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Carriage position

Posted by Adolphe Sax on 9/23/2025, 12:43 pm

Just wanting to understand. Why do some bands (some really good bands) have their saxophone players play with the left elbow out parallel to the ground? It is seems against the natural way to hold the horn.

Re: Carriage position

Posted by Guessing on 9/23/2025, 9:24 pm, in reply to "Carriage position"

Easier to clean 90 degrees than a more natural angle. Same reason you see saxes at "horns down" held parallel to the ground.

Watch military bands in a parade. Horns down position for saxophones, per the reg, is to let it hang from the neck strap at a natural angle (45-ish) with right hand on the horn and left hand swings in time. But most Texas marching bands have saxes at a flat table-top carry with both hands on the horn.

Re: Carriage position

Posted by YUP! on 9/24/2025, 9:12 am, in reply to "Re: Carriage position"

If you are a non-sax player go pick up the horn and try it. It's awful...I feel bad for Bari Sax players. However, yeah, it absolutely isn't natural and it's kinda dumb. But that's marching band for ya!

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