Best Alto Sax: How To Choose The Best Alto Sax For Beginners & Pros

The alto saxophone is one of the most popular instruments in jazz music. The sound this instrument produces is higher-pitched than that of a tenor or baritone sax which can be heard clearly when it is used on slow ballads and during solos. It has also been noted to have an excellent tone quality that can be used for both jazz and classical music.

This blog post is a review of Best Alto Saxophone. We’ll go over all of the features of each saxophone in detail.

Below, we will discuss the best alto saxophone models on the market.

Top 5 Alto Saxophones

1. Mendini By Cecilio Eb Alto Saxophone

The Mendini by Cecilio EB Alto Saxophone is a great instrument for the beginner or intermediate player.

This saxophone has a rich tone and excellent intonation, which makes it perfect for any type of music. It also has a quick response, making it easy to play even for those just starting out on their musical journey.

The body of this alto saxophone is made from brass and features an attractive gold lacquer finish that will look great in any home or studio.

This instrument also includes a sleek black case with sturdy latches that will protect your new saxophone. Best of all, this saxophone is priced to fit any budget.

Why Buy the Mendini by Cecilio EB Alto Saxophone?

• Rich tone with excellent intonation for playing music in any genre and starting out on a musical journey
• Brass body with gold lacquer finish and black case included
• Good for any budget
• Quick response for easy playing

The only downside to this saxophone is that it lacks a built-in high F key.

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2. Glory Green/Silver keys E Flat Alto Saxophone

The Glory Green/Silver keys E Flat Alto Saxophone is a very professional saxophone that is great for beginner to intermediate players. It has a great tone and can be played in many different styles of music.

I would recommend this saxophone to anyone who wants an alto sax but doesn’t want to spend too much money. The price is reasonable for the quality of the instrument it’s not the best but it’s also not the worst! This instrument works really well with other instruments like trumpets and clarinets because they make a nice harmony.

What I don’t like about this saxophone is that it’s difficult to get a really deep bass sound. The keys are also not the easiest thing to press, they can be stiff and hard on your fingers when you have long fingernails. This might pose an issue for some people but if you’re someone who doesn’t use their fingernails to play then you should be able to handle the keys.

The tone is bright and sounds really good in any style of music that’s why I would recommend this saxophone for beginner players. It doesn’t have as much power or sound quality as the more expensive instruments but it’s still a great instrument!

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3. Jean Paul USA AS-400 Student Alto Saxophone

This is a student-level alto saxophone. It is made from brass and has a lacquered finish. The keys are silver-plated, as are the springs and the pivot screws. The pads are made from synthetic material (plastic) and have an average lifespan of about 2 years of regular use before they need to be replaced again.

There is also a high F# key which allows for notes that would otherwise be out of reach when playing in concert Bb major scale without having to shift positions on the neck.

The price is quite reasonable and it has a great sound quality. The AS-400 can be purchased in various colors including brass, gold, and silver.

This saxophone does not come with a ligature and mouthpiece cap though, so you’ll need to purchase those separately.

The AS-400 is a great option for beginning musicians who don’t want to spend too much money on an instrument they may not be able to upgrade later. It also has a surprisingly good sound quality despite being made from cheaper materials!

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4. LyxJam Alto Saxophone E Flat Brass Sax Beginners Kit

LyxJam Alto Saxophone E Flat Brass Sax Beginners Kit is a full set of traditional alto saxophones. It is designed for beginners and intermediate players, so it can bring you the best tone and comfort.

The mouthpiece is made of high-quality brass material, which makes it durable to use. With this alto saxophone, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful music.

This kit comes with all accessories that are needed by beginners as well as some advanced players. You don’t need to buy any other accessories since it comes with a lot of accessories.

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5. YAMAHA YAS-280 Saxophones Student Alto saxophones

The Yamaha YAS-280 Student Alto Saxophones is the most popular model among saxophonists. This instrument is made of high-quality brass and is available at a very affordable price.

The tone of this alto saxophone has been described as being full, rich, and warm with a well-balanced sound that blends easily with other instruments. It features a solid one-piece bell which contributes to its overall durability.

This alto saxophone also comes with an adjustable thumb rest which allows for easy adjustment after playing for long periods of time. It also features an adjustable finger rest and mouthpiece, which are both removable so that the player can achieve a more comfortable playing position, as well as height

The only downside to this saxophone is that it does not come with a case.

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Buyer’s Guide

In this section, you will find some information and tips on how to buy a Best Alto Saxophone.

What Should You Look Out for When Buying an Alto Saxophone?

In choosing the right alto saxophone for you. the one that will be perfect for your needs and capabilities, it is important to know what features to keep an eye out for.

There are many things to consider when buying a new alto saxophone:

Type Of Saxophone

There are three types of alto saxophones:

• A straight soprano, which is the most common type because it has more keys and thus a wider range. Straight soprano saxophones are the ones most often found in jazz bands. A curved soprano, which is rarely used but also has more keys and a wider range than other saxes. Straight Sopranos include models from Selmer Paris such as Conn-Selmer Series INS and Yanagisawa’s RS series.
• An alto, which is the less common type because it has fewer keys and thus a narrower range. An alto saxophone is sometimes used in jazz because it has a mellower sound. The Best-known models of alto sax are Selmer Paris’ Alto Saxophone and Yanagisawa’s RS series as well.
• A Tenor sax can also be had. but this type of instrument offers even fewer keys than the alto variety, comprising just ten keys. The Best- known models of tenor sax are Selmer Paris’ Tenor Saxophone and Yanagisawa’s RS series.

Choosing the best Alto Saxophone is not easy because there are so many varieties to choose from, but in general, a curved soprano would be appropriate for jazz while straight sopranos would work better for classical.

Type of materials used

One of the most important considerations is the type of materials used to make a saxophone. The most common types are plastic and metal, but some newer models use composite material for better sound production. Here is a list of materials that comprises a saxophone:

Nickel Silver

This type of silver alloy was developed to replace brass because its richer tone has become popular for classical music.

Steel

Typically used for larger saxophones because it is more durable and has a darker, fuller sound.

Aluminum Bronze

This metal is often used in saxophones from the 1920s until 1970 due to its affordability, but it was soon replaced with silver because of its durability issues.

Yellow Brass

This type of brass alloy produces a mellow quality to the music similar to gold.

Copper

It is mainly used in musical instruments because it provides exceptional tone, but there are some disadvantages that make it more expensive than other materials: like corrosion and wear issues.

Plastic saxophones

Plastic Saxophones can be great for beginners who will not need to put in as much effort and focus on playing. It also has some advantages over materials such as aluminum or brass because it does not have any keys that might break off eventually with usage.

Brass

Brass saxophones are usually the most durable option for musicians who want to be assured of a long life span with their instruments. Brass is more difficult to play than plastic or alto, but it offers better sound quality and resonance because there is less air that needs to travel through its columns before it reaches the mouthpiece.

Aluminum

An aluminum saxophone is a good choice for musicians who want to buy something that will last them their entire career with a little bit of upkeep and care. However, it does not have as much resonance or volume as brass or plastic instruments due to its material composition.

Here is the list of the parts of a saxophone:

Keys

This is what gives the instrument its unique sound. There are many different types of keys that can be found on saxophones, but the most common ones used today are the cross-fingered or “straight” key which has an even tone across all registers. This means that each note will have an approximately identical pitch.

Mouthpiece

This is what the player blows into to produce sound and it is a mouth-shaped opening at one end of the instrument that has an adjustable metal reed, or “mouthpiece.” The round part directly under this opening is called the table which produces different notes depending on how far up you push your tongue: the higher you push your tongue, the lower the note will be.

Body

The body of a saxophone is where sound waves are actually produced and it is made up of metal tubes that have been soldered together to form different sections like the neck, bell section, and head joint. A resonator consisting of thin walls with many holes is located inside the body to help amplify and produce sound.

Bell

The bell section is what attaches to the neck of a saxophone with screws, and it protects your fingers from accidentally touching hard metal parts that could potentially hurt you while playing. It also helps focus sound waves in order to create resonance as well as amplifying sounds for better sound quality.

Ears

This part helps in amplifying sound waves and also filters out unwanted sounds so that the musician can hear their playing better. It consists of three parts: a ‘main ear” which rests on top of your head, two side ears which will be either inside or outside your outer ear canal, and then an eardrum.

Neck-straps

When playing an instrument, you need to be able to hold it firmly and comfortably in order for the music to come out at its best.

Neck-straps help secure a saxophone onto your neck so that if you have had any other parts of your body strain or become injured, this will prevent them from adding additional pain when playing such as those who use their hands to hold the instrument.

Arm straps

An arm strap is a great way for saxophone players with disabilities or injuries to help them play their favorite instrument without aggravating an already existing injury.

The arc of the arm can provide added support and stability while playing, which will make it easier on your hands as well when you are trying to play more complex pieces with a limited range of motion.

Gig bags

A gig bag is an essential accessory for carrying your saxophone to the location you are playing at or from one place to another when not in use. and they come in many different styles so that there will be something for everyone’s taste.

They protect instruments from getting scratched or dented, and they also maintain the instrument’s temperature to keep it from being too hot when exposed to heat or cold.

Ligature

Ligatures are a metal band that is fitted onto the mouthpiece of an instrument to keep the reed in place and maintain its shape. The perfect fit can vary depending on which saxophone you have purchased, but it will be comfortable for your lips when playing because they do not restrict movement or cause chapping while using them.

Reed

The reed is what allows your instrument to make sound and produce the music that you want it to because its vibrations are transferred through columns inside the saxophone so that they can reach a player’s lips where they will be shaped into sound waves to produce melodies.

Reed guards

A reed guard is a small piece of plastic that fits over the mouthpiece and protects it from getting dirty or damaged. It also prevents moisture, spit and saliva from accumulating on your instrument’s mouthpiece to keep it clean for longer periods of time so you can continue playing without being interrupted by the need to clean it.

The saxophone has many different parts which can be confusing to locate if you are a beginner, but it is important that they are all taken into consideration when deciding on which instrument would be best suited for you.

In order to help you make this decision, there are many types of resources that can be found online or in person at a music store.

What Is the Best Brand of Alto Saxophone?

The best brand of alto saxophone is the Selmer Mark VI which can be purchased new for a whopping $14,000. A used one will cost around $11.500. It’s also been featured in many movies and TV shows such as The Godfather and Lost In America.

How Much Does a Good Alto Saxophone Cost?

The cost of an alto saxophone is going to vary depending on a variety of factors. The quality and make (or model) can range from the cheapest ones that are mass-produced, which will be priced under $100 all the way up to those with gold-plated keys worth over $5000.

An inexpensive one may not have a good tone and may break easily. A high-quality one will last longer, but you can expect to pay more for these types of saxophones.

It is important to get the best instrument that fits within your budget because this is an investment in yourself as well as your future musical aspirations.

Overall Winner

If you’re looking for a good instrument to learn to play. Alto Saxophone would be a great choice.

Alto sax is one of the most popular instruments to play in jazz and is a great choice for classical musicians.

The best part about playing an Alto Saxophone is that it can be played acoustically or amplified meaning you don’t have to plug into anything! If you’re looking for a good instrument to leam on your own. this would be perfect

The best Saxophone for Jazz

The most recognizable instrument in the jazz world is the saxophone and the trumpet. However, while any sax will do a decent job at producing jazz music, arguably the best saxophone is the tenor sax. The warm richer and darker sound than normal alto saxes, makes it ideal for any king of swing.

Now, I believe the best company for saxes is Yamaha. The versatile company has been making quality instruments for many moons and know what they’re doing! Still my recommendation is going to be their YTS-62III. They offer two different finishes, easy use, and adjustable features.

The 62 series have been loved from 1969, and the company has used all that experience as well as the feed back the critiques from music directors and players throughout the ages and created the finest saxophone possible. The only real downside to this sax is that you might need different reeds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning an instrument like the Alto saxophone is a great way to keep kids entertained and focused on something.

We hope that this article has helped you find out what the Best Alto Saxophone is and has given you some hints on how to choose one Thank you for reading!