the sound you can get from it.
I currently play legere Signature 2.25 reeds with a Selmer S80 C** on my alto. If I got a soprano sax with the equivalent S80 C** soprano mouthpiece, would I need equivalent strength reeds to use on it? I looked at the Legere reed chart and their signature soprano reeds start a 2.0 which is between a 2.5 and 2.75 on alto, strengths I can't yet play on my alto and was wanting to know if th 2.0 reed would be too hard or not for me to play on or are the reed strengths different with a soprano sax?
For a while I tried Legere Studio alto and then tenor reeds as I read that some alto players use tenor reeds for a bigger, more tenor like sound. With those I could play on a 2.25 alto reed but I had to go up to a 2.5 for the tenor reed as I found 2.25 a bit soft even though the reed chart says the equivalent tenor reed is a 2.25, despite the 2.5 feeling slightly softer than the 2.25 alto reed but the equivalent would be playing the tenor reed on a tenor sax, not an alto. When you mentioned bending notes on soprano easily, I noticed the same thing when I tried tenor reeds. It was easy to keep my alto in tune, but almost as easy to bend the note out of tune so had to be a bit firmer with my embouchure to keep my tuning in check.
Hey Dave! Unfortunately there's no real way of knowing until you get the soprano and try out a few reed sizes for yourself. It might be a good idea to get some Vandoren or Rico (D'Addario) reeds first and try a couple of sizes out before committing to the Legere, as I know there'll a bit more expensive (but will hopefully save you money in the long run.)
As far as mouthpieces go, I really like the Selmer Paris Concept mouthpiece on soprano, as it's slightly larger and feels a bit more like an alto mouthpiece. It also rounds out the tone a little bit and takes some of the edge off, which is more of a personal preference.
Let me know how you go! - Jeremy
Vandoren 2.5 for me. Less stiff won't last. You have to break in several reeds. Messing with plastic reeds is a waste of money from my experience.
I'm pretty new to soprano, only a few months of serious playing, and still have trouble just holding the thing and hitting notes higher than the high D. I play a 1 piece straight soprano and my thumb and shoulder are always sore after playing. Any tips for how to hold the horn without having this issue. Also any tips for how to hit those high notes? On tenor and alto, everything up and down those horns I can hit with ease but high notes on soprano are nearly impossible for me atm.
Get a good adjustable neck strap.
@@JoeLinux2000 Any suggestions as to which is good?
Which is more melodious, Alto sax or Soprano?
It's very subjective, so there's no right answer unfortunately! Have a listen to different examples of both :)
I play the tenor and I really want to start playing the soprano. what do you recommend and is it more difficult to play?
Hi Isabella! Yes it is a bit more difficult to play, mainly just getting used to the embouchure and tuning. All of the fingerings and techniques are the same though, so that's definitely a plus. The fact you've already started on tenor is a big advantage :)
Isabella Kloss the embouchure is different on soprano.... look into that on RUclips it’ll really help you transition (coming from someone who switched from tenor)
@@TitoSilversax thanks:) I want to stick with tenor as my main because I could never give it up I love it too much but I think soprano would be so cool to try!
Isabella Kloss yeah I understand. Embouchure is handled a little different on soprano so when you try it research how to do it. Soprano mouthpiece is way smaller so there’s a different approach, just for reference
Isabella Kloss try this; ruclips.net/video/m8GyEJf9wIk/видео.html
Kenny G is what I imagine Squidward would look like as a human
If the alto and tenor are more forgiving, isn’t it better to get a soprano so you become better.
Tell a little bit about the extra f key I think it is?
Hi Robert - yes, some saxophones come equipped with a High F# key, which technically adds one extra note on the high register of the saxophone, although there's also an alternative fingering for it which you can use if you don't have that key on your saxophone. It's a nice thing to have, but it isn't a 'make or break' feature in my opinion :)