The alto has an easy-to-play key layout, and it’s a very compact instrument, making it ideal for beginners. The alto saxophone is tuned to Eb, and it has a tonality sitting two and a half steps above a tenor saxophone’s tonality. That is an advantage if you’re looking to transition to jazz because you already know how the instrument works and you don’t have to work that much to improve your technique. Fortunately for a beginner, the most common way to start playing the instrument is using an alto sax. With that in mind, it might be important for you to know the difference between the two, and how each of these saxophones has its place in jazz. With that in mind, it’s clear that the Eb alto and the Bb tenor have established themselves as the ruling kings of jazz, and it depends on you which of them you want to play. You occasionally get some players using a Bb soprano saxophone, but that is a rare sight, and it’s mainly used in rock, pop, or technopop. Over the years, these have become the most predominant saxophones in jazz and most songs are written for them. This led to the appearance of soft jazz in the 1950s and ‘60s, where the Eb alto was the central piece of a music ensemble, but the Bb tenor voice was still up there for some talented players. Each of them had a distinctive voice and style, and they managed to create unique sounds. In the 1940s modern jazz appeared and it was in those times when players using Bb tenor, Eb alto and Eb baritone saxophones put their mark on jazz and music in general. The Bb tenor, however, had a good range and a loud sound too, which was essential in a big band. However, in big bands of that time or orchestras, there were many kinds of saxes used, from Bb sopranos to Eb altos and Eb baritones. He influenced generations of jazz saxophonists to play using a Bb tenor. In that period of Ragtime, they all had their unique style, but players like Coleman Hawkins managed to make the Bb tenor sax a prime choice for the voice of jazz. In the old days of Early Jazz, professional players used any kind of saxophone they could get their hands on.
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