Alto or Tenor: Best saxophone for beginners
December 11, 2022 - Edited on February 01, 2023
What are the main difference between alto and tenor saxophones? And which one is best for beginners?
Saxophones come in 4 main types: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone, whereas Alto, Tenor are the most common ones.
Although they all have the same fingerings (which buttons to press to play the notes), alto and tenor saxophones differ mainly in three aspects:
1. Size
The Tenor Saxophone is larger and heavier than the Alto Saxophone. This makes the alto a good choice for young beginners.
2. Sound
The instruments have different ranges. Most importantly, the Tenor can reach lower tones.
In contrast, higher notes can be played on both using advanced altissimo fingerings on both the alto and tenor.
In short: The tenor sound is low and full whereas the alto has a strong high pitch.
This makes the tenor perfect for playing smooth jazz and alto for bepop, jazz and pop.
Tip
Since saxophones are transposed instruments: music sheets made for the alto saxophone cannot be played on the tenor, and vice versa.
3. Price
Since the tenor saxophone is larger, it requires more brass to manufacture it. This typically translate to a few extra hundred dollars when comparing the same models.
Nevertheless, saxophones prices vary greatly, from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Therefore, price should only be considered when looking for affordable options
Which one is best for beginners?
First things first: The most important factor is the music style you prefer. If you like both the sound of alto and tenor saxophones, then consider the following decision flowchart:
