If I can play the Flute does that mean I can play an Alto Sax?

Question

If I can play the Flute does that mean I would be able to learn Alto Sax quite easily?
I've heard the fingering is similar.
(Please correct me if it is actually Tenor Sax.)

Also are there any other woodwind/brass instrument that would be similar, eg. Clarinet.

Basically I want to know if the fingering is the same as the flute for Alto Sax, I've heard it is. Is this true?

Answer 1

I took woodwind class in college. I've been playing flute for 18 years, and had to try the sax in woodwind class. The fingerings are very similar. Some of the fingerings that aren't the same are actually alternate fingerings on the flute.

Going from sax to flute is harder than the flute to the sax. The reason is because of the embouchre. It's hard to make a sound on the flute for the first time, and make it a consistent sound because there's nothing there, you're just blowing over a hole. It's easy to make a consistent sound on the sax because you're biting on a reed.

Sax and flute are sisters, just as clarinet and oboe are sisters, when it comes to fingering. Clarinet and oboe have nothing to do with flute and sax.

Answer 2

Yes, you would be able to be able to learn how to play the alto sax, but how easily you do it depends on a lot of things. One example is the better player you are, the better able you are to adjust your embochure (sp?) and to adapt to the different fingerings as there isn't a direct correlation. At least that I know of.

One woman I know plays the flute and her secondary instrument is the alto sax. Although she plays the flute professionally, she STILL isn't entirely comfortable playing some of the First Alto Sax parts. That isn't meant to be disheartening, but that it may be more challenging than you think.

As for the clarinet question, there are several instruments you could do. Any of the other clarinets would be a good to switch to, but then, you'd still be playing the clarinet. If you're looking for a bit easier transition then to an instrument in a different key like going from clarinet to oboe (in C, I believe), try going to a tenor sax, which is in B-flat. I found the fingerings are similar enough between the three that I didn't find any problems switching between clarinet and tenor though I don't have any experience with the oboe.

Answer 3

Yes, if you can play flute you can learn saxophone easily. The fingerings are almost exactly the same. There are very few that are different. And all saxophones have the same fingerings. The hardest part when learning sax is building the muscles in your jaws up. When you first learn you will have trouble playing for more then 1/2 hour continusly.

I speak from experience. I've played flute for 7 years and about 3 years ago I decided to pick up saxophone for marching band. I've played both the alto and tenor sax in marching band and in a community band. When I first picked up the sax I couldn't get a note out but I practiced a bit and as soon as I was able to get notes out it was a very easy transition.

Answer 4

The flute requires the right amount of wind to be blown the opening, and alto/tenor saxaphone requires a reed, with you need to have a quite of a hum to produce a vibration that sends the instrument to make sound. If you know how to play the clarinet then yes. You could be able to play the sax.

Answer 5

Yes they can, but for a clarinet player to blow across rather than
into is more difficult. For the flute player, he will have problems
with the slurring jazz notes. For the Sax player it is easy to play
the clarinet, but the other way around is more difficult because,
once again, the slurring jazz notes on the sax will take some
learning. I used to play the flute and tried to play the sax but
gave up. All of these interactive key blowing instruments will
allow you to play others, but it takes quite a lot of practise.

Answer 6

I play the Saxophone and I would love to be able to play the flute... but I can't! The clarinet notes are completely different to sax too, but the fingering is basically the same... Sax is easy enough to get into... I've been playing for years!

Answer 7

no you can't because the flute is a woodwind that does not use a reed and the sax does. Trust me i have been playing alto sax for 4 years I know what i'm doing. It is a fun instrument i suggest that yoiu try it

Answer 8

I don't know about the alto sax, but I do know flutes and clarinets. They don't use the same fingering, or the same technique for producing the sound, since you blow across the aperture of a flute, and through the mouthpiece of a clarinet to cause the reed to vibrate.

Answer 9

Flute, sax, oboe, and upper register clarinet fingerings are similar. Sax embouchure is different from flute but is pretty easy to learn. If you were interested in both clarinet and sax I would suggest clarinet first. A sax emouchure is pretty much a relaxed clarinet embouchure. To go from clarinet to sax all you have to do is loosen up, but to go from sax to clarinet you need to firm up more............most sax player who try to double on clarinet sound like sax players trying to play clarinet. Clarinet players who double on sax usually sound like sax players..........

Answer 10

No, the sax is a lot different than playing a flute