The player needs to create a circle around the mouthpiece, keeping the muscles looser than for the clarinet embouchure. This is easier to achieve and maintain. Because the saxophone is modeled after woodwind instruments, the fingerings are nearly the same as the clarinet. However, the saxophone changes register at the octave , so the fingerings are the same for the both of the main registers.
In contrast, the register change for the clarinet comes at the 12th , so there are more fingerings to learn for the two main registers. As mentioned above, to produce a good sound, the embouchure must be much firmer for the clarinet than the saxophone. So it can be more difficult to create a quality sound on the clarinet. Squeaks generally happen due to an unsteady embouchure or incorrect fingerings. Producing sound for the low notes is more challenging on the saxophone.
It can take time to develop the skill needed to produce the low notes and make them sound good. Fingerings for the clarinet are considered to be more difficult because the instrument has open holes , whereas the saxophone has keys to close the holes. Fingering an open hole instrument like the clarinet means the player must be very precise in where each finger is placed in order to seal the hole. The saxophone has a smaller range than the clarinet.
The high school range for alto saxophone is concert Db3 to Ab5 or A5 if the instrument has an F key , while the range for the Bb clarinet is concert D3 to F6. As discussed earlier, there are fewer fingerings to learn on the saxophone because the fingerings basically repeat in the second register. All you need to do is add the octave key to the same lower register fingering.
Crossing the break between registers on the clarinet can be difficult for learners. It involves moving from a fingering which opens all of the holes to a fingering which closes almost all of the holes. The clarinet is also different acoustically because it is basically cylindrical whereas the saxophone is conical.
Fingering the low notes can be a challenge on the saxophone because the keys are harder for the pinkies to push down. On the clarinet, the keys are fairly small and easy to press down, while on the saxophone the large key mechanism can be unwieldy.
Hence, hitting the lowest notes can be hard, particularly for a small-handed player. Playing in tune can be challenging on both instruments. The mouthpiece also plays a part in intonation. On the clarinet, the barrel is also important. Just like all instruments, the clarinet and the saxophone have their own individual pitch tendencies.
These can be adjusted in a number of ways, including breath support, embouchure and alternate fingerings. These types of adjustments require that the player develop a good ear for intonation. Is it comfortable to hold and to play? The best way to decide which instrument is the right choice is to go to a shop and try some out—especially if one wants to experiment with how an instrument sounds and feels.
Here are some other points to consider:. You must be logged in to post a comment. Log in Remember me. Lost your password? Saxophones have larger mouthpieces and reeds, so less of this pressure is required, and more embouchure flexibility is necessary to play the instrument well.
On clarinet, the embouchure should stay basically unchanged, whether the notes are high or low in register, which is one of the aspects that makes playing clarinet unique.
This can be more difficult for beginners, but is easily mastered over time. Likewise, saxophonists learn a basic embouchure, and then gradually learn the flexibility needed to master their instruments. More information about the two types of embouchures can be found here.
The Eb clarinet is an Eb instrument. Music for the Eb clarinet is written a minor 3rd above the written pitch. The Bb clarinet is a Bb instrument. Music for the Bb clarinet is written a major second higher from concert pitch. The Bb clarinet's range starts at E3 and goes to G6. The A clarinet has the same range as the Bb clarinet, but the A clarinet sounds a whole step lower. The bass clarinet is in the key of Bb. Music for the bass clarinet is written a major second higher from concert pitch.
The bass clarinet's range starts at Eb3 and ends at G6. I started playing the tenor saxophone in my senior year of high school. My high school had a great jazz program that I wanted to be a part of. I could have played the clarinet and read the tenor saxophone music, but I wanted to experience playing a new instrument. The transition from clarinet to saxophone was not difficult in regards to fingerings. The hardest transition was going back and forth between clarinet embouchure and saxophone embouchure.
The clarinet's embouchure is much more firm and tight, whereas the saxophone's embouchure is quite loose. To form a saxophone embouchure, make an O shape with your mouth and then pinch the corners of your mouth inward. With clarinet, we want our embouchure to be very condensed. With saxophone, our embouchure is long and open.
If saxophone embouchure is condensed, chances are the pitch will become sharp and thin. Since the reed is horizontally angled in our mouth, condensing our embouchure will pinch the reed against the mouthpiece. Because the mouthpieces are angled differently in the mouth, the voicing for the clarinet and the saxophone are vastly different. For the clarinet, the position of the throat changes depending on which register is being played. For the low register, the throat should be open as if you were saying "oh".
As you start playing higher, the throat should change from the "oh" shape to a "hee" shape. In other words, the back of the tongue should be getting higher. For the saxophone, the throat should remain open. An open throat allows all of the air from your diaphragm to travel into the mouthpiece. As you start playing higher on the saxophone, the throat should remain open.
The holding position for the saxophone is different than the clarinet. The clarinets, except for the contrabass clarinet, is held between the legs. The saxophones are most commonly held to the right of the player. The alto saxophone can be held either between the legs or to the right side of the player, depending on the comfort level.
The rest of the saxophones must be held to the right side of the player, due to their large size. The coloristic effects that the saxophone uses in music are vibrato, growling, slap or smack tonguing, and bending notes. The clarinet has fewer colorist effects than the saxophone.
The clarinet utilizes glissandi, bending notes, and vibrato. Clarinet vibrato is most commonly only heard in jazz music. Maintenance for the clarinet and the saxophone are very similar. Both instruments should be swabbed out after each time it is played.
Swabs with bristles should not be used to clean out the inside of both instruments because it could potentially scratch the insides. The clarinet and saxophone mouthpiece should be cleaned about every month or so. Sticky pads on both the clarinet and the saxophone can be cleaned with ungummed cigarette paper. To do so, place the cigarette paper under the pad and press the key down until the pad touches the tone hole.
Gently pull the cigarette paper out. Repeat this process until the pad is no longer sticky. Of course, this solution can only help the pads for so long. Pads will wear out and will need replacing by a music technician. It is helpful to have a small jewelry screwdriver in your case for when screws are loose or fall out. If specific screws consistently become loose, dab a small amount of white glue or clear nail polish on the head of the screw, after it's screwed it, and this will temporarily prevent it from falling out.
Clarinetists and saxophonists should purchase a high-quality clarinet reed case and saxophone reed case to protect their reeds and to keep them in good condition.
Clarinets and saxophones are seen in both concert bands and jazz ensembles. Seeing clarinets in the jazz band depends mostly on which saxophonists can double on the clarinet and if there are clarinetists who can master the clarinet sound necessary for jazz.
The saxophone was rarely used in the orchestra. The invention of the saxophone came much later than the classic string and woodwind instruments found in the orchestra. Furthermore, the intention of the saxophone was to be played in big bands so orchestral composers didn't write for saxophone. As times changed, composers like Mussorgsky began writing saxophone into the orchestral scores. Modern-day composers are starting to incorporate the saxophone into the orchestra.
The clarinet and the saxophone are two incredibly fun instruments. As a clarinetist, I love having the skills to also play the saxophone.
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