Saxophone Fingerings and First Notes | Beginner/Refresher Course Lesson 4 – Better Sax (2023)

FAQs

What is the hardest sax to learn? ›

Soprano Saxophone

It can be either straight or curved. The soprano is known as the hardest saxophone to play.

The way you hold your lips on the mouthpiece of the saxophone is called the “embouchure.” This is the most crucial aspect of learning the saxophone, and it has a significant impact on tone quality. This skill is developed over several years and requires a lot of practice.

Realistically, playing the sax should take between six months to a year to really learn. That means maintaining the skill long after you have stopped playing regularly. However, once you start, you won't want to stop.

The saxophone is arguably easier to play than the flute. Saxophones may present some level of challenge in their dynamic range, particularly if you wish to play softer notes. But, other than that, saxophones have a more intuitive fingering and an easier embouchure than most other woodwinds.

Playing a woodwind instrument will force you to become conscious of every facet of your breath, from relaxed and open inhalations to sharp and controlled exhalations. Woodwind instruments will absolutely give your lungs a serious respiratory workout.

For most people, it takes around two years to reach a basic level of proficiency. However, some people may be able to pick up the basics more quickly, while others may find that they need more time to really get comfortable with the instrument.

How Long to Practise? If you are at all serious about learning the saxophone, a minimum daily requirement would be 30 minutes practice, but ideally at least an hour. If you intend to become professional then at least 2-3 hours daily is appropriate.

Whether you're a young adult or at a mature age, it's never too late to learn the saxophone.

The alto saxophone is easier to play than the soprano saxophone, and so it is a good choice for beginners. A simple comparison of the length of the soprano and alto saxophones shows that they are about the same, 70 centimeters long.

Is saxophone hard to learn? In terms of learning the saxophone, it's one of the easiest instruments. The scales run up and down the keys, making it perfect for beginners or people who are switching from the piano or other woodwind instruments with similar technique.

How many hours a week should I practice saxophone? ›

As a rough guideline, you should be looking to average about 3-5 hours of practise every day (even more some days) if you want to be the best of the best.

But anyone wanting to attempt the longest saxophone note these days would have to do it without using circular breathing. The record was first set by jazz musician Kenny G with a note of 45 mins 47.77 secs.

Saxophone is simply an easier instrument than clarinet overall, and is more commonly used in rock music. It's the natural choice. That being said, oboists often find clarinet easier because the embouchure is a bit firmer, which they're used to.

What is the hardest type of saxophone to play? Altissimo, or harmonics are difficult in part due to the fact that they are usually different on most every horn to some degree and require extreme effort with very little return on investment.

But of course as most jazz arrangers know very well, saxophones combine beautifully with heavy brass in unison and harmony. * This works best with trumpet as the top voice rather than saxophone, as the latter can get overwhelmed by the overtones and the brass's projection.

Saxophone players create an MEF during the parafunctional activity of playing a wind instrument, and this continuous activity can lead do the appearance of pain or sensitivity on the upper teeth or on the lower lip.

Saxophone Care and Feeding

Never chew gum or eat while playing because the acids, sugars, and your saliva combine to eat away at the instrument. Always clean your saxophone after playing. Remove moisture from the inside with a pad saver and wipe away your finger oils from the outside.

Playing a woodwind instrument requires deep breathing, steady air flow and appropriate pressure on the reed. If any of these are lacking, your air flow will be impaired, which will have a negative impact on your performance. By paying attention to your breathing, posture and embouchure, you can ensure quality air flow.

You don't need big hands to play the saxophone. In fact, it's commonly the case that fingers are too large, and the playing style needs some adjusting. Alas, little kids may have to wait until they reach about 10 years of age to push the keys of an alto saxophone.

Although you can get fairly good at the saxophone within 2 years, it is said that to truly master it, one needs at least 10,000 hours of practice. With an average of 3 hours of practice per day, that's almost 10 years!

How often should you clean saxophone? ›

Saxophones should ideally be cleaned after every practice or playing session or at least once per week. Clean the body with a swab and soft microfiber cloth. The mouthpiece needs monthly cleaning with warm water and soap. Skipping these tasks may cause health issues for the instrument and player.

In general, if you see an arcing line over a group of notes, it's a phrase, and you just tongue the first note. If you're improvising, then it's all up to you to decide what you want to do.

If you're noticing harsh, squawking sounds, cover less of the mouthpiece with your mouth. Shift the mouthpiece forward slightly so that it's not covering too much of the reed. If your saxophone is making quiet, muffled sounds, place the mouthpiece further into your mouth.

The most common reasons for saxophone squeaking include a broken or misaligned reed, overly dry reed, playing with too much tension in the mouth, improper/high tongue position inside your mouth, or saxophone disrepair.

It is NEVER too late to learn how to play the saxophone. I have a few students who are over the age of 70. One of these students has never ever had anything to do with playing music in her entire life. She has wanted to learn saxophone for the last 60 years and finally has summoned up the courage to start.

Saxophones do not get better with age. Some saxophonists believe that older saxophones sound better on the basis of tarnish or the different design. However, there is no evidence that older saxophones sound better than they did originally, nor better than modern saxophones.

Saxophones can last up to 100 years with proper care as they're very durable instruments. Most saxophones are made of brass, which can last up to a century with frequent exposure to moisture before it starts to rust and fall apart. With proper care, some saxophones can last well over a century.

Most saxophonists will agree that the Mk. VI is the finest saxophone ever made and there are endless reviews for other instruments that compare it to the Mk. VI. This saxophone is the benchmark for every sax that's ever come since, it's simply the best and there's not much more to say about it.

Arguably the Bari Sax is the most fun to play, although it's not an instrument you would generally start on. Most players after starting on Alto or Tenor Sax choose to add the Baritone to their repertoire because they like the sound and feel of it.

baritone saxophone (lowest pitch)

How much is a decent saxophone? ›

Expect to pay around $1,200 for a lower-end model and up to $8,000 for a high-quality professional tenor saxophone.

The soprillo, or sopranissimo, saxophone is also a rare instrument. At 33cm long, its highest note is an octave above a soprano saxophone and the corresponding key is positioned in the mouthpiece.

Baritone saxophones have more curves in their design than alto saxophones. Baritones are more difficult to play than altos.

The alto saxophone is easier to play than the soprano saxophone, and so it is a good choice for beginners. A simple comparison of the length of the soprano and alto saxophones shows that they are about the same, 70 centimeters long.

The instrument's outside is typically lacquered to protect the brass, but some models are plated with silver or gold to protect the brass. If the instrument is plated rather than lacquered, the price will be higher. What is this? All of these things can make the saxophone a costly instrument.

1. Violin. The violin is a wooden stringed instrument that's part of a larger family of similar instruments. It's the smallest and highest-pitched instrument in its family and normally has four strings, although some violins can have five.

With its rich and warm tones, and its relatively lightweight body, the Tenor Saxophone is considered the mainstay instrument in the genre, and has been widely associated with some of the world's most popular jazz musicians such as John Coltrane and Charlie Parker.

Expect to pay around $1,200 for a lower-end model and up to $8,000 for a high-quality professional tenor saxophone.

What song has a lot of saxophone in it? ›

Careless Whisper (George Michael)

Tenor saxophones are tuned to B♭, and alto saxophones are tuned to E♭, but when playing the same note on a score, the fingerings are the same.

Since the alto sax is smaller, its notes are higher and brighter than those of the tenor sax. The tenor sax produces a mellow, rich, and deep sound.