Syracuse Ska Forum

Hey, I'm taking music for GCSE (I don't know what you call them in America, sorry) and I've got to learn an instrument for it. Now, I have a major love of Ska Music which is why I came here. So, what to learn, Trombone, Saxophone or Trumpet? Also, which is easiest, which is cheapest and what do you think is the best? Thanks for your help!

Saxophone

bari preferably.

Best sound of all the instruments.
Not cheap though

trombone man

so many great jokes can come out of bonin'

People generally consider Trumpet and Trombone harder than Saxophone because you have to have a pretty good ear and move your mouth differently to get different pitches. Saxophone is basically just memorizing all of the keys. But because of this, parts for Saxophones can sometimes be a lot more difficult than parts for Trumpets or Trombones. I play sax so I'd obviously tell you to play that because I love it, but any of them would be cool. I'd love to learn Trombone.

Go for Tenor Sax.
It's orgasmic.

(Actually, the entire sax family is pretty freakin' rad, so there's no way you can go wrong. )

If you want the plus of being able to hear things by ear, like melodies, etc....learn trumpet or trombone, they have to learn a lot of ear-training before hand.

If you like the sax more though, start off with alto, then you may want to move to tenor or bari, tenor is in the same key as trumpet, so it makes it easier sometimes. If you're feeling adventurous, after about 4 years....go to soprano, i've been waiting to see a soprano player in a ska band, good sound to have in a more pop-ska band.

I play Tenor Sax and i love playing, so i'm very preferential towards it. I can play the other kinds of saxes, but i feel tenor has a nice dark, deep tone to it, and a nice feel. I've played alto and bari, and just didn't like it as much (but that could be also because i double on calrinet and that's in the same key as tenor)

easy, trombone

That's what I play in The Hoboz. Which you can see if you come to the show next Saturday

Oh man..
I love soprano.
My soprano is like my baby.
I'd never give it up for anything.

why would anyone ever play soprano sax!? i dont get it, the instrument just annoys me.

bari sax=good for a low deep sound
tenor=nice for a smooth soft low sound
trombone= good for the expansive range and texture
trumpet= upper range fits well

those are the only horns i would use in a band, maybe an alto sax to back up the range on the trumpet, but i wouldnt go out of my way for one

i say trumpet! mostly because no one else has. plus they easily fit into a ska band of any style where as some of the other horns' sound lends them more easily to certain styles.

I'd say Trombone first, and then trumpet. It's always hard to find a good trombone player who digs ska. I only even say trumpet because that's what I play and I find it fun. I get the melodies most of the time and I don't care what anyone says, a trumpet can sound much louder than any trombone. lol.

do you want to put that to the test?

hehehe

i had a reputation during hs marching band, whenever i felt the director was being a dick id play and totally eclipse the other 60 members of the band for fun

That instrument is synonymous with Kenny G. Too high for my liking. Go for bari- Need some big lungs for that baby!

I dunno, Gabe has some pretty powerful lungs in him. I think a loudness competition would be fun, haha.