Alto Sax
Instrument Care

Alto Sax Instrument Cleaning and Maintenance

Reed prep

1. When first using a new reed, soak it in a cup of water while putting the instrument together

2. Press water out on a flat hard surface before playing

3. Place in reed guard to dry

4. Do this for the first 4 days of a new reed

5. Rotate through the four reeds, using a different one each day you practice

Daily Care

• After every use, completely swab out your saxophone.

1. Remove reed and place in reed guard.

2. Remove mouthpiece and ligature.  Wipe the mouthpiece out with swab.  Place ligature and mouthpiece cover onto mouthpiece and place carefully into case.

3. Loosen neck screw and remove neck.  Put weight of swab into the end of the neck and pull swab through 3 times.  Place neck carefully into case.

4. Put weight of the swab into bell of sax. Feed swab into instrument.  Rotate sax so weight falls through.  Pull swab through the instrument 3 times.

5. Detach from neck strap.  Put end plug back into sax and carefully put in case. Put your swab in the case.  Close the lid and latch/zip the case.

6. Place pencil and highlighter in pencil pouch.

7. Keep your binder, lesson book, and instrument in one place so you don’t lose anything!

• Carry your alto sax upright and close to your upper body to prevent bumps.  ALWAYS USE MOUTHPIECE COVER!

• If you need to set it down, put mouthpiece cover on and set in the case – the action of setting it down should be SILENT!

• Always store your reeds in a reed guard.  When a reed becomes cracked, discolored, or otherwise past its usefulness, replace it.

• Always put your alto sax completely away when you’re done playing, with all case latches or zippers closed.

Weekly Care 

• Apply cork grease to the neck cork.

• Scrub mouthpiece with warm water, soap, and mouthpiece brush.  Rinse well and dry.

• Polish alto sax with polishing cloth.

Monthly Care

• Hand wash and air dry your cleaning swab.  Remove any knots.