also what does it mean when a instrument is in a certain key, for ex. alto sax is in the key of eb, what does that mean?
2007-12-16 02:05:43 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Jazz
They have the same fingerings. The only difference is that an alto sax is an Eb instrument while a soprano is a Bb instrument. So when you play Eb in the Alto, it would sound the same with a Bb in a soprano.
here is a table that can help you transpose pieces for soprano to alto:
Bb Instruments:D F A C B A G E Eb Ab C# F# Bb
Eb Instruments:A C E G F# E D B Bb Eb Ab C# F
2007-12-16 02:31:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
When you play an Eb on an Alto sax, the actual note that you play (i.e. what you would press on a piano keyboard to get the same note) is a C. Same for if you play a Bb on a soprano or tenor -- you get a C then as well. However sheet music for saxophone is transposed for the instrument, and the fingering for each note is the same on all saxophones. If you want to play saxophone, you don't really need to think about this all too much; it would only come up if you were trying to play music for a different instrument on a saxophone, or if you were trying to compose your own music or arrange someone else's.
2007-12-16 02:10:51 · answer #2 · answered by dan131m 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I do not know about fingerings but I do know about keys. When a band, for say, is warming up, the conductor will say play the "concert" E flat scale. That means each instrument plays different notes, but it will all sound the same. If an instrument in in a certain "key" then the notes will be different than other instruments, but the notes will sound the same.
A saxaphone's E flat will be different than that of a flute, or trumet. or claranet.
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2007-12-16 02:12:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, the fingerings would be the same. However, since the alto saxophone and soprano saxophone are in different keys (e-flat for most altos and b-flat for most sopranos), the pitch is different for notes that are played.
The soprano saxophone is in the same key as the clarinet and tenor saxophone (b-flat). To get a "C" for a b-flat instrument, it needs to play b-flat. To get a "C" for an e-flat instrument, it needs to play an e-flat.
This is why when instruments are tuned using a chromatic tuner, they all use a C tuning scale. Visit the links below for more info.
2007-12-16 02:30:05 · answer #4 · answered by RJ 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
All Saxes
2016-12-15 16:52:34 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-12-16 02:09:00 · answer #6 · answered by Penny 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes
2007-12-16 02:07:58 · answer #7 · answered by ghandi 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes!
2007-12-19 09:54:31 · answer #8 · answered by Samantha 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋