<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile the embouchure (how you use the muscles of your mouth to play a wind instrument) is almost the same between the two, you generally need to put more of the mouthpiece in your mouth for the saxophone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe embouchure for the clarinet must be much firmer than for the saxophone.<\/strong> The muscles around the mouth must squeeze without biting, and the chin needs to be flat. This can make the embouchure more difficult to maintain on the clarinet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFor the saxophone, the embouchure is much more relaxed<\/strong>. The player needs to create a circle around the mouthpiece, keeping the muscles looser <\/strong>than for the clarinet embouchure. This is easier to achieve and maintain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Fingering<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBecause the saxophone is modeled after woodwind instruments, the fingerings are nearly the same as the clarinet<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, the saxophone changes register at the octave<\/strong>, so the fingerings are the same for the both of the main registers. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn contrast, the register change for the clarinet comes at the 12th<\/strong>, so there are more fingerings<\/strong> to learn for the two main registers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Creating a sound: which one is easier?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs mentioned above, to produce a good sound, the embouchure must be much firmer for the clarinet than the saxophone<\/strong>. So it can be more difficult to create a quality sound on the clarinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe clarinet is also more likely to squeak<\/strong> when the embouchure isn\u2019t correct. Squeaks generally happen due to an unsteady embouchure or incorrect fingerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nProducing sound for the low notes is more challenging on the saxophone<\/strong>. It can take time to develop the skill needed to produce the low notes and make them sound good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Fingerings: which one is easier?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile the fingerings for saxophone are generally easier, both instruments have their challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Open vs closed hole<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFingerings for the clarinet are considered to be more difficult because the instrument has open holes<\/strong>, whereas the saxophone has keys to close the holes<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFingering an open hole instrument like the clarinet means the player must be very precise<\/strong> in where each finger is placed in order to seal the hole. If there is any leak, the note won\u2019t come out correctly, or the instrument will squeak.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the saxophone, the player needs to know which fingers to put down, but they don\u2019t need to be as exact in finger placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Range and register change<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe saxophone has a smaller range than the clarinet<\/strong>. The high school range for alto saxophone is concert Db3 to Ab5<\/strong> (or A5 if the instrument has an F# key), while the range for the Bb clarinet is concert D3 to F6<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThus, the clarinet has quite a few more fingerings to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As discussed earlier, there are fewer fingerings to learn on the saxophone because the fingerings basically repeat in the second register<\/strong>. All you need to do is add the octave key to the same lower register fingering.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the clarinet, the fingerings are different because the instrument doesn\u2019t change registers at the octave but at the 12th. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crossing the break between registers on the clarinet <\/strong>can be difficult for learners. It involves moving from a fingering which opens all of the holes to a fingering which closes almost all of the holes. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a challenge to close all of the holes smoothly at exactly the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The clarinet is also different acoustically because it is basically cylindrical whereas the saxophone is conical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Low notes<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFingering the low notes can be a challenge on the saxophone <\/strong>because the keys are harder for the pinkies to push down. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOn the clarinet, the keys are fairly small and easy to press down, while on the saxophone the large key mechanism can be unwieldy. Hence, hitting the lowest notes can be hard, particularly for a small-handed player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Intonation: is sax or clarinet easier?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPlaying in tune can be challenging on both instruments. It\u2019s really a life-long objective to make the minute adjustments needed to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For any instrument, it\u2019s very important that it plays as close to in tune with itself as possible. The mouthpiece also plays a part in intonation. On the clarinet, the barrel is also important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like all instruments, the clarinet and the saxophone have their own individual pitch tendencies<\/strong>. These can be adjusted in a number of ways, including breath support, embouchure and alternate fingerings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe saxophone is considered to have more notes that need additional adjusting<\/strong> since it doesn\u2019t play in tune with itself as well. These types of adjustments require that the player develop a good ear for intonation. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdjusting isn’t just a matter of pressing the right key or closing the right hole<\/strong> to play in tune. The player must be able to distinguish slight differences in pitch for each note. They can then adjust by changing the embouchure and tongue position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Mastering the instrument: which is easier?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Clarinet vs sax: technique<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFor the intermediate and advanced clarinetist, it\u2019s important to continue developing technique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a band, the clarinets are often given the parts that violins would play in an orchestra, so there are frequently fast-moving passages<\/strong> which require the clarinetists to play with solid technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile intermediate and advanced saxophonists also work on their technique, because the instrument has closed holes, it is somewhat easier to move around quickly<\/strong> on the sax. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSaxophones are used in jazz more often than clarinet, which typically involves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional scales and chord progressions<\/li> Different tone quality, often using a different style of mouthpiece<\/li> Playing in jazz style<\/li> Glissando – continuous sliding from one note to another<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Clarinet vs sax: tone quality<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nClarinetists and saxophonists both strive to improve their tone quality constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned earlier, the clarinet requires a firm embouchure without biting, a delicate skill to develop and maintain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The saxophone requires a looser, rounder embouchure. Retaining the saxophone embouchure without moving or biting also takes control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other aspects involved in developing a good tone quality include tongue position and good breath support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Musicality<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBoth the clarinet and saxophone can be incredibly expressive instruments. Both require experience listening to and performing music to understand the nuances of the different styles, and make the instrument really speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Additional techniques<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTraditionally, the saxophone plays using vibrato<\/strong>, a slight variation in pitch which produces a warmer, richer tone. Vibrato is a skill which takes some effort to master<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe clarinet can play with vibrato, but it\u2019s not expected very often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The alto saxophone<\/strong> range extends to concert Ab5, but higher notes can be played by using what are called altissimo (Italian for very high<\/em>) fingerings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThese notes are produced by using special fingerings <\/strong>and adjusting the embouchure and tongue position<\/strong> to play higher range notes. This is a special challenge for maturing saxophone players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n