Bass instruments are typically the largest of instruments, and the bass saxophone is not exception. This sometimes forgotten instrument can be awkward to move about, and it suffers from little love in the music department in terms of songs and pieces written for the instrument. It is frequently replaced by other bass instruments, with a sharper decline as the electric bass guitar hit the scene. It is just the case that there is little need for the instrument in modern music. It does have a chance that newer musicians will see it as a means of reconnecting with music of the past.
The saxophone is a traditional jazz instrument. Other genres of music do not favor the instrument, instead relying upon stringed instruments. These more well known instruments are those that are favored in part because of the familiarity of them to the younger music scene. Many older works do have parts written for the bass saxophone, but these parts are usually played by other more accessible bass instruments because of the lack of availability of the bass saxophone and its musicians.
Bass guitarists and even tuba players are more readily available. The instruments are also more affordable because of their availability. It is because of the cost and availability that younger musicians are not picking up the bass saxophone. This is why there is little desire to try the instrument and consider it for using through out the young musicians career.
Of course, this does not mean that the bass saxophone is without a place in the music scene. Changes are always occurring which could sky rocket the instrument into the limelight and interest will grow significantly.
The bass saxophone may be an instrument that is inherently difficult and awkward to carry around, and there may not necessarily be a lot of music out there that is written specifically for playing by the saxophone, but all is not lost for this intriguing instrument. If more people were to begin to play the saxophone, there would probably be a much greater call for written music for it, and it would probably be included more often in many bands. The saxophone is one of the most expensive instruments, which is probably one of the largest contributing factors to why few schools are incorporating it into their marching bands. This may also be why so many younger musicians are choosing the saxophone as their instrument of choice, in addition to the fact that the instrument is bulky and can be difficult to get used to playing. Because the instrument is so large, it is demanding that a musician be strong enough not only to carry it, but also strong enough to put enough air into it to generate the right kinds of sounds.
Photo Credits: 1
Originally posted 2008-12-27 13:47:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Playing Bass Guitar in a Band People choose one instrument over another, like a bass guitar over a regular guitar, for a variety of different reasons. What makes someone choose a tuba over a flute or drums over a glockenspiel is mostly just the person's preference. People choose what they like to listen to, what they...... -
Musical Instruments Bass When some people hear the word bass, they immediately think about the bass guitar, a popular instrument in many types of music today. However, there is actually a large number of different instruments that fall under the base category, and the bass guitar is only one of them. Bass instruments...... -
Bass Instruments: The History of the Bass Guitar Instruments teach the people who use them a great deal. For playing an instrument, you can have your first example of love without need of love in return from a person loving their instrument, you can learn notes and patience and many other valuable lessons, some of which have to...... -
Review of Bass Guitars In regards to instruments, the bass guitar is the new kid on the block as it hasn't even celebrated its 100 year mark yet. An interesting fact is that although it is called a bass guitar it is not even derived from the guitar. Acoustic guitars brought forth the electric...... -
Learn to Play Bass Guitar For someone starting out with a first instrument, a bass guitar is an excellent choice. The bass guitar is probably the easiest stringed instrument to learn to play, far easier than either an acoustic or electric guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, or a violin, for instance. And a stringed instrument......