Beginners' Guide On How To Learn Saxophone

The saxophone, or sax, belongs to the woodwind family of musical instruments. It has been said that it is the sexier version of the clarinet. With a reed mouthpiece on one end, the saxophone body widens into a bell-like structure on its other end. The shape of the pipe is usually an "S" though some smaller saxophones do have straight pipes.

It is easy to learn saxophone. In fact, anyone aged 12 and above can do so. For beginners, it is easier to learn saxophone if smaller versions are used. Beginners are advised to use only either the B-flat tenor saxophone or the E-flat alto saxophone for they are the more portable ones.

Parts of the Sax

The first thing to do to learn saxophone is to familiarize oneself with the instrument's parts. The body of the instrument resembles the letter J. The bow is found at the bottom, while the opposite end is the bell. There are a number of holes placed on the body of the sax. These holes are covered by pads.

To produce the desired notes, the keys that control the pads have to be pressed. Other major parts of the saxophones and important accessories are as follows:

* Mouthpiece -- This is the pointed tip where the reed is attached. It is usually made of plastic, rubber, metal or crystal. The mouthpiece is where you blow into when playing the instrument.

* Reed -- This piece of cane creates the vibrations that travel along the body of the sax.

* Ligature -- This is a clamp made of metal or leather which connects the reed to the mouthpiece.

* Crook or neck -- This is a metal tube that leads to the mouthpiece. It has a cork on one end which fills in the mouthpiece.

* Neck strap -- This is hung around the neck as the saxophone is too heavy to carry on hands.

* Bung -- This covers the hole on the top of the saxophone when the instrument is disassembled, thus preventing damages.

Holding the Instrument

Carry the sax in front of you, with the main part held in a vertical position away from your body. Most of the weight should be carried by the strap. Adjust the strap until the mouthpiece points directly to your mouth. You should not bow to reach the mouthpiece.

Producing a Sound

To learn saxophone, focus on blowing and playing the keys. Cover your teeth with your lower lip, which should be pressed against the reed halfway up. Close your mouth with your top teeth pressing against the top part of the mouthpiece. Keep your mouth closed around the opening of the mouthpiece. Tightening your cheek muscles help to keep your lips in place.

Now, you can blow into the mouthpiece. Press your left index finger on the pad directly below it while keeping the other fingers unmoving. Place the tip of your tongue onto the tip of the reed. As you blow, your mouth should be opened as if you're uttering "taw".

The "t" sound gives a crisp beginning to the note, which is called tonguing. You can play the sax without tonguing but with poorer quality sounds, so it is much better to just stick with the standard methods.

About the Author

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