Alto Vs Tenor Case Study
People often find themselves listening to music. Many children also find themselves given the opportunity to play such music. When introduced the musical field, one is also introduced to a myriad of instruments. Most of them look completely different, but the saxophones of the woodwind family couldn’t look more alike. One could barely tell the difference between the Alto and the Tenor, the most common of the family. When deciding which to play, it may be hard to decide because of the lack of differences. Although, if one were to choose between the two, he may want to take into consideration the following aspects: size, sound and appearance. The Alto is the smaller of the two instruments. It has an average length of 25.2 inches. This number
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The Alto’s sound ranges from a high F sharp to a low B flat, while the Tenor’s sound ranges from a high F to a low B flat. Though these notes look the same on the staff, they sound nothing alike. Because of the instrument’s size difference, they are keyed in a different pitch. Consequently, this means that in order for their notes to sound similar, to not clash, the tenor has to play 5 half steps above the Alto’s note. For instance, if the alto was playing a G scale, the Tenor would have to play a C scale, so there would be no tension between the two instruments. Along with sound, the Alto produces a high pitched note, which may give off a joyous sound compared to the Tenor, whose sound is lower and gives a lethargic, fuller feel. Appearance wise, besides size, there are only small differences. The Tenor’s gooseneck is curved, while the Alto’s is completely straight. Along with this, the Tenor has a small bend before the gooseneck leads into the mouthpiece, where the Alto’s gooseneck leads straight into the mouthpiece. Other small details include the size difference in the reeds, mouthpiece and ligature. In conclusion, the Alto and the Tenor share many traits. Nevertheless, there are still many differences one could use to distinguish the two of them. If one ever finds himself staring between the two saxophones, deciding which to play, it might be beneficial to contemplate the following
The Alto’s sound ranges from a high F sharp to a low B flat, while the Tenor’s sound ranges from a high F to a low B flat. Though these notes look the same on the staff, they sound nothing alike. Because of the instrument’s size difference, they are keyed in a different pitch. Consequently, this means that in order for their notes to sound similar, to not clash, the tenor has to play 5 half steps above the Alto’s note. For instance, if the alto was playing a G scale, the Tenor would have to play a C scale, so there would be no tension between the two instruments. Along with sound, the Alto produces a high pitched note, which may give off a joyous sound compared to the Tenor, whose sound is lower and gives a lethargic, fuller feel. Appearance wise, besides size, there are only small differences. The Tenor’s gooseneck is curved, while the Alto’s is completely straight. Along with this, the Tenor has a small bend before the gooseneck leads into the mouthpiece, where the Alto’s gooseneck leads straight into the mouthpiece. Other small details include the size difference in the reeds, mouthpiece and ligature. In conclusion, the Alto and the Tenor share many traits. Nevertheless, there are still many differences one could use to distinguish the two of them. If one ever finds himself staring between the two saxophones, deciding which to play, it might be beneficial to contemplate the following