Saxophone Comparison: Soprano vs. Alto vs. Tenor

I compare 3 of the main saxophones in the saxophone family: soprano, alto, and tenor. Which one do you like the best? Let me know in the comments!
Check out my soprano saxophone comparison video here: • Soprano Saxophone: Str...

[@hectorconcha]

Thanks so much! Congrats from Chile!

[@dustinhellen]

Thanks for watching!

[@queenbee7819]

Wow they all sound beautiful!

[@dustinhellen]

Thank you! But which one is your favorite?

[@maike-the-owl-is-dancing]

Hello from Germany 😊 I like the Tenor most. I don't play any Saxophon but will hopefully start learning it in September this year. Great video!

[@dustinhellen]

Thank you! It's great that you like the tenor the most. When you get a saxophone, I have a video on how to play the saxophone for beginners, so you should check that out too! Why is the tenor your favorite?

[@maike-the-owl-is-dancing]

@@dustinhellen I like the darker sound and my favourite Player is Junior Walker. My favourite Band is Tower of Power (maybe you know them), there are also 2 Tenor Players. They are awesome. I already watched them live last year and I'll do it again this year. And of course I'll watch your Sax starter video 😃🎷

[@dustinhellen]

@@maike-the-owl-is-dancing I have listened to a LOT of Tower of Power! They are a really tight band, and incredible horn section!

[@neromatilh8896]

I was thinking about start in the saxophone world, this helps a lot, thanks!!!

[@dustinhellen]

@@neromatilh8896 Glad it is useful to you! Let me know which saxophone you get if you get one!

[@almirahellen8153]

I think I’m going to start with Soprano sax! It’s so cute! 😊

[@dustinhellen]

Grabe! Start on alto or tenor first! 🤪

[@TexarJJF]

@@dustinhellen Unlike you might expect it is by far the most difficult while tuning is rather difficult

[@dustinhellen]

@@TexarJJF yes, tuning makes it the most difficult of the main 4, especially to start on.

[@TexarJJF]

Baritone Saxophones are in E Flat and not in B Flat

[@dustinhellen]

I did not say baritone saxophones are in Bb. I said they are in Eb, like the alto, when talking about the baritone saxophone. I said the baritone is in Bb (not baritone saxophone)which is a brass instrument. When I said the baritone is in Bb, I was referring to the baritone, a brass instrument, not the baritone saxophone.

[@TexarJJF]

@@dustinhellen soprano saxophones the highest pitch in the saxophone family? What about the less known "Sopranino Eb" saxophone?

[@dustinhellen]

@@TexarJJF I mentioned that the soprano is the highest of the main 4 saxophones (sop, alto, tenor, bari). The highest saxophone is the soprillo, which is even higher than the sopranino

[@zivraviv7378]

Soprano!

[@dustinhellen]

Yes! Why?

[@zivraviv7378]

@@dustinhellen The sound! I'm a flute player (manly), and also play the trumpet. Last year I decided to add Sax to my wind instruments. I chose the Soprano because I'm more attracted to its pitch, probably a natural choice to me as it has a similar range of the flute and trumpet. I was aware of the recommendation of better not starting on a Soprano. Nevertheless, I chose to start with it and have no regrets. As for tuning issues, at first I was using a lot a tuner. Now I trust more my ear. My conclusion is that for a first wind instrument, it's better to start with the Alto. However, if you are experienced with Winds, and you want the Soprano - don't hesitate.

[@dustinhellen]

@@zivraviv7378 Great comment! Yes I agree. When I mentioned to "not start on soprano", that's assuming you are new to the saxophone. With experience, you can start with soprano, but it is still difficult, and has a learning curve. You're like me...I prefer the higher pitched instruments, although I have recently been playing a little bari and I am starting to like it, which is dangerous. Bari is so expensive!

[@lanphanh]

Why written music is the problem? Would it not be using the concert songs and transpose 2 semitones down for Bb instruments or 3 semitones up for Eb instruments?

[@dustinhellen]

Yes, you can transpose concert pitch a major 2nd up (2 semitones) for soprano/tenor and a minor 3rd down (3 semitones) for alto/bari, but it is difficult for many people to do this instinctively while they read concert pitch. You see a concert F for example, and you have to think "G" and make sure you are in the right key while you play. I mentioned in the video that parts that are specifically written for soprano are sparse. This is why it is nice to play music written for other more common instruments in the key of Bb, like trumpet or clarinet, like I mentioned.

[@lanphanh]

@@dustinhellen Thanks, And sorry that I am just new to the sax world, and I learned that transpose for saxophone is a must, and I use musescore to transpose for the saxophones before I can play.

[@dustinhellen]

@@lanphanh No problem! Look on KZbin for songs you like that are written for saxophone. It will give you a backing track and the music on the screen already transposed for you so you can just play with it. For example, you can type something like "Careless Whisper tenor sax" and it will give you a few that have the sheet music with the backing track, already transposed for tenor.