Questions about cello & the alto sax?

Question

How hard is it to learn these two instruments? Whats the most difficult part? How long would it take to learn if you have some musical talent? And any other imformitive info would be great.

Answer 1

Oddly, I played the cello for two years and began to play the alto sax, which I have been for two years, which are the two instruments you need an inquiry about.

I remember the cello being easier to play as you can visually see the notes when you are playing them opposed to the saxophone. The most difficult part would have to be bowing, because bowing depends on your sound. I learned in my short time that there is a practiced technique to bowing: applying the right amount of pressure. I would have to say the hardest thing about learning the cello is the fingerings, because being my first learned instrument, it was hard to remember where each note was (since there is no definite position like buttons on a saxophone) and how to position your hand. It felt awkward until I began to practice more, and the fingerings came along with practice as well.

The alto saxophone would have to be my favorite of the two: it is what I have stuck with, and I like it better for classical purposes over the cello, and it is also more versatile. You can't play jazz on cello. lol. Getting a sound on the alto saxophone is easy, and I believe learning fingerings are easier since there are keys you press down for a different pitch. Getting a good sound is difficult though. People can work on their tone for years and there is always room for improvement on it. I believe mastering certain techniques on the saxophone is the hardest, such as staccato and legato tonguing, altissimo, slap tonguing, etc. because it takes mouth training, which also includes embouchure, which leads me to other difficulty of the saxophone: tone producing. As I said, it is easy to get a sound on a sax, a pretty tone is totally different. Vibrato is used a lot in classical and jazz genre, and this takes some longer than others to master. It is produced using the jaw, my moving it up and down to produce a "quavering" tone. It can be very pretty once mastered.

What kinds of musical talent are you talking about? Can you already read notes? In what clef? If you can already read notes in bass and treble clef, then sight reading will come easier to you. If you are talking about previous instrument experience, I can only say that a clarinet will help a little in tone producing on the sax, and another stringed instrument will help with the cello. But that's about it.

Once again: whatever you choose, it's about preference. I personally wouldn't pick what you conclude to be easier, but what you like better. Listen to some alto sax artists and some cello artists and see what inspires you more. That's what it's all about. Momentum in practicing (to get better) is all based on the foundation of inspiration. Without that, you will be nothing.

Good luck finding your instrument, whether it be cello or alto sax!

Answer 2

Sax is easier for beginners because it is easier to play in tune- but if you really learn to play the cello well it's a better instrument.

Answer 3

take what kab said, now think about what kind of music you want to play ,....

classical? play cello!

jazz, rock, etc. play sax!

Answer 4

alto not hard, just practice

would sell you my yas 52 alto sax, barely played, minor scratches, for 1250.00

Answer 5

Sorry: but Musical Talent alone does not make it easy to learn a particular instrument.  Being able to develop an embouchure on the sax and working 2 hands doing totally different things on the Cello.

Generally the Basics would come quicker on the Sax.

Depending on the type of music you want to play could be the deciding factor.