C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / C Melody Sax Range

Next 20 Messages

gullette
User ID: 1105234 Apr 17th 1:19 PM
Could someone tell me exactly what is the written and the sounding range of the C Melody Sax? Please be specific enough that I can tell which notes of which octave (relative to middle C on a piano is fine). Thanks so much.

alan (uk) '08
User ID: 1278884 Apr 18th 3:42 AM
Someone with an old piano will have to answer that, I don't have a lock on my electronic keyboard to tell which is 'middle C' - haven't heard that expression for a decade or two.

However it relates to middle C, the range is just over 2.5 octaves. From a (low) concert Bb to a (high)concert F. What you finger is what you hear, unlike Bb Tenor or Eb Alto.

Traditionally shown on treble clef, from the Bb under the staff (one tone down from 'conventionally' where middle-C was shown) - to the F almost an octave above the staff.

Just needs someone with a 'real' piano to tie it down to an actual octave, I'm trying to remember what 'middle C' sounded like, and can't quite remember whether it like was C1 or C2 on a C-mel - possibly (open) C2..?

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Apr 18th 4:23 AM
Fortuitous indeed...Middle C on the piano is Middle C (C2) on the C Melody. At least on my piano and C Mel.

gullette
User ID: 1105234 Apr 18th 6:57 AM
Thanks Alan & Captain. Let me see if I got this straight combining your 2 responses. C-Melody Sax's "written" range is (on treble clef) Bb just below middle C up 2.5 octaves to the F just above the treble staff. I'm still confused about the C-Melody Sax's "sounding" range - is it one octave lower than the written range such that it begins on Bb just below its own C1 and its C2 corresponds with middle C on the keyboard? In which case it sounds in similar range to Tenor Sax with a few different bottom & top range notes? Sorry to be dense on this - can't find it written out anywhere for C-Melody and I'm a clarinet/keyboard person looking to give the C-Melody a try.

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Apr 18th 7:23 AM
gullette.
Yes, it is similar to the tenor sax range...just one tone higher. Whereas "C" on the tenor (middle finger L/H) is actually Bb, C on the C melody is just as it says on the tin...C. The fingering is the same on all saxophones...just that different notes are produced...."C" on an alto or baritone is actually Eb.
With a C Melody, all that confusion of transposing is removed C is C, Eb is Eb...etc...it could not be easier. The C melody is pitched one tone up from the tenor & one & a half tones down from the alto.
Simply put, just play the top line of piano music & it will match the piano. Not the case with the Bb tenor or the Eb alto.
Of the three C notes on the C Melody the middle one matches middle C on the piano...the ledger line between the trble and the bass clef...whew.

gullette
User ID: 1105234 Apr 18th 8:05 AM
Got it. Thanks again.

alan (uk)
User ID: 1278884 Apr 18th 4:06 PM
So, the C-Mel C (C2) that matches middle C on the piano, is one octave high when read, compared to middle C... Therefore the lowest C-Mel C (C1) is down inside the bass clef.

That would therefore make the C-Soprano the perfect 'C' sax, being an octave higher than C-Mel. It's C1 matches middle C - both written and aurally.

Mal-2k8
User ID: 9335603 Apr 19th 2:26 AM
You would be correct -- C soprano is the only truly non-transposing saxophone and it sounds at the same pitch as flute or oboe.

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Apr 19th 10:13 AM
Alan.
Have I missed something here?
Why should the C sop be any more perfect than the C Mel? OK it is an octave higher...but why should that be better? As I see it, the C Mel is just as "non transposing" as the C sop.

alan (uk) '08
User ID: 1278884 Apr 19th 7:57 PM
Just being finicky - splitting hairs.. The note on a C-Mel that matches piano middle C is actually the open C2 - which is technically inside the staff, not just under it - where middle C is. So, strictly speaking, C-Mel transposes an octave out.

Whereas on C-soprano, C1 is written, and sounds, in the exactly the same place as piano middle C.

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Apr 20th 7:20 AM
Still do not really understand. Possibly a penalty of learning the piano as a child where one read both clefs simultaneously.
What is so special about middle C; it is just one of the many Cs on a piano...just happens to be nearest the lock. :-)

jazzbug1 2008
User ID: 0735934 Apr 21st 8:04 AM
"Middlesea" is a small village near Alan's home.

Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Apr 21st 9:57 AM
You are in Mid Season Form today jb. :-)

alan (uk) '08
User ID: 1278884 Apr 21st 3:08 PM
Strangely enough, 'Middlesea' has never been used as a village/town/city name, that I can find.

It is however the name of an insurance company based in Malta (that figures...)

I assume this topic has now self-destructed ?

jazzbug1 2008
User ID: 0735934 Apr 21st 3:35 PM
I can do that with any topic! Club owners hire me instead of "Arson For Profit". Same results.

alan (uk) '08
User ID: 1278884 Apr 21st 7:24 PM
By the way - here is a chart (from my flickr...) that gives the sax ranges in Hz.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorsetdriftwood/2432673202/

redef
User ID: 0534004 Apr 21st 10:21 PM
enough... already! Middle "C" is what links the treble cleff to the bass cleff
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Captain Beeflat 2008
User ID: 1738604 Apr 22nd 4:37 AM
I thought that I had said that (already!) "...The ledger line between the treble and the bass clefs...."

alan (uk) '08
User ID: 8917553 Apr 22nd 11:35 AM
I thought about sarcasm, but then the moment passed... 'Karma' and all that sort of thing - and just when we were enjoying ourselves.

(that was 'irony' by the way)

Jim B
User ID: 0707654 Apr 22nd 9:46 PM
Point of information, middle C does not link the treble clef to the bass clef. There are other clefs than just two. I checked my piano and found that the so called "middle C" is not the C note in the middle of the piano i.e. count the C notes on the piano and find the middle one. Come to think of it, you can play the C melody sax in any clef. I play alto sax when reading bass clef music.In gregorian chant using their unique clef there is even a "middle C".

Next 20 Messages

gullette User ID: 1105234	Apr 17th 1:19 PM Could someone tell me exactly what is the written and the sounding range of the C Melody Sax? Please be specific enough that I can tell which notes of which octave (relative to middle C on a piano is fine). Thanks so much.
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1278884	Apr 18th 3:42 AM Someone with an old piano will have to answer that, I don't have a lock on my electronic keyboard to tell which is 'middle C' - haven't heard that expression for a decade or two. However it relates to middle C, the range is just over 2.5 octaves. From a (low) concert Bb to a (high)concert F. What you finger is what you hear, unlike Bb Tenor or Eb Alto. Traditionally shown on treble clef, from the Bb under the staff (one tone down from 'conventionally' where middle-C was shown) - to the F almost an octave above the staff. Just needs someone with a 'real' piano to tie it down to an actual octave, I'm trying to remember what 'middle C' sounded like, and can't quite remember whether it like was C1 or C2 on a C-mel - possibly (open) C2..?
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Apr 18th 4:23 AM Fortuitous indeed...Middle C on the piano is Middle C (C2) on the C Melody. At least on my piano and C Mel.
gullette User ID: 1105234	Apr 18th 6:57 AM Thanks Alan & Captain. Let me see if I got this straight combining your 2 responses. C-Melody Sax's "written" range is (on treble clef) Bb just below middle C up 2.5 octaves to the F just above the treble staff. I'm still confused about the C-Melody Sax's "sounding" range - is it one octave lower than the written range such that it begins on Bb just below its own C1 and its C2 corresponds with middle C on the keyboard? In which case it sounds in similar range to Tenor Sax with a few different bottom & top range notes? Sorry to be dense on this - can't find it written out anywhere for C-Melody and I'm a clarinet/keyboard person looking to give the C-Melody a try.
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Apr 18th 7:23 AM gullette. Yes, it is similar to the tenor sax range...just one tone higher. Whereas "C" on the tenor (middle finger L/H) is actually Bb, C on the C melody is just as it says on the tin...C. The fingering is the same on all saxophones...just that different notes are produced...."C" on an alto or baritone is actually Eb. With a C Melody, all that confusion of transposing is removed C is C, Eb is Eb...etc...it could not be easier. The C melody is pitched one tone up from the tenor & one & a half tones down from the alto. Simply put, just play the top line of piano music & it will match the piano. Not the case with the Bb tenor or the Eb alto. Of the three C notes on the C Melody the middle one matches middle C on the piano...the ledger line between the trble and the bass clef...whew.
gullette User ID: 1105234	Apr 18th 8:05 AM Got it. Thanks again.
alan (uk) User ID: 1278884	Apr 18th 4:06 PM So, the C-Mel C (C2) that matches middle C on the piano, is one octave high when read, compared to middle C... Therefore the lowest C-Mel C (C1) is down inside the bass clef. That would therefore make the C-Soprano the perfect 'C' sax, being an octave higher than C-Mel. It's C1 matches middle C - both written and aurally.
Mal-2k8 User ID: 9335603	Apr 19th 2:26 AM You would be correct -- C soprano is the only truly non-transposing saxophone and it sounds at the same pitch as flute or oboe.
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Apr 19th 10:13 AM Alan. Have I missed something here? Why should the C sop be any more perfect than the C Mel? OK it is an octave higher...but why should that be better? As I see it, the C Mel is just as "non transposing" as the C sop.
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1278884	Apr 19th 7:57 PM Just being finicky - splitting hairs.. The note on a C-Mel that matches piano middle C is actually the open C2 - which is technically inside the staff, not just under it - where middle C is. So, strictly speaking, C-Mel transposes an octave out. Whereas on C-soprano, C1 is written, and sounds, in the exactly the same place as piano middle C.
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Apr 20th 7:20 AM Still do not really understand. Possibly a penalty of learning the piano as a child where one read both clefs simultaneously. What is so special about middle C; it is just one of the many Cs on a piano...just happens to be nearest the lock. :-)
jazzbug1 2008 User ID: 0735934	Apr 21st 8:04 AM "Middlesea" is a small village near Alan's home.
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Apr 21st 9:57 AM You are in Mid Season Form today jb. :-)
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1278884	Apr 21st 3:08 PM Strangely enough, 'Middlesea' has never been used as a village/town/city name, that I can find. It is however the name of an insurance company based in Malta (that figures...) I assume this topic has now self-destructed ?
jazzbug1 2008 User ID: 0735934	Apr 21st 3:35 PM I can do that with any topic! Club owners hire me instead of "Arson For Profit". Same results.
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 1278884	Apr 21st 7:24 PM By the way - here is a chart (from my flickr...) that gives the sax ranges in Hz. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorsetdriftwood/2432673202/
redef User ID: 0534004	Apr 21st 10:21 PM enough... already! Middle "C" is what links the treble cleff to the bass cleff __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ ____ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________
Captain Beeflat 2008 User ID: 1738604	Apr 22nd 4:37 AM I thought that I had said that (already!) "...The ledger line between the treble and the bass clefs...."
alan (uk) '08 User ID: 8917553	Apr 22nd 11:35 AM I thought about sarcasm, but then the moment passed... 'Karma' and all that sort of thing - and just when we were enjoying ourselves. (that was 'irony' by the way)
Jim B User ID: 0707654	Apr 22nd 9:46 PM Point of information, middle C does not link the treble clef to the bass clef. There are other clefs than just two. I checked my piano and found that the so called "middle C" is not the C note in the middle of the piano i.e. count the C notes on the piano and find the middle one. Come to think of it, you can play the C melody sax in any clef. I play alto sax when reading bass clef music.In gregorian chant using their unique clef there is even a "middle C".