I did it, got myself an alto saxophone!

[Toril S]

Hello friends!
For some time now I have been considering getting myself a saxophone. I really like the sound of tha instrument, and I need to do something totally different, try to learn a completely new instrument. I have never played a wind instrument apart from the recorder at school, and in later years, the melodica (also with keyboard keys!), and a little harmonica. So I plunged into it, purchased an alto saxophone, got myself a teacher, and my first lesson is tomorrow!!
The horn is really beautiful, and scary! And of cource it is a Yamaha!!
My goals:
1. Have fun.
2. Have fun.
3. Have fun.
4. Be able to play some simple songs.
5. Make some backing tracks on my keyboard, and play the sax some day at a gig, nothing very complex, just for fun and variety.

Please wish me luci friends

All the best from Toril. And I know, I know, I am crazy

[Ed B]

Hi Toril
Congratulations on the sax. Learning a new instrument is a good thing.
All the best
Ed B

[Divemaster]

Hi Toril

No, you're not crazy 😂

Enjoy your Saxophone 🎷
and as you say
Have Fun! That's what life's all about!

Keith

[Shubid]

I hope it will bring you hours of fun.
Would like one myself, but I live in an apartment with very thin walls. I seem to recall a thread where you had the same concern. Have you found a solution?

[mikf]

Many times I considered buying a sax, I think it's a great instrument, closest to a human voice, and I was told, the fingering is not that hard for a piano player to learn. But I always procrastinated, then dropped it. Have fun with it.
Mike

[Divemaster]

I hope it will bring you hours of fun.
Would like one myself, but I live in an apartment with very thin walls. I seem to recall a thread where you had the same concern. Have you found a solution?

https://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/winds/digital_wind_instruments/yds_series/index.html

No more excuses.... Go play!

[Bill]

Hi Toril

If I was not bald I would take my hat off to you.  Having fun is what it should be all about. Hope the lesson goes well, but be patient.

Bill

[Graham UK]

Toril S. Excellent choice...Once you can play the Sax means you will be able to also be able play Clarinet.

You can play your keyboard Styles by muting some style parts will leave you space to play Sax.

Also...Band In A Box (BIAB) is good for making quick backing tracks.

[Del]

Hi Toril
Congrats on getting a sax I always thought of learning the tenor sax and good you are having lessons from the start, have fun learning.

Toril S. Excellent choice...Once you can play the Sax means you will be able to also be able play Clarinet.

This is not the case Graham, the clarinet is harder. This is because the octave key takes you up an octave and a fifth, while on the sax, it is only one octave higher. The embouchure is also more important and harder to achieve and maintain on the clarinet. If you play Clarinet then the sax would be easier to play.

Del

[Ryszard Bieszczad]

Hi Toril
Congratulations on decision and I wish you a lot of joy to learn to play a saxophone.
See and listen to a woman from Korea playing a saxophone.
A few years ago, she learned to play this instrument.
Regards
Ryszard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS1KOUw4_3k

[Gleston]

Hi Toril

Have fun
HAve fun
HAve fun

and.... have fun again.

Congratulations

[RayClem]

I hope you enjoy the new sax. The alto version has a range that is quite suitable for both melody and harmony and improvisation.

I played alto sax back when I was in school, but sold it when I started high school. I traded it in on a guitar. You can be playing simple scales on the alto sax within a few minutes of picking it up, but mastering the instrument can last the rest of your life.

Saxophones have a lot of mechanical parts that need adjustment and replacement. I hope you have a good music store nearby that performs such services. Most saxes use leather pads to seal the keys. Over time, the leather loses its pliability, start to leak, and will need replacement.

[Toril S]

Thanks for the support everyone! It warms my heart! You are such good friends❤️ First lesson went well. Pictures fell of the walls and neighbours ran for cover😀😀😀 But my dog just looked at me and went back to sleep. She is used to me making strange sounds on various instruments.

[Joe H]

There are 2 instruments that are very expressive... almost as expressive as the human voice.  One is the saxophone and the other is the violin.

Both require a LOT of practice and a GOOD teacher.  I have Virtual Acoustic saxes and violin on the VL plug-in card installed in my Yamaha MU128 sound module.  I find it takes a lot of practice to get the techniques right to emulate the real instruments.  It's all in how we use the breath and pitch bend.

Good luck with learning a new instrument.

   

Joe H

[Toril S]

Yes, much to learn. I think the teacher is very good. Just have to be patient.

[Denn]

HelloToril, I obtained a sax long time ago. I replaced all the leathers and reed. BUT no one told me when you bit on the reed to play you have to have your lower lip in between your teeth and the reed. Took ages for my teeth to settle down   Have fun, it is so exciting for you.
Kind regards, Den.

[Oldden]

Slightly off key but, many years ago I had a friend who could play, and really play the clarinet. Well he gave me a go and after half an hour showing me what to do, I could make it go tweet or something sounding similar. Needless to say that was it.

[Toril S]

Had my third lesson yesterday. I am in for some resl hard time here, but love the challenge!

[ChrisH]

Awesome Toril

I always wanted to try a sax but chickened out so be proud and have fun ..I have been thru guitar and bass (and keyboard of course) and was delighted that someone actually had a Melodica!! I think I was 13 when I bought one (well my parents paid) and I even entered a talent show with it but didn't do very well. I think it was a Hohner !
We all are expecting a You Tube Video soon with you and your sax !!!

Chris

[Toril S]

Thanks😀 I have melodica too. A wonderful instrument.