Each person's hand/finger configuration is
different. Therefore stretch/reach
problems can be due to short fingers/small hands and/or problems bending the
wrist. If the wrist bend is the only
problem, then the bent neck should solve it. If stretch is the major
problem, then an added key or keys will help. Hole
4 or holes 3 & 4 are the usual suspects for stretch problems.
You can check to see what you need by holding a
tenor up with the mouthpiece by your right ear. This is about how high the instrument
would be with a bent neck. It puts your hands in the position they would
be in when playing an alto. Now see if you can reach the
holes/keys. If so, the bent neck should solve your problem.
If not, then check to see if added keys will
help. If the right hand stretch is a problem, then, with the mouthpiece
in your mouth, put your 1st finger about 1/4 inch away from the middle finger and
see if you can reach holes 5 and 6 and the keys on hole
7. If this works, you only need a key
added on hole 4 and no bent neck. If it doesn't
work, see if it works with the mouthpiece by your right ear. If so, then
you need a hole 4 key and a bent neck.
If you have left hand reach problems, then try
putting finger 3 about 1/4 inch from your middle finger. If you can now
cover holes 1 & 2, then a hole 3 key will solve your problem. A bent
neck is not necessary for hole 3 stretch problems.