Hi, I've looked around the forum a bit, and I see there's quite a lot of friction concerning which sax is best, but as I'd quite like having one, I thought I'd ask your opinions on which would be best for a new player. I already play a 'xaphoon' or 'pocket sax', which you can check out at www.xaphoon.com. Some of you may say that it's not a real sax, but it's given me an introduction to reed playing, whatever the case.

I was thinking I might get a clarinet instead, though. I'm not sure. At the moment, I play the guitar, bass, flute and xaphoon. I've heard that the fingerings for the flute and sax are very similar, so that would help me along with that aspect, wouldn't it?

What does anyone think?

Regards

Jack

well, i, the tenor sax player, would actually say start on alto.
the fingering for all saxes are the same except on saxes where there are extra keys and such on.
alto requires A LOT less air and its a good sax to begin on.
there you go, thats my 2 cents.
~Triforce

You are correct, there is some simalarity in the fingerings between sax and flute, but air and a reed are another issue. As Triforce said, start on alto. I would suggest renting, or if you are dedicated, buy one. Names to look for are Yamaha, Selmer, Yanigisawa, and Keilwerth, none of that Barrington or BandNow crap. Sax on the Web is a great place to look for saxophone advice. Good luck on the best instrument in the world!!!!!!!

Maybe you should try the soprano sax; the xaphoon looks like a small, wooden soprano. I don't play the soprano or the xaphoon, however, so I don't really know how that would work out. Just go with Triforce's idea...

Just out of curiousity, what color is your xaphoon??

Hey, thanks guys, I guess I'll go for the alto to start out on, then! And renting's a good idea, too, so I can give it a proper try out for a decent amount of time before buying one or something.

And I have the plain black plastic ones, though I'd really love a real bamboo one made by Brian Whitman. He seems like a cool guy.

Thanks for the advice!

Jack

I am a tenor sax player who started on clarinet. Clarinet was a good choice because it is slightly harder, making the sax seem much eisier to pick up. If you want a powerful sound, I would suggest tenor, but alto has more classical impliments. The soprano is actually my favorite, although they cost a lot more, even used ones. Bari is really cool if you play in a jazz band. You have to play out if you play the bari. The sax I play on is a Yamaha 62 if you want a suggested model. I play on a Dukoff mouthpiece. Best wishes!

Thats what i did! Learning clarinet first made sax seem much easier for me.

Excellent!

Hey i wouldn't buy a keilworth if i were u 'cause they started making them in china so they are really bad quality and break easily

Most Yamahas are still made in Japan, so I would get Yamaha...

I LOVE my Yamaha 62. It's da bomb!

Seriously, though, you can't go wrong with a Yamaha...

Um where is your information that Keilwerth is made in China, as far as I know and by just checking their website, they are still only manufactured in Germany. Honesty don't make comments about a company like that unless you know that it is absolutely true. If it is true I apologize but honestly I can't find it anywhere.

Back to topic:
Honestly if your starting on saxophone alto or tenor would work, I started on tenor then started playing alto in college. The question is what style of music do you prefer playing? Most associate classical with alto and jazz with tenor, but that is not always the case.

If you are really interested in playing, get together with a private teacher, I can't stress this enough.

Good Luck
CJ

They are probably just getting shipped from China, like on eBay or something, ive seen it a million times, and i look away in disgrace. (dont get me wrong, Chinas awesome, its just like somebody previously said low quality).

But its probably just cuz its off eBay.