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Sax on the Web and the Saxophone Duscussion Forum

© Chris Mindel

So far, I have received eleven responses. Most of the posts in the beginning of the thread seem to believe that the straight instruments sound a little more "nasal" than their curled counterparts. Later in the thread someone disputed this opinion, saying that the "straight or curved argument is hogwash." They also stated that the intonation of a curled soprano is, shall we say, less perfect than the straight soprano.

This final statement was fought with full force. One reply warned the out-of-tune commentator against making blanket statements. And most of the other comments were against the inference that curled sopranos all had intonation problems.

After all the words and opinions and debate, a few main points shone through.

1. Any curled or straight instrument will have its own idiosyncrasies in tuning and sound that the player will have to adapt to.

2. The curled instruments have more interference in the air column, contributing to some of the above-mentioned idiosyncrasies.

3. A curled soprano will make it more difficult for people to compare you to Kenny G (as they don't realize you are still playing a soprano sax.). This is a huge advantage in my eyes!

4. Along with number three, a curled soprano will lead to many more people approaching and asking questions about the saxophone. I am sure this would occur with either a straight alto or tenor.

5. Most importantly, it is the responsibility of the player to work with the instrument to make it sound like it is a member of the saxophone family.

That last point is mine. If a straight sax you were playing had a more "nasal" sound, it would be your responsibility and challenge as a saxophonist to make the instrument sound like a saxophone. It is a saxophone, after all.

Well, there is my quest to find an answer to a saxophone related question. The Saxophone Discussion Forum proved to be a wonderful tool. It is a very easy way to contact multiple players and receive multiple opinions. If you have any saxophone questions, this is a great place to find answers. Also, the main page -Sax on the Web- has a lot more information and links for saxophonists. A very nice sheet music search engine can be found at the top of the page. Harri Rautiainen has put together a great resource here and should be thanked and congratulated. Stop by and learn. The easiest way for the saxophone community to grow and evolve is to share, and that is what happens at the Saxophone Discussion Forum.