I just got into jazz, I really want to play professionally someday (I`m a sophmore in high school). I play saxophone and i was wondering - is the tenor or alto better for jazz?

Either.

What`s the difference between the two?

Im 12 and have been playing jazz for 2 years on the alto. I found it easier to stick with the instrument I started on, the alto.So stick with what your playing, there all good.

I have been playing jazz for 2 years on the alto. I found it easier to stick with the instrument I started on, the alto.So stick with what your playing, there all good.

I have been playing jazz for 2 years on the alto, and I have found it easier to stick with the instrument I started on, the alto. So stick with what you know, its all good.

I suck and I furiously denie it, how do I get myself to tell myself I suck?

In reality out of all the saxes the alto is the worst for jazz, but that is what I started on (after clarinet) and so I kept with it. You can due some fun stuff on alto but I would pick tenor or bari over it, just because of cooler sounds. Tenor you can get the great laid back sound as well as good swing, on the bari you good the coolest of all the good old raspy sound that I love. But I would suggest, at least for now stick with what you play, don`t go switchin, switch later is you decide you want to.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??
The alto can make a great sound for jazz. Has anyone ever heard of Paul Desmond? Cannonball Adderley? Charlie Parker???? I mean the alto sax has made a big impression on jazz. The saxophone in itself is an incredibly versitile instrument. You can get almost any kind of sound you want. The tenor sax is in Bb, and the bari is an octave lower than the alto in Eb...just so you know

I agree with mojo in regards to the previous post - WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?? The alto definitely has its place in jazz, as well as the tenor and the soprano. The baritone sax is mainly used in big band arrangements and less often as a solo/lead instrument.

Like everyone said - stick with the sax you`re with right now, you`ll eventually find your place in jazz or whatever style of music you`re into. It`s not too hard to pick up another sax-type later once you get proficient on your current sax.

Alto saxes are good for soloes and melody. Most of the time tenors are also but they are harder to play because they are big. I play tenor though

Like a fellow student of sax of across the ocean I advise you to begin your study with the alto just because is easier to learn, but the true and more personal solo jazz cames from the tenor, and the most sentimental and the most powerfull sax player Jonh Coltrane chose the tenor. And after dominated that two types of sax why not try to play soprano sax? Althougt a sax player have to handle whole family of saxs...

neither one of the two alto and tenor, neither is more suited for it becuase if you look in the psat all the big names and the big names now they all balance out to about the same, i guess back in those days though the school had an alto and a tenor one kid got one another got the tenor so i think like through all the greats if you tallyed them up it would equal pretty close to the same, now as for old rock music tenor takes the cake, but were not on that subject right now.

I am a professional Lead Guitarist and Sax player.I have found that the Soprano is the best for Jazz.It has the best tone and is by far the best..

Tenor is better. I play alto in Jazz because my teacher wont let me my tenor.