Saxophone playing is a beautiful art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a great way to improve your musical skills, and it’s a lot of fun too! However, many beginners are unsure if they are up for the challenge of learning this instrument. The complex-looking anatomy of the saxophone and its many keys can be quite intimidating to some and they feel that it’s a difficult instrument to learn. But is it really that hard to learn the saxophone?
The saxophone is not hard to learn. It’s actually one of the easier wind instruments to learn how to play. It has only one row of keys, which makes it less confusing for beginners. In addition, the fingering system is very straightforward and easy to remember. In fact, most people can be playing simple melodies within a few weeks of starting lessons.
So, if you’re considering learning how to play the saxophone, don’t be afraid – it’s a great choice! The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be able to enjoy playing your favorite tunes. In this post, we’ll explore how you can easily learn to play the saxophone as well as overcome any potential challenges along the way. We’ll also give you some helpful tips and tricks to help you on your journey.
How Hard Is Saxophone to Learn Compared to Other Instruments?
Most people have a misconception that compared to the more popular instruments like the violin, guitar, or clarinet, the saxophone is much harder to learn. However, the reality is quite different. Although it’s true that the saxophone is a difficult instrument to master, it’s quite easy to learn, even for beginners who have never played a musical instrument before.
One reason why budding musicians might be hesitant to give the saxophone a try could be that it’s a relatively new instrument. It was only invented in the 1840s, which means that there is not as much history or tradition attached to it as there is to older instruments like the violin or the clarinet.
However, once you understand how the instrument works, you’ll see that it’s actually quite simple to play. Let’s take a look at how the difficulty level of learning the saxophone compares to other popular instruments.
- Saxophone VS Violin
The saxophone is a much easier instrument to learn than the violin, there’s no question about it. In fact, the violin is often ranked as the toughest instrument to learn due to its lack of keys or buttons, and the high precision needed to play in tune.
On the other hand, the saxophone is a much more forgiving instrument. As long as you position your hands correctly on the keys, you’ll be able to produce a fairly good sound. There’s also a lot of room for error when playing the saxophone, which means that you can make mistakes and still sound good.
- Saxophone VS Guitar
The guitar is another popular instrument that people often compare to the saxophone. In terms of difficulty level, the saxophone is considered easier to learn than the guitar. This is because the keys of the sax are laid out in a linear fashion, whereas for the guitar, there are multi-level strings that need to be plucked.
As a beginner, you also don’t have to worry about cutting your fingers on a saxophone as you might on the sharp strings of a guitar. Plus, the saxophone is also easier in terms of learning notes and playing them correctly, whereas it might take months to learn how to play a few basic chords on the guitar.
- Saxophone VS Clarinet
The clarinet and saxophone are both part of the single-reed family of instruments. Both of them are made from wood, have a single row of keys, and are pitched in the same range. So, how do they compare in terms of difficulty level?
The saxophone is much easier to learn than the clarinet because the latter has a more complex fingering system. In addition, the clarinet is also a lot harder to keep in tune and certain notes are quite tricky and prone to ‘squeaking’, whereas the saxophone does not have any such issues. Beginners often feel more comfortable with the saxophone than they do with the clarinet.
6 Challenges to Learning the Saxophone
Like all musical instruments, the saxophone also has its fair share of challenges that you’ll need to overcome during the learning process. However, these are mostly due to the physicality of playing the instrument than any complexity in the keys or notes. Let’s take a look at 6 of the most common challenges you might come across while learning the saxophone and how you can get past them.
1. Finding the Right Saxophone
The first challenge you’ll face is finding the right saxophone to learn on. Not all saxophones are created equal, and there can be a lot of variation in terms of quality, sound, and price. So, it’s important that you do your research and find an instrument that’s suited for your level of playing.
It’s also important to remember that within the saxophone family, there are different types to choose from, and some types are more difficult than others. Beginners might accidentally buy a soprano or baritone-type saxophone, both of which are actually quite challenging to play, even for professionals. If you’re just starting out, we recommend that you get a tenor or alto-type saxophone, as they’re much easier for beginners.
Here are some recommendations – Yamaha YAS-280, Jean Paul USA (AS-400GP), Selmer Tenor (TS711), Yamaha YTS-26.
You can find more information on beginner saxophones here
2. Maintaining Your Saxophone
Another challenge you’ll need to overcome is maintaining your saxophone. Like all musical instruments, the saxophone requires regular cleaning and maintenance to stay in good condition. It is also imperative that you learn how to disassemble and reassemble the saxophone so that it’s easier to clean and maintain.
If you don’t take care of your instrument, it will start to accumulate dirt, grime, and other buildups that can affect the quality of sound. In addition, if you don’t oil the moving parts of your saxophone, it can start to feel sticky and uncomfortable to play.
Cleaning your saxophone is actually quite simple – you just need a soft cloth and some water. Make sure to avoid using harsh chemicals or detergents, as they can damage the finish of your instrument. Make sure you also oil the keys and other moving parts at least once a month. For under $20, you can find some amazing saxophone cleaning kits on Amazon that will have all the supplies you need. (Source)
3. Keeping the Correct Posture While Playing
One of the biggest challenges you’ll face when learning how to play the saxophone is keeping the correct posture. Unlike other instruments like the violin or guitar, which can be played while sitting down, the saxophone requires you to stand up and hold it in a certain way. This can be quite difficult for beginners who are not used to standing up and playing an instrument for long periods of time.
In addition, the saxophone is a quite large and heavy instrument, so you’ll need to use both hands to hold it up. This can get quite tiring after a while. The best way to overcome this challenge is to practice at home in front of a mirror so that you can correct your posture.
It’s also important to take breaks often when you’re first starting out. Don’t try to play for hours on end – start with short practice sessions and gradually increase the amount of time you play as you get used to it.
4. Getting Good Embouchure
Embouchure means the way in which you use your mouth, teeth, and lips to produce sound on a wind instrument. This is one of the most important aspects of playing the saxophone, but it’s also one of the most challenging.
A lot of beginners make the mistake of using too much pressure with their lips, which can cause them to tire out quickly. It’s important to find a balance between using too much and too little pressure so that you can play for longer periods.
In addition, your embouchure needs to be consistent to produce a good sound. This means that you need to keep the same mouth shape and position when playing different notes. It can take some practice to get this right, but it’s important to be patient and keep at it.
5. Hitting All the Right Notes
For any musical instrument, learning to hit all the right notes is an important hurdle to cross. This is especially true with the saxophone. First-timers often tend to miss notes or play the wrong notes because they’re not used to the fingerings yet. A perfectly good song can be instantly ruined with a single out-of-place note.
The best way to overcome this challenge is to practice regularly. Make sure you know all the notes on your instrument and learn how to play them in different keys. In addition, it’s important to listen to music and try to mimic the sounds you hear. This will help you develop your ear so that you can better understand which notes you need to play.
6. Proper Tuning of Your Sax
Lastly, proper tuning is something that a lot of saxophonists face issues with. The saxophone has a reputation for being a difficult instrument to tune. If you don’t tune your instrument properly, it will sound strange and won’t be pleasant to listen to. In addition, if you’re playing with other instruments, it can throw off the entire band.
So, make sure you take the time to learn how to properly tune your sax. You can use a digital tuner or an app on your phone to help you. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll see that it’s not as difficult as it was in the beginning.
(Source)
How Can I Make Learning the Saxophone Easy?
Now that we’ve gone over some of the challenges you might face when learning the saxophone, let’s talk about how you can make the process easier. Here are a few tips:
- Get the right accessories: A good quality mouthpiece and reed can do wonders for making your first sax lessons as smooth as possible. If they’re of poor quality, it can tire you out and make the whole experience frustrating. We recommend going with a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece and a Rico reed for alto saxophones.
- Find a good teacher: A good saxophone teacher will be able to teach you everything you need to know about the instrument – from how to hold it, to proper fingering techniques, to tuning. They’ll also be able to help you overcome most challenges you face along the way.
- Don’t puff your cheeks, but blow: A lot of beginners make the mistake of puffing their cheeks out when they play. This can actually make it harder to produce a good sound and you often end up with a flat, unpleasant noise. Instead, focus on blowing air through the instrument in a steady, consistent stream. You’ll notice the difference instantly and it makes the learning process a lot easier!
- Listen to music: Listening to music can help you better understand how different notes sound and how they’re supposed to be played. It can also be a great source of inspiration when you’re feeling stuck. Try listening to music that has saxophone sounds in it (e.g. All of Me, Baker Street, Circle of Life, etc.). This will give you a good idea of what’s possible on the instrument.
- Be patient: Learning any musical instrument takes time and practice. It’s important to be patient with yourself and understand that you won’t be able to play like a pro overnight. Just keep at it, and eventually, you’ll get there!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We’ll now take a look at some of the most common questions we get asked about saxophones and learning to play them.
Q.1. How many keys are there in a saxophone?
A. Most intermediate to professional saxophones have around 22-23 keys, whereas student/beginner saxophones have only around 20 keys.
Q.2. Which instrument should I learn after the saxophone?
A. Once you have learned the saxophone and are fairly good at it, you can try your hand at the flute or trumpet. They are both woodwind instruments like the sax, so a lot of your prior training will carry over. If you’re feeling adventurous and ready for a challenge, you can also try your hand at the clarinet!
Q.3. Where can I learn the saxophone online?
A. Some of the websites where you can find the best online courses for learning the saxophone are ArtistWorks, Udemy, and Sax School (https://saxschoolonline.com/). You can find many free, easy-to-follow lessons on YouTube as well.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has helped you understand a bit more about learning the saxophone and its difficulty level compared to other instruments.
Learning to play any musical instrument can be challenging, but it is definitely worth it in the end. The saxophone is a beautiful instrument that can add a lot of soul and feeling to any piece of music. If you’re up for the challenge, we say go for it!