What is the difference between Alto Saxophone & Tenor Saxophone? Which one sound better?

Question

What is the difference between Alto Saxophone & Tenor Saxophone? Which one sound better?

Answer 1

The primary difference between tenor and alto is the size. The tenor is larger. Because of the added length, it also makes it's fundamental tone be lower so when you finger the same notes on the two saxophones, the tenor sounds lower by over half an octave. As to which sounds better, this is completely an opinion question and is determined by the person you ask. You also have to consider who is playing the instrument. There are some people that sound better on the alto than the tenor, or vice versa. I love the sound of Gerry Mulligan playing the baritone saxophone, coltrane playing tenor, and Paul Desmond playing alto.

Answer 2

The alto is smaller and "higher" sounding than the tenor. I've heard great alto and tenor players, but my personal favorite is the tenor sax.

Here's an image of an alto sax:

http://www.trevorjonesltd.co.uk/images/J...

And here's a tenor:

http://www.netmusicalinstruments.co.uk/a...

That's the only difference.