Hi there,

I play clarinet already and have had a few piano lessons too but I really want to learn to play the saxophone - I've got a few questions:

Will it be fairly easy to pick up as I already play clarinet?

Whats a good sax to buy for a beginner? I haven't got much money so have been looking on ebay but don't really know where to start. Also has anyone ever bought a musical instrument off ebay??

I can't really afford lessons in addition to my clarinet and piano ones - can I teach myself without picking up any really bad habits?

Yes it will be easy enough to pick up. What brand to buy is a matter of budget. The cheapest ones are chinese of course but are improving in quality all the time - the Selmer Prelude and Jinyin both seem fine. Hansons are wonderful. Yamaha is the most popular and priced accordingly.

Ebay is fine as long as you remember the following: if buying new, don't even think of going for one from a non-specialist seller and don't even think of buying from a seller with less than 99.9% positive feedback (including neutrals - you must count those as "minor negatives") unless the reasons for the negs or neutrals are clearly unfair. If buying used, either allow up to a couple of hundred pounds for a full service or buy only from a seller who is prepared to guarantee that the sax is in full working order with little pad wear.

Liz

[QUOTE]can I teach myself without picking up any really bad habits?

You may find that the minor changes required to produce a successful embechoure may trip you up............ I would recommend at least a few lessons with a good teacher to get you going at the very least.

Good luck whatever you decide.

I suggest you have a word with Nat (saxlover)!! she will tell you all about learning the sax after the clarinet. She managed to get g8 merit after playing sax for just 10 months!!!! I played flute for 2 years before i started sax which really helped as they have the same (ish) fingering. I started playing 18 months ago and have just passed g8. I think if you already play an instrument the sax is reasonably easy to pick up. One of my friends who plays clarinet bought herself a sax just to 'muck around on' and she has never had a lesson but plays around g5 standard so it is possible to get to a decent level without a lesson but hard to do that without picking up at least one bad habit!!!

Well hello there!

Firstly- excellent idea to start playing, I'm very happy!!

If I remember rightly you've passed grade 6 clarinet which in my opinion would say to me that you should be fine at sax! Yeah, I was about grade 5/6 clarinet standard when I picked up the sax, and I found sax so much easier and progressed quite quickly - grade 8 merit after 10months wooo ...sorry! Anyway, I think compared with clarinet it's easy to play and I prefer it.

I wouldn't suggest going for a real beginner sax because you'll find you progress fast because of your clarinet playing.

I started on a YAS 275- but a few months later got a better one! It depends how seriously you want to do it.

And as sillysaxist said it's good to have a few lessons on it to set you off in the right direction.

Enjoy!

Thanks for the replies.

Nat, I thought I remembered that you started sax after clarinet. I think you'll be a hard act to follow = Grade 8 merit after 10 months - Wow!!!!!! Didn't you do your Grade 6 clarinet recently? How did you get on? I remember you asking me which scales I got.

I think I'd better start saving as I'm desperate to give it a go now!!

Does anyone else sometimes feel overwhelmed at how much stuff they still have to/want to learn??!!

We won't talk about my clarinet exam thanks!

But I'm so glad you want to do sax! Great idea! I'm not a hard act to follow, if you concentrate on sax- you'll be able to do the same if not better!!

Yeah there's so much I want to do and learn but i don't have the time or money!