There are two approaches to that problem - either use a C instrument and learn the cross fingerings and blowing techniques necessary (the hard way - but the most versatile), or you could try to avoid at least part of the problem by choosing an instrument in a different key:

• A D instrument would make D and G and A a breeze (using the basic scale and simple cross fingerings) - and the E is just around the corner (though Csharp is a bit of a tough deal - at least the low one). A D instrument makes a score of tunes available, too.
• An E instrument will make E, A and B realtively easy, D is no big deal either, but G is a little harder. It'll be also pretty high to start with, which makes the highest notes difficult to reach.
• An A instrument will make A, D and E pretty easy, and G reachable, but it'd mean that you'd have to start on a pretty uncommon instrument - and it'd be exceedingly difficult to do something in modes with flats (next to impossible, to be honest). An A Xaphoon would also have to be rather big - not too big, but big for a beginner. But as a bottomline, you'd probably get most of what you want out of that.

If you know how to transpose and transcribe, an A Xaphoon would serve you best. In the long run, A's a pretty limiting key to have an instrument in - but you can get a C (and possibly a Bb) instrument later if you like.

M.

True. But please keep in mind that it'll mean either a lot of transposing or a very good ear. If you go for an A Xaphoon (the best choice in my opinion), you'll have an interesting instrument to start with. A PS (in C) is inexpensive and a good companion to take along, so if you've got the money, I'd say that'd be a good solution.

btw. What kind of wind synth? Akai? Yamaha?

M.

I own a Akai EWI4000S - it's a very interesting instrument (for a start, six octaves of range - stunning!) and yes, it can be astonishingly expressive. But for me, it's a pain to play - the back pressure is nothing like natural (I can't put enough air through the instrument to feel comfortable), and it's either putting up with that or sacrificing parts of the possibilities it offers (expressiveness, mostly - you can reduce the amount of air necessary for response). And to really use its potential, I'd need a whole stack of accessories and appliances (you know that from the Yamaha combo) and lots of time and work with the computer to actually customise it - mostly the sounds - to one's needs.

That's why I only use it when I want one of two things: Use the range (mostly for bass line for arpeggio effects) or play late at night using earphones - it's really useful for that. And it's built like a tank (the Akai is, at least), yet simple - no worries whatsoever. Some of the standard sounds are okay, too.

But frankly, I prefer my saxophones, especially for playing on stage; though I'm something of a technophile, when it comes to music, I seem to prefer simple physics over shrewd electronics. But if you're at it for ten years, you'll surely have mastered the instrument - I'm sure it offers any number of useful effects (mine does - or would if I tried earnestly). And I still think it's great that there synths for us wind players (and not only for pianists)!

Back to the Xaphoon: The sharps can be hard to reach, especially high F# (it's only attainable through embouchure work) - a (Low) A Xaphoon would spare you most of that work, but would require you to transcribe most of your music (or make it at least advisable). So, the PS is good to have anyhow, but the A Xaphoon would make making music for you a lot easier (after some initial effort - but you'll face that anyhow). The more often you want to use it, the more advisable I'd find the A Xaphoon.

M.