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SaxophoneMan.com |
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All Things Saxophone |
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Baritone Sax & The Low A |
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Last modified 09/12/08
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So you're playing Baritone sax? It's an awesome instrument and happens to be the first saxophone I played. I played it because my band director needed someone to play Bari to fill out the sax section in my Junior High School jazz band. A lot of players end up on instruments through those kind of circumstances :> I've written this article on Baritone sax because it is a special case amongst the saxophone family. It offers the extra note -- the coveted low "A". · A little history The Bari sax was like the other standard saxophones (Tenor, Alto & soprano) in its range of notes (low B flat to high F#) until the middle of last century when manufacturers began experimenting with adding the low A. These first experiments were dreadful failures and it looked like the low A would not be accepted in the world of all things saxophone. The problem was the low A horns did not produce the brassy, bright sound that the Baritone was famous for. Most Bari players didn't have a low A horn, and to have one was a joke. This was true in the 1970's when I started playing. I used a King Zephyr Bari at that time because I liked the big Bari sound. Every now and then someone would try a new design but they never worked, until Yamaha came out with the YBS-62 redesigned low A Bari in the 1980's and the whole saxophone world changed. I tried one and was immediately convinced -- I bought that horn and play that same instrument today. Here's a clip of the sound on my Yamaha YBS62 Bari: Listen to SaxophoneMan’s Yamaha YS-62 Bari Because there are two types of Bari saxes in the world today, the aspiring player has a choice to make. Low A Bari or not? The answer is in two parts: 1. Don't get a low A Bari unless it's a good one Because there was a shift 25 years ago in the world of all things saxophone from low B flat Baris to low A Baris, there are a lot of low A instruments out there that were made before or during the period of change. STAY AWAY FROM THEM! If you're buying a new Bari then it's a no brainer -- all the Baris today have low A's. However, they are big instruments and are expensive so many aspiring players turn to the used market to save a few $$$. So, just be careful -- a low A bari that's more than 10 years old may not have the new design features incorporated. If you don't know for sure, seek out advice from a local pro or email me. 2. Don't get a low B-flat unless you can't find a good low A 20 years ago I would not have said this but now the shift is complete. Most music calls for low A on the Bari and you're going to be handicapped if you can't play one. But, if you're just starting out and you can't afford a new low A Bari and can't find a good used one, a B flat horn will work for you for a while. Most of the manufacturers produced decent B flat Baris in their time (no one makes them anymore). Just make sure that the horn is in good working order, as you should with any used instrument.
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A Baritone Sax that goes only to a low Bb |
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SaxophoneMan’s Low A Bari Yamaha YS-62 |