Do you want to learn how to play the saxophone but don’t know where to start? Saxophone playing can seem daunting at first, but it’s not as difficult as it seems. Some of the greatest saxophonists in history such as Sonny Rollins, Fred Anderson, and Lucky Thompson were all self-taught. With a little bit of patience and practice, you can teach yourself how to play the saxophone too!
To learn how to play the saxophone successfully by yourself there are three main components you need to learn – Learn the scales and where the notes are located on the saxophone, watch tutorials of saxophone pieces you want to learn, and improve your technique by consistently practicing your favorite pieces every day.
In this post, we will outline the best way for you to learn how to play the saxophone on your own. We’ll also provide some helpful tips and resources that will make the learning process easier. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started on your journey to becoming a saxophone master!
5 Steps to Learning the Saxophone By Yourself
Let’s take a look at each of the five steps you need to take to learn the saxophone in detail. This will give you a clear, concise idea about how to proceed in your pursuit of learning the saxophone by yourself.
Step One: Get Yourself A Beginner Saxophone
The first step is to get your hands on a beginner saxophone. You don’t need to spend a fortune on an instrument – there are plenty of decent-quality beginner saxophones available for under $500. As much as possible, try to visit a music store near you and select the saxophone in person, rather than purchasing it online. This will give you the opportunity to try out different saxophones and get a feel for which one is right for you.
When selecting your beginner saxophone, make sure to choose an instrument that is comfortable for you to play. The size and weight of the saxophone are also important factors to consider. You don’t want an instrument that’s too heavy to hold or too big for your hands.
If you’re not sure which saxophone is right for you, ask a store employee for help. They should be able to point you in the right direction and recommend some beginner saxophones that are perfect for self-taught players. We’ve also given some of our favorite recommendations for beginner’s saxophones later on in the article!
Step Two: Learn the Basics
Once you’ve acquired your beginner saxophone, it is important that you learn the basics. This includes learning how to hold the instrument, how to produce sound, and how to finger the notes. These are essential concepts that you need to understand before you can start playing actual music. There are plenty of resources available online that can help you with this.
It might also be helpful to buy an instructional book or guide as well. This will give you some guidance on how to start playing the saxophone.
Our recommendation – ‘Absolute Beginners: Alto Saxophone’ by Steve Tayton. It has pictures and text on how to maintain your sax, correct finger and mouth positioning, and how to create notes and songs. It also comes with a playback CD to guide you through the entire learning process!
Step Three: Watch Tutorial Videos and Listen to Songs with Sax Sounds
Once you have a basic understanding of how to play the saxophone, it’s time to start practicing. One great way to do this is by watching tutorial videos online. There are plenty of them available for free on platforms such as YouTube. Watching these videos will help you better understand how to play the saxophone and give you some ideas on how to start creating your own music.
Another great way to practice is by listening to songs that feature the saxophone. This will help you get a better understanding of the sound of the instrument and how it can be used in different genres of music. There are plenty of playlists available online that compile songs with saxophone solos. Try listening to a few of them and see which ones you enjoy the most.
YouTube is a great resource. There are beginners lessons from channels like this one:
Step Four: Improve Your Technique
As you start feeling more comfortable with the saxophone, it’s time to start focusing on your technique. This includes things like proper breathing, embouchure, and tone production. These are all important aspects of playing the saxophone that you need to master in order to sound good.
A great way to do this is by practicing with a metronome. This will help you keep a steady tempo and rhythm as you play. If you Google for ‘metronome’, you’ll get an in-built metronome you can use in your browser through your phone or computer screen.
It’s also a good idea to practice with a recorder so that you can listen back to your playing and identify areas that need improvement. You can even upload these recordings to saxophone communities online and get constructive feedback from other players.
Step Five: Keep Practicing
Learning the saxophone, like all skills, requires time, effort, and dedication. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. You need to make sure that you practice on a regular basis if you want to improve your playing. Set aside some time each day (at least an hour) to practice and work on the areas in that you need improvement. This could be anything from breathing exercises to learning new songs.
As you get better, keep challenging yourself to experiment with harder techniques and more complex music. This will help you progress as a player and expand your musical repertoire.
If you find yourself struggling with a particular technique or concept, don’t be afraid to seek help from a teacher or experienced player. They will be able to give you some tips and advice on how to improve. We’ve also provided some tips in this blog that might just come in handy during your training!
Is It Difficult to Learn the Saxophone by Yourself?
Difficulty-wise, the saxophone is considered to be on the easier side when compared to other woodwind instruments. Many musicians often start off with the saxophone and then move on to more complex instruments like the clarinet or the trumpet. This is because the saxophone is designed in such a way that the keys are easy to reach and the mouthpiece and fingerings are quite simple.
One major advantage of learning the saxophone is that once you understand the basics of one type of saxophone (such as alto or tenor), you can easily play on all the other types as well. You can even learn other instruments like the flute or trombone with relative ease.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a walk in the park. Learning the saxophone by yourself is much more difficult than taking lessons from a teacher. You’ll need to be more self-motivated and have a greater understanding of the instrument in order to learn effectively. However, with enough practice and patience, you can definitely achieve your goals!
How Much Should I Practice?
This is a question that every saxophone player has to ask themselves at some point or another. How much practice is enough and how much is too much? There’s no one definitive answer to this question as everyone’s practice habits will vary. However, we can give you some general guidelines to help you get started.
If you’re a beginner, it’s recommended that you practice for at least 30 minutes each day. This will help you develop the basic skills and techniques that you need to play the saxophone. As you progress, you can gradually increase this amount until you’re able to practice for several hours each day.
Experienced players can get away with practicing for less time, as they already have a good understanding of the basics. However, it’s still important to practice regularly if you want to maintain your skills and improve your playing.
What Are Some Do’s and Don’ts of Learning the Saxophone?
Let’s take a look at some of the dos and don’ts to keep in mind while learning the saxophone by yourself. Keeping these in mind will greatly improve your practice sessions and help you learn the sax more effectively.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Make a practice schedule and stick to it. | Don’t practice for hours on end without taking a break. |
| Learn how to read music notation. | Don’t try to learn too many things at once. |
| Invest in a quality saxophone. | Don’t neglect breathing techniques as they are very important, especially for beginners. |
| Listen to as many different types of music as possible to develop your musical palate. | Don’t get frustrated if you don’t see progress right away. |
| Find someone to give you feedback. It can be a friend or a teacher. Having somebody else to help guide you and give feedback can be extremely helpful. | Don’t give up. It takes time and practice to get good at the saxophone, but if you keep at it, you’ll eventually get there. |
| Set goals for yourself. If you have something to work towards, you’ll be more motivated to practice. | Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone learns differently and progresses at their own pace. Focus on your own progress and don’t worry about what others are doing. |
Some Saxophone Terms You’ll Need to Know
Many beginners who are just picking up the saxophone find it quite difficult to keep track of all the different terminologies. Here are some essential terms that you’ll need to know:
- Bell: The flared end of the saxophone where the sound emerges from.
- Bore: The interior diameter of the saxophone.
- Mouthpiece: the part of the saxophone that you blow into. It is usually made of metal or rubber.
- Reed: a thin piece of wood or cane that vibrates to create sound when inserted into the mouthpiece.
- Keys: These help you to open and close the saxophone’s tone holes. Most saxophones will have 20-23 keys.
- Embouchure: the way you position your lips and teeth around the mouthpiece in order to produce sound.
- Fingerings: The different notes that can be played on the saxophone by using different combinations of fingers.
- Octave: A musical interval consisting of eight notes.
- Tone: the quality of sound that is produced by a saxophone. It can be described as bright, mellow, dark, and so on.
- Range: Distance from the lowest to the highest pitch that can be played on the saxophone.
Keeping these terms in mind will help you understand the instrument better and follow along when reading sheet music or watching tutorials.
Which Is The Best Saxophone For Beginners?
Choosing a saxophone to begin your learning journey is an experience that will define your playing for years to come. If you’re a beginner, it’s important that you choose the right saxophone and get off to the best possible start.
There are many different types of saxophones on the market, but the most common ones are alto, tenor, baritone, and soprano. Each type has its own unique sound and they all serve different purposes. For example, the alto sax is the most popular type of saxophone and it’s often used in jazz bands. The tenor sax is also quite popular and it has a deeper, richer sound.
If you’re just starting out, we recommend that you go for an alto or tenor saxophone. They’re both relatively easy to play and they have a wide range of sounds that you can experiment with. The baritone sax is a little more difficult to play, so it’s not recommended for beginners. And the soprano sax is the hardest of them all, so it’s not recommended for anyone other than experienced players.
Our recommended saxophones for beginners:
1) Jean-Paul USA Alto Saxophone (AS-400SP) – A beautiful, silver-plated alto saxophone designed by one of the most trusted sax manufacturers in the world. Fluid keywork and a warm, resonant tone make this a perfect beginner’s choice.
2) Jupiter JAS710GN – Another great alto saxophone designed for students. It has a lacquered brass body with high-quality nickel-plated keys. Great durability and tonal quality.
3) Yamaha YTS-26 – Yamaha is a brand well-known for its high-quality musical instruments. Their YTS-26 model is an entry-level tenor sax with a yellow, brass body, nickel-plated keys, and an adjustable thumb rest. Although it’s priced a little higher than most beginner saxophones, its quality and durability make it well worth the investment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding saxophones and how to learn them by yourself.
Q.1. How long does it take to learn the saxophone?
A. If you’re a complete beginner, learning the saxophone could take anywhere from six months to a year before you start sounding decent. You can expect to get really proficient in about 1.5 to 2 years.
Q.2. How much does a saxophone cost?
A. This really depends on the type and brand of saxophone you’re looking at. For a beginner, we recommend something in the $300 to $500 range. But if you’re looking for a high-end professional model, they can cost upwards of $5000.
Final Words
We hope this article has been helpful and that you now have a better understanding of how you can learn the saxophone all by yourself. Learning how to play the saxophone can be a challenging but rewarding experience.
With the right tools and resources, along with regular practice and a passion for the art, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled player. And who knows? You might even end up being the next big thing in jazz!